What to feed a Maine Coon to gain weight?

The diet of this breed of domestic cat must be carefully selected by its owner. Below we will consider various diets, which, along with natural food, contain mixed nutrition and special premium nutritious food.

The creation of such diets is entirely aimed at the proper distribution of nutrition, which is the health and beauty of the cat.

Industrial food for Maine Coon

Ready-made food for Maine Coons has its own advantage: it has a long shelf life and saves people time preparing food for the cat.

There is no shortage of varieties of dry and wet cat food available today. They are available for all ages: they are intended for both small kittens and adults. It is selected for each cat individually.

In addition, there are special foods aimed at a certain direction, be it growth, weight gain, healthy coat, or treatment of internal physiological systems (for example, diuretic and digestive).

Maine Coons are very picky and delicate eaters. Ordinary standard food such as KITIKAT and WHISKAS are not suitable. Long-term stable feeding of these foods can bring many unpleasant consequences to the Maine Coon in the form of diseases.

It is recommended to use such types of super premium food as Royal Canin, Nutro or Hills. For large breeds of cats, according to owners and veterinarians, it is the products of the above-mentioned manufacturers that are most useful.

However, whatever the food, you should first consult with your veterinarian. After this, the owner himself chooses, not least taking into account his financial situation. For example, canned food differs in price from dry food. You can try combining them by feeding your cat wet food in the morning and using dry food for dinner, or vice versa.

Tips and tricks

In order not to make a mistake when preparing your pet’s diet, you can consult the forums of Maine Coon breeders.

Key recommendations from experts:

You cannot mix products of different brands or classes of feed. It is better to use a specific ruler.
There is no need to overfeed your pet.
It is worth choosing quality products.
The diet should be tailored to your weight and age.
You need to get tested periodically: what suits one cat may not suit another.

Dry food for Maine Coon

Dry food is a good solution for proper feeding of Maine Coons. Prolonged feeding of a cat with dry food helps the cat's body adapt to secrete the required amount of gastric juice. In the future, this will help establish the required level of metabolism and balance of water and salts.

Most owners believe that frequent feeding of this food causes problems with the urinary system, such as kidney stones. But it's all about nutrition standards. If the Maine Coon's food is provided depending on its size and weight, then such problems should not arise.

There are four classes of dry food:

Holistic. Highly balanced nutrition with beneficial microelements.
Super premium. Excellent professional type of food. It is he, based on the judgments of the owners of Man Coons, that is the best for this breed.
Premium Good quality food with nutrients.
Economy Unreliable food with low prices, causing symptoms such as tearing, shedding, etc.

Of course, the class of food is chosen only by the owner of the Manx cat, because only the taste of the food consumed is important to the animal.

Please note an important point: the indicated microelements almost always correspond to the amount mentioned on the packaging, however, the raw material base of such a product may be completely different!

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.

Feeding Maine Coon wet food

Canned or wet food has virtually no radical differences. But pet markets do business with them, distributing them into complete food and tasty delicacies. The main form of production of such food is pates and jellies. They, in turn, are divided into premium and economical products. Individuals of this breed are very fond of this food.

Premium food for Maine Coon

As mentioned above, the Manx cat needs only high quality food. The presence of a specific type of meat is mandatory; for nutritional value, the list of ingredients must contain mineral elements and fats.

Comment. There should be no preservatives, flavors or other artificial additives in premium quality products!

Dry and wet food of premium quality for Manx cats is produced by Royal Canin, EaglePack, Hills and some others.

The first and last manufacturers have a super premium reputation, as they produce their own medicinal products. In addition, these brands differ from others in their quality. It should be noted that high quality food is labeled PREMIUM or SUPERPREMIUM.

Drinking water

Many cat owners mistakenly believe that their animals get enough moisture from their food. In fact, your cat needs to have 24/7 access to fresh water.

Lack of fluid provokes the development of serious pathologies, such as impaired renal function and a disorder of water balance in the body. The amount of water a Maine Coon should drink depends on the animal's diet. A cat eating dry food needs to replenish 250-300% of moisture, and natural vegetable or meat puree already contains liquid, but drinking is still necessary (at least 50% of the food weight).

This is interesting! It has been noticed that, regardless of the type of food and taste preferences, absolutely all Maine Coons drink a lot of water.

Natural food for Maine Coon cats

Natural food does not mean everything that the owner himself eats and feeds his pet with the same. Homemade meals are not really suitable for this breed and can be harmful to your cat.

