In our article we provide a table that displays the development of Maine Coon cats by month; our zoologist described in detail all the nuances, development of the kitten, features of this breed, the most popular colors.
Video about Maine Coons
The Maine Coon is considered one of the largest cats. This cat will leave few people indifferent. He does not have the simplest character and is said to often behave like a dog. Normal kitten development is determined by how well they grow and gain weight.
Maine Coon sizes by month - table
Character and characteristics of the Maine Coon breed
The appearance of the Maine Coon is so unique that it is difficult to confuse it with other representatives of the cat family. If you imagine something in common between a cat, a raccoon and a lynx, you will get a portrait of a representative of this breed. Ears decorated with tassels, fluffy striped tail. And these are all Maine Coons. It differs from ordinary cats not only in this, but also in its impressive size, as well as habits.
The Maine Coon has strong muscles, a rectangular body, and powerful paws. He has a wide chest. Some representatives of this breed have almost a lion's mane on their neck. The wool is soft and thick to the touch, it has amazing quality, it does not get wet. Therefore, the Maine Coon is the only domestic cat that is not at all afraid of water.
The undercoat is thick and also does not get wet. The cat has strong paws, round in shape. The coon looks impressive and serious. His character is almost dog-like, he is so attached to his owner. He takes the security of his territory very seriously. If necessary, he is able to stand up for her protection.
Despite its impressive dimensions, the cat can get along under the same roof with other pets, and even take part in games with them. Just don’t try to make friends with fish or birds, since most likely they will turn out to be his prey.
The coon is active and loves active games, so he needs a lot of space to play. Otherwise, he is capable of tearing off the curtains, damaging the furniture and generally causing a little mayhem in the house. Which, of course, will not please the owners much.
Sizes of adult cats
Maine Coons hold the record for height among domestic cats, so there are many myths regarding their size.
Often, owners artificially bring animals to a record weight of 15-20 kg, which can lead to illness and obesity in the pet.
In fact, an adult cat weighs on average 3.5-7.6 kg, and a cat weighs 5.9-12 kg. The pet's body length ranges from 1 to 1.5 meters. The height of an adult animal is 25-41 cm, and the length of the tail does not exceed 35 cm.
Maine Coon is the record holder among domestic cats for height/Yandex Collections
In addition to their significant size, Maine Coons have the following features:
- strong paws;
- massive head;
- large shoulders and neck;
- elongated body with developed muscles.
Together, these characteristics give cats an impressive appearance. With a weight of 7-9 kg, the animals look many times larger than cats of other breeds. A Maine Coon cat reaches its maximum size only at three to five years of age, which is considered late adulthood.
Features of behavior of Maine Coon cats
The Maine Coon is not at all afraid of the street; moreover, he enjoys walking on a leash with his owner. He has no fear of water, he can keep his owner company and take a shower with him. He even drinks water from a bowl, scooping it with his paw. There is another interesting feature. This cat even rinses her food in water.
Features of behavior of Maine Coon cats
The raccoon cat (another name for the breed) never uses its claws against a child or owner. She endures even unpleasant procedures with loud screams, but never uses her formidable weapon. Kun will tolerate the children's antics. He loves them and enjoys playing with them.
Coon owners note their unusual mental abilities and developed intelligence. At the same time, you need to remember that a huge cat at heart always remains a small kitten, active and playful. This is an incredibly active animal.
Maintenance and care at home
Firstly, you should take into account the fact that this is a large breed, so it needs a little more living space. Based on this, arranging a cat's corner for a pet requires a serious approach, since it determines how much the animal will be provided with the opportunity to burn calories. If an animal is deprived of the opportunity to spend time actively, it will quickly begin to gain excess weight, which can provoke the development of various ailments. As a rule, the life expectancy of a pet directly depends on this.
In order for an animal to please family members for many years, it must be provided with the following accessories:
- Pukhoderka.
- Non-metallic comb with wide teeth.
- Massage, non-metallic brush with antistatic coating.
- Shampoo-conditioner.
- Bath terry towel.
- Nail clippers or special tweezers.
- A special toothbrush and toothpaste.
- Ear cleaning solution or sterile petroleum jelly.
- With cotton swabs and regular cotton wool.
Maine Coons are one of the few breeds that respond well to being walked on a leash, so they can be walked like dogs. It is also necessary to take care of the safety of the animal by timely vaccination, as well as quarterly deworming. This is especially true if there are other pets in the house.
Important point! By walking a pet, the owner unwittingly exposes it to the risk of infection with ectoparasites.
Care and hygiene
As a rule, mandatory care and hygiene measures include monitoring the oral cavity, eyes and ears. That's why:
- Experts recommend removing natural discharge from the eyes daily using a damp cotton swab.
- Clean your ears regularly using special solutions or sterilized petroleum jelly.
- Once a month, ears are cleaned using cotton swabs, taking precautions.
- When feeding with dry factory food, teeth are brushed once a month, and in the case of feeding with natural food, then at least once every 2 weeks.
