Maine Coon cats are special. They differ in size from other domestic cats, body structure, developed muscles and a longer period of development. Therefore, nutrition must meet their needs.
There are most myths about the breed regarding weight and height. Maine Coons do not suffer from obesity, unless the owner, to please his whim, deliberately feeds the pet a lot so that the cat grows big.
Natural nutrition
Many owners conduct experiments on feeding Maine Coons, trying to grow the animal large. However, most breeders agree that it will not be able to develop correctly when dried. And if the question arises of what to feed a Maine Coon so that it is healthy and gains muscle mass, preference is given to natural food.
The breed is active and energetic. This leads to the rule that the balance of nutrients and energy value is important in the Maine diet. However, in practice this is not easy to implement, especially for novice horse breeders.
Meat menu
Maine Coons are carnivores, like all cats. They need meat. With proper nutrition, it makes up at least 50% of the diet, ideally 80%. The remaining 20% are additives in the form of fermented milk products, cheese, vegetables, eggs.
It is better to feed the animal the following types of meat:
- beef;
- mutton;
- rabbit meat;
- poultry meat (red).
Even if there is complete trust in the meat seller, the product is still frozen for 3-5 days. Then the meat is thawed and served raw, after being cut into small pieces.
It is better if the Maine Coon's diet includes red meat (thighs, drumsticks) of chicken or turkey. Breast is low in calories and is more suitable for cats that are overweight and on a diet.
Offal is also included in the kunya menu:
- It is correct to feed a Maine Coon by adding pork and chicken hearts without fat. Beef is difficult to digest, and lamb may not be to your liking. The heart is the most useful of all by-products, so its share should be larger - about 40%. It is not soaked, but given along with blood.
- Bird liver. It is better to scald or lightly boil beef or pork liver so that your pet does not have an upset stomach. For one serving no more than a teaspoon of liver.
- Gizzards, beef tripe. The portion of tripe is limited, as it is very fatty and can cause loose stools.
- Chicken necks without skin, heads, combs. These products are high in calories, are a source of calcium and are a good teeth cleaner due to cartilage. They are ground in a meat grinder, beaten or finely chopped.
- Pork nickels. Good for ligaments and bones.
Another list of useful foods, but which should not be abused when feeding a Maine Coon:
- Kidneys – contain vitamin A, but it is important to avoid overdose.
- The udder is a source of easily digestible protein. In large quantities, it is harmful to the liver, can contribute to the development of obesity and cause diarrhea.
- Milk thistle meal is an ingredient beneficial for the liver. They season food with it. You need to take a break - a week after a week.
Fish and seafood
It is permissible to include sea fish in the Maine Coon menu: 2-3 times a week and not as the main portion, but more for variety. You can feed boiled or raw cod and salmon. Maine cats and squid, even dried ones, love shelled shrimp.
Care
The “dowry” for the Maine Coon is small:
- 2 bowls - for food and water.
- Scratching post.
- Bed, house or basket for sleeping.
- Tray and filler for it.
- Toys.
- An arsenal of combs - with rare and fine teeth, furminators, brushes with natural bristles.
Caring for an animal is simple:
- Daily brushing.
- Bathing only when necessary, using special shampoo for cats.
- Cleaning eyes and ears with damp hypoallergenic wipes – 1-2 times a week.
- Nail trimming.
At two months, kittens receive their first vaccinations. Deworming must be carried out 10-14 days before.
Method for preparing kunin porridge
Many owners believe that the best option for feeding a Maine Coon to gain weight is marten porridge.
This is a serving method that involves mixing various natural ingredients. Each Maine Coon owner can create the recipe himself, depending on the preferences and weight of his pet. All ingredients are crushed and mixed in one bowl. Sour milk, cottage cheese, cheese, eggs and butter are added immediately before feeding. The porridge is prepared, put into bags and stored in the freezer. Before feeding the cat, defrost it and bring it to room temperature.
Sample recipe for kunin porridge (can be done by eye or weighed):
- 1 kg each of beef, chicken necks, pork hearts. Chop the necks, cut the meat into small pieces of 2 cm.
- 0.8 kg – chicken hearts. The fat is cut off.
- 0.5 kg – chicken stomachs.
- 0.4 kg – carrots. Simmer in vegetable oil until soft.
- 0.2 kg – beef liver. Cut into small pieces of 1 cm.
What not to give to a Maine Coon
The animal's diet should be varied, but there is a list of foods that are prohibited for Maine Coons:
- chicken bones;
- fatty meats, such as pork;
- spicy, salty, smoked foods;
- chocolate, sugar and other sweet products;
- potato;
- beans.
What you should not give to a Maine Coon.
It is also prohibited to give the animal spices and any medications intended for humans. This can lead to an overdose, and, as a result, the death of the coon. A balanced diet is the key to your pet’s health for many years.
How to switch to natural
If a decision is made to change the diet and feed the pet not prepared food, but natural food, the transition is smooth.
When changing the diet, veterinarians advise introducing probiotics into the cat’s menu. One of these drugs is the dietary supplement Vetom.
A pet may resist change, but the owner must be persistent and patient. The maximum limit of a hunger strike (according to owners’ reviews) is 5 days. Then the animal gives in and starts eating. There are often cases when during the day a cat turns his face away from the bowl, and at night he eats every single piece.
At first, the cat is offered only meat. If the pet begins to eat it well and there is no bowel disorder, another ingredient is introduced, followed by a third after 2-3 days. Products containing bones (chicken necks, heads) are added last.