See also - what to feed a Maine Coon using natural food?

Therefore, before you start feeding, you should definitely familiarize yourself with the foods allowed in the diet. The Maine Coon takes very well to boiled chicken and all dishes associated with it, especially breast and neck.

You can also eat beef. But duck and pork meat should not be added to the diet, as they put stress on the liver. Canned meat products, stewed meats and various smoked foods are prohibited. Among the delicacies, you can pamper your cat with boiled liver.

Fermented milk products, especially milk, are extremely beneficial for kittens (see also proper nutrition for Maine Coon kittens). Actually, this applies to all breeds. But over time, when the Manx cat becomes older, milk is no longer recommended for constant consumption, as it causes problems with stool. Therefore, it should be eliminated from the diet of an adult cat. You can give them milk derivatives such as yogurt and kefir, but also in limited quantities.

As for seafood, everything is ambiguous here too. It is not recommended to give raw fish, especially capelin. It becomes a source of worms in Maine Coons. It is also better not to give boiled fish.

But you can treat your cat with boiled squid or shrimp, you just need to make sure that they are cooked without the use of spices, even excluding salt.

It is not advisable to include chicken egg whites in the diet of a purebred cat. But as for the yolks, they are even desirable for the Maine Coon. They strengthen the immune system and improve the condition of the cat's coat.

Several times a week, a purebred giant can be given such a delicacy as quail eggs. Many vegetables and fruits contain some starch. Such vegetables and fruits go well with other foods. They are well accepted by the breed if you occasionally add them to the food (such food is not suitable for regular food). They are ground and mixed with other food.

However, the Manx cat’s diet can be diluted with various cereals. Among the acceptable ones are rice, oatmeal and buckwheat porridge. But you should not regularly give your coon porridge, as the breed grows to large sizes and therefore needs healthy food.

Owners who know a lot about keeping Maines already prepare porridges themselves, which contain all the elements that contribute to their healthy development.

Please note that greenery is no less important to your pet than water, so it must be placed in a place accessible to him.

If the owner decides to feed his pet natural food, then he must remember that choosing the correct consistency of the necessary substances himself is quite problematic. In addition, the cat's food should contain vitamins and minerals. CANINA also produces such food.

The highest quality vitamin food for maines:

"Top 10", published by Canina. Kangidrox (Canina) and Calcidee feeds containing calcium and phosphorus (8in1) help strengthen bones and joints.
Beautiful wool will be provided by “Brewers” (8in1) and “Cat feel OK” (Canina) food.

All vitamin supplements should be stored in tightly closed containers out of reach of the animal.

Age 4 to 7 months

An adult Maine Coon should consume a large amount of calories compared to an average-sized cat. However, it is undesirable to overfeed a kitten; problems with joints and digestion are possible. However, by this period many of the kittens are already able to independently regulate the amount of food for 1 day and not eat excess.

Normal feeding consists of a standard set; you can try to include chicken gizzards, hearts, liver and other offal in the diet. For proper nutrition, vegetables, cereals, as well as cottage cheese and whey are still needed.

[ads-pc-1] The only thing that distinguishes a teenage Maine Coon from an established relative in terms of nutrition is the frequency of feeding. The more times he eats, the better the food is absorbed. For a playful and energetic kitten, the energy that comes from protein food is important. Calcium contained in fermented milk products and phosphorus from fish take part in the growth of the musculoskeletal system, jaws and teeth of the kitten. Many substances affect the condition of the animal’s fur, claws and well-being. As before, feeding requires variety.

Mixed nutrition

The main thing in a mixed diet should be dry commercial food; natural food is added to it, which serves as additional food. The meat content during mixed feeding should not be more than 20%, otherwise the animal will require only this product.

Then the owner will have no choice but to switch to natural food and calculate the proportions of the necessary substances himself, or completely switch the cat to industrial food.

Causes of increased oily coat

The tail coat is prone to natural oiling, which is due to the location of the sebaceous glands. If something is disrupted in their functioning, the fat content of the entire integument may increase. At the same time, the skin pores become clogged and the quality of the coat decreases. All this can provoke an extraordinary moult, from which it will be difficult to recover.

The use of degreasing shampoos can help reduce the oiliness of the coat. Their use is acceptable from time to time even for healthy animals. Shampoos alone cannot solve the problem, and if the coat constantly becomes oily, not only on the tail, this is a signal to change the diet and consult a doctor.