Due to the fact that the breed is distinguished by the presence of long and fluffy hair, it is necessary to properly and regularly groom it. The cat will have to be bathed once a week, and it is better to accustom the animal to such water procedures from an early age.
Interesting fact! Maine Coons generally take well to water procedures, so there should be no problems with bathing. The animal is also bathed immediately before being shown at an exhibition, as well as during periods of molting.
It is advisable that the animal be bathed with its ears closed. To do this, they can be covered with cotton swabs. Bathing should be carried out using special detergents designed for bathing animals with long hair. At the same time, we should not forget about the fluffy and long tail of the Maine Coon. After applying the detergent and evenly distributing it over the surface of the coat, the soap suds are thoroughly washed off several times with plenty of water. The use of special conditioners allows you to obtain a much better appearance of wool. In addition, this will make the process of combing the animal easier.
What to feed
The diet of this breed should be approached very responsibly, taking into account the active metabolism, as well as the weight of the animal. It is very important that the diet is balanced in all nutritional components. In this case, it is advisable to give preference to ready-made factory feed of the highest class. Such, for example, as:
- Royal Canin;
- Eukanuba;
- Eagle-Pack;
- Nutro;
- Hills.
Dry factory food can be combined with canned wet food from the same foreign manufacturer. It is not recommended to feed your animal a mixture of food from different brands. Before purchasing such food rations, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the contents of the package. It is very important that the content of plant components is minimal.
You need to know this! When feeding natural food, it is necessary that the percentage of meat in the Maine Coon's diet is at least 75 percent. The missing 25 percent of the diet should be diluted with eggs, liquid cereals, vegetables, seafood, and dairy products.
It is very important that the Maine Coon’s diet includes greens, as well as vitamin and mineral supplements. If there is no need, then switching an animal from feeding on natural ingredients to feeding on ready-made commercial diets does not make sense, and is not recommended. In addition, it is not advisable to mix diets from different manufacturers.
Nutrition for purebred cats. Maine Coons
Diseases and breed defects
As a rule, this breed has a good, stable immune system, so Maine Coons are considered healthy and hardy animals. They tolerate well even the conditions of colder climatic zones.
The most serious diseases are:
- Heart problems associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which develops against the background of autosomal dominant hereditary processes. As a rule, such problems are observed in middle-aged and elderly animals. As the disease progresses, swelling of the pulmonary tissues occurs with sudden paralysis of the hind limbs. After such negative processes, the death of the animal occurs.
- Wall muscular atrophy appears in kittens three to four months of age and is caused by genetic factors. When moving, the animal's back part of the body sways, which with age becomes an obstacle to the animal easily jumping onto various objects located at a height.
- Hip dysplasia, which can affect both joints at the same time. It is considered a genetically determined disease that makes the animal inferior. As a rule, older animals suffer and in the initial stages it manifests itself in the form of noticeable lameness.
Polycystic renal disease is also considered a hereditary disease, although it occurs quite rarely. Such diseases or predisposition to them are determined as a result of genetic testing.
Features of the Maine Coon breed
One of the features of the breed is its origin. This is an indigenous breed of American cats that appeared as a result of natural selection. These are very large cats with a solid appearance and an unusual character. At the same time, they are devoted to their owner, capable of making friends and suitable for the role of companions.
They get along well in a family, but only one person is recognized as the owner. The sounds of their voice can hardly be called meowing; rather, they resemble purring. Since cats are heavy, they cannot walk quietly, they stomp loudly, and simply adore water. The Kuna can be taught to carry shoes and various objects in its teeth.
Reviews
Maxim Davidovich, 37 years old, Arkhangelsk
I've always loved massive animals. As a child, I had large dogs, but my wife is not a fan of dogs, so we decided to get a Maine Coon - a “giant cat”. I was so passionate about this idea that I contacted the breeder long before I decided to buy a kitten. He allowed me to look at the kitten, which was born just a week ago - then it weighed a maximum of 250 grams! I couldn’t believe that this baby could grow into a nine-kilogram giant. I immediately came up with a name: Achilles.
When I chose a kitten for myself, I constantly came to the breeder and watched how my future pet grew up. Still, I took him home when he was already four months old. When Achilles was six months old, his weight had already reached more than 5 kg, and at a year - almost 8. Now two more months have passed, and our favorite does not stop growing, but I was glad that this will not be for long. No one takes him in their arms anymore, and in general, Achilles immediately made it clear that there was no need to “little him” with him. In fact, it is a great blessing that there is such a big cat in the house. He doesn’t have to try to attract attention to himself - everyone notices him right away. Of course, my wife and I have certain difficulties, because Achilles eats like a real member of the family, but we do not regret having him!