Vitamins and minerals
For normal growth and development, Maine Coons need vitamins and minerals. Cats that eat ready-made formulas receive useful substances from their food. Therefore, their owners should not buy additional supplements. Owners of pets who eat natural food should take care of the presence of the following substances in their diet:
- vitamins A, B, C, D, E, K, H;
- potassium;
- magnesium;
- calcium;
- gland;
- iodine;
- sodium;
- phosphorus.
The listed compounds are found in small quantities in homemade food. But this is not enough for the normal functioning of the pet. To supplement the Maine Coon's diet with vitamins and minerals, you can use vitamin and mineral supplements for cats:
- Kitty's Junior - for kittens over 1.5 months;
- AniVital - for healthy skin and shiny coat;
- 8 in 1 Excel Brewer's Yeast - a universal vitamin and mineral supplement;
- Cat Mineral Tabs - to strengthen bones and teeth;
- Veda - for castrated and sterilized animals;
- Sanal Senior Lecithin - for older cats over 7 years old;
- Unitabs Mama + Kitty - for pregnant cats and kittens.
Interesting! Dry yeast is a natural source of vitamins, proteins and amino acids. They can be added little by little to the usual Maine Coon dishes - the effect is comparable to the effect of expensive vitamin complexes.
When choosing vitamin complexes for Maine Coons, it is necessary to take into account the animal’s gender, age, diet, and health status. Therefore, it is better to consult a veterinarian before purchasing. An excess of vitamins and minerals in a cat’s menu, as well as a deficiency, can negatively affect its health.
Ready-made feed
Owners choose dry and canned food for coons because it is easier. There is no need to monitor the balance of minerals and vitamins. In theory, this is done by the feed manufacturer. In any case, food from the shelves of regular supermarkets is not suitable for Maine Coons. These should be croquettes, premium or super premium canned goods.
A number of popular brands:
- Orijen
- Acana
- Applaws
- Bozita
- Royal Canin Maine;
- Eagle Pack
- Nutra Gold
Small Maine Coons (up to a year old) can only be given kitten food, both dry and canned. When they are introduced to granules, they are soaked for the first time so that the baby does not injure his gums.
Croquettes are good because they do not spoil while remaining in the bowl. There is enough canned food for the cat to eat a portion at a time. Typically, the daily dose consists of 75% dry food and 25% wet food. Exhibition animals are fed a 50/50 combination of canned food and pellets.
Diet for older cats
The diet of an older cat is different from that of an adult cat. Nutrition should be adjusted:
- 40% protein food;
- 15-30% fat;
- up to 5% fiber;
- no more than 20% carbohydrate foods.
Carbohydrate food is not necessary for coons. They produce a sufficient amount of special enzymes that are required to digest proteins.
What to feed a kitten
The first month after birth is one of the most important stages. The kitten feeds on its mother's milk, but is already showing interest in the cat's food.
I'm starting to feed my one-month-old kitten. They give you some ground meat. But the amount of food is insignificant - no more than 10-20 grams. in a day. At 1.5 months the dose increases 5 times.
The main component in the diet of a growing Maine Coon kitten is protein. Its absence or insignificant amount is the main reason why the Maine cat does not grow.
Food for nursing cats
After the kittens are born, nutrition remains as usual. But it needs some adjustment - due to the increase in the cat’s energy consumption. She must recover after giving birth and at the same time feed her cubs. Immediately after lambing, it is necessary to give scalded meat, more dairy products - cottage cheese, sour cream. Milk itself should not be given, as it is not absorbed by her body. You can use bone meal, vitamin and mineral supplements. It is especially worth noting that the diet must include:
- boiled eggs;
- fish;
- meat with fresh herbs.
No spices can be added. It is also necessary to provide your cat with full access to water.
Common mistakes
Many pet owners do not know what the method of feeding their pets should be. Owners can give small kittens canned food, but this is prohibited, since this food must be given to a pet who is 6 months old. People can save money on food purchases by purchasing cheap brands. Such food will harm the kitten; the baby's digestive system will not work well. It is better to purchase feed that is of high premium quality.
Cat owners can give prohibited foods to their pet. Therefore, before feeding cats of this breed, you need to know what foods can harm your pet. People can feed cats, and the pets end up with excess weight. This should not be done until the cat is more than one and a half years old.
If the weather is hot, cats' appetite worsens. At home, you need to provide proper care for pets of this breed. So, the diet for purebred Maine Coons must be selected taking into account all the rules.
The main thing is not to harm the kitten and learn all the rules of feeding. Thanks to the care of the owners, cats will look good, they will not have problems with the intestines and digestive system.
For a review of food for the Maine Coon breed, see below.
Prohibited Products
Before forming a diet for Maine Coon kittens, you need to use the recommendations of veterinarians. Cats of this breed are prohibited from introducing the following foods into complementary foods.
- Do not give bones from chicken or fish, because small individuals will choke, or their intestines will become clogged and the esophagus will be damaged.
- Pork can cause cats to become infected with worms or various infectious diseases.
- It is forbidden to give foods that contain fats. You should also not give canned, smoked foods, sausage, or foods that have a spicy and salty taste.
- You should not give sweets and confectionery products.
- It is forbidden to feed animals potatoes, as the starch can cause diarrhea.
- The intestines will not work well if legumes are given to cats.
- It is prohibited to give medications and vitamins intended for humans.