Maine Coon diet

To determine the norms of daily nutrition, you need to know the weight of your pet. A useful ratio has been calculated: per kg of cat weight there are 60 kcal and 10 g of protein.

Based on a simple estimate, the average Maine needs more than 150 g of feed per day. If the animal is already an adult, then the daily norm should be doubled or more.

Before purchasing industrial food for your pet, veterinarians insist on a detailed study of the composition of the product. In the recommended version, 100 grams of food contain 350 kcal, 35% protein, 20% fat and at least 2.5% fiber. A cat should eat no more than 2-3 times daily. But kittens need to be fed in small portions 4-5 times a day.

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.

Manx cat diet

Let's give the approximate amount of daily food for a Maine Coon (per 1 kg of weight).

According to the first option, lean meat should be about 113 grams, boiled rice - 35 grams. Add 3 teaspoons of vegetable puree with vitamin supplements to this dish.

According to the second option, the coon should be given 2-3 pieces of quail yolk, 30 grams of cottage cheese. Add here up to 150 g of boiled beef meat, and again with the addition of vitamins and minerals.

A properly groomed and fed raccoon cat is active, enthusiastic, and looks quite well-fed in appearance. There is a direct relationship between the nutrients that are in a cat’s daily diet and its beauty.

About the breed

Maine Coons are also called American Coon Cats, probably because that's where they come from. This breed gained fame back in the 19th century, and since then it has been given the palm in popularity only once - to the fluffier Persians.

There was even a period when Maine Coons could have disappeared altogether as a species , but thanks to their impressive appearance and excellent hunting abilities, they managed not only to survive, but also to take first places at exhibitions.

Today, the Maine Coon is one of the most popular breeds. And it’s not just their unusual appearance – these cats have an unusually kind character. The formidable beast is actually more similar in character to a plush toy: it will never scratch you and can’t even meow loudly.

In terms of care, only the claws and fur require special attention, but the food ration is quite simple for adults; with babies you will have to tinker.

Combating aggressive behavior

Despite their balanced behavior and calm nature, Maine Coons can be aggressive.

This condition is considered normal in the following cases:

the animal is tired or unwell, or sick;
fright, a state of fear or shock;
irritation from external factors;
fight with other cats;
strong passion for gaming;
excited state.

Cats of this breed can bite and scratch both with positive and negative emotions. A sick animal should be left alone and allowed to lie down in a secluded place. If a kitten gets too playful and injures its owner, you can press it to the floor for a few seconds and ignore it for half an hour after the punishment.

Throws on the owner

Signs of aggressive behavior in cats include hissing and lunging at people. This is how the animal prepares for self-defense when it feels threatened or in danger. If a representative of this breed perceives the owner as an enemy and is very irritated, you should leave him alone and give him time to calm down. And you will have the opportunity to analyze the situation and understand what provoked such a reaction.

Causing injury

An individual of any age can injure or injure a person. Cats bite when their teeth change or during puberty. To avoid injury, you should purchase special toys for your pet at the pet store that can be chewed.

Problems arise when cats bite and scratch their owners in a fit of aggression. This behavior must be stopped immediately. Otherwise, it will be difficult to defend the position of leader in communicating with this breed. You can punish by splashing water in the face or shaking the withers. Then a short period of ignoring and reconciliation.

Incessant meowing

Meowing is a way to attract attention. Most often, cats communicate in this way about hunger or thirst.

But it is possible that the animal is feeling unwell or requires affection. When a kitten meows for a long time and persistently, it means he needs the owner’s participation. The main task is to identify his needs and help.

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Toilet and tray training

Maine Coons are very smart cats and, as a rule, they intuitively understand what a litter box is for. If the baby makes a puddle in the wrong place, there is no need to yell at him or punish him, this will not help, but rather, on the contrary, will only embitter the kitten. You need to take a napkin and blot the cat's puddle, then transfer the napkin to the tray. This will allow your pet to find the right place by smell next time.

The very place where the trouble happened must be thoroughly washed with a detergent with a strong smell; you can wipe it with orange or lemon peel in order to discourage the desire to do it again.

The tray should be spacious, because the Maine Coon is a fairly large kitten, so that it can easily turn around there. You can use newspaper or sand as filler, but this is troublesome, since sand sticks to your paws and spreads throughout the house. It is better to buy ready-made filler in the store and change it when it gets dirty.