Ksenia Alekseevna, 35 years old, Novosibirsk
When I left my home country, the most difficult moment for me was transporting my pet, a Maine Coon cat. I have long been in line to purchase this cat, and have been waiting, having long ago bought a ticket for a flight to Novosibirsk. I had to return the tickets because by the time of departure the Maine Coon could gain 10 kilograms, and I could not imagine how to transport him! As a result, I left the country early with a six-month-old cat in my arms, and he survived the flight well - at that time he weighed only 4.5 kg.
It’s good that I didn’t wait another six months! Alex (that’s what I named the cat) has grown so much that now I don’t risk picking him up! I only do this if I want to take a photo. This is a cat weighing 11 kg and more than a meter long! I heard that growth stops after a year, and I’m very happy about that, otherwise I don’t know what to do with such a giant. Moreover, the Maine Coon continues to develop up to 4-5 years, the muscles will become stronger, and the coat will become more beautiful. Of course, I am very glad that I am “raising” a cat of a special size and I am sure that he will then help me raise my children, because Maine Coons adore babies and are distinguished by patience and calmness.
Mark Egorovich, 63 years old, Stupino
I don’t know why many people are afraid of Maine Coon cats, but I consider it the best representative of the cat family. She differs in many ways from miniature cats and is fully consistent with her noble origin. When I first saw this cat on TV, I learned that it is the largest domestic cat! The biggest one! Therefore, I began to save from my pension and soon acquired my favorite Asya.
Unlike cats of other breeds, the Maine Coon will never get dirty, will never go past the litter box, will never run all over the apartment and will never tear wallpaper or scratch furniture. Although they are the largest and largest cats in the world, their presence in the apartment is practically not noticeable at all! I have a two-room apartment and Asya has her own place, which she keeps clean and tidy. When her grandchildren come to visit, she pays attention to them and “communicates” with them, but does not allow herself to be squeezed - a royal person, after all. Sometimes I really regret that Asya was sterilized; I would really like my beauty to give birth to offspring. But for now, she alone is enough for me.
Maine Coon growth chart by month by age
| Age | Cat (weight in grams) | Cat (weight in grams) |
| After birth | 170 | 120 |
| One week | 230 | 190 |
| Two weeks | 380 | 340 |
| One month | 700 | 600 |
| Two month | 1350 | 1250 |
| Three months | 2200 | 1850 |
| Four months | 3400 | 3000 |
| Five months | 4500 | 3500 |
| Six months | 5000 | 3800 |
| Seven months | 5500 | 4300 |
| Eight months | 6000 | 4800 |
| Nine month | 6300 | 5000 |
| Ten months | 6900 | 5300 |
| Eleven months | 7400 | 5700 |
| Twelve months | 8000 | 6000 |
| Two years | 10000 | 6800 |
| Two and a half years | 12500 | 7300 |
| Three years | 14000 | 8000 |
Comparative table of the rating scale in points
| Category | CFA | TICA | FIFe | WCF |
| Head | 30 | 40 | 40 | 30 |
| Head shape | 15 | 8 | ||
| Eyes | 5 | 5 | ||
| Ears | 10 | 10 | ||
| Eye shape and fit | 5 | |||
| Ear shape and placement | 10 | |||
| Body | 30 | 35 | 35 | 35 |
| Frame | 15 | 10 | ||
| Limbs | 5 | 3 | ||
| Neck | 5 | |||
| Tail | 5 | 5 | ||
| Backbone | 7 | |||
| Musculature | 10 | |||
| Coat, color, pattern, eye color | 35 | 25 | 20 | 30 |
| Wool | 20 | 25 | 20 | |
| Balance | 5 | |||
| Condition | 5 | 5 |
What affects the growth of Maine Coons
Several conditions influence how well a raccoon cat kitten grows and develops.
Important conditions are:
- Purebred kitten. If a kitten is born with a lot of weight, it will turn into a large animal;
- Gender. Cats are naturally larger than cats. They grow more actively and weigh more;
- Genetics. In large cats, the offspring will also be the same;
- Genotypes of the kitten's parents. The unique combination gives the kitten a unique genotype;
- Hormonal drugs. You can change your pet's weight with medication.
In addition, the development of a kitten is influenced by the conditions in which it lives. If the kitten is provided with suitable conditions for it, then it will grow and develop correctly. Normally, weight gain should be at least 10 grams per day.
CFA
According to the general description, Maine Coons are strong cats with great endurance and are adapted to life in difficult climatic conditions. These are well-balanced and harmoniously built animals, without signs of excess. The main feature of the breed is its smooth and shiny coat. When assessing a particular specimen, type, not size, is of paramount importance.
Description of the standard:
- Head. It has medium length and width, a square-shaped muzzle. A wider head does not cause fines or disqualification of the animal, if we are talking about stud cats.
- Ears. Large, with pointed tips and tassels on them. Set wide and high, the distance between them approximately coincides with the width of the ear at the base.
- Eyes. Large, slightly convex, set wide and slightly oblique. They can be green, gold, golden-green or copper. Blue eyes are allowed only in representatives of the breed with a white coat or bicolors.
- Body. Medium or large, rectangular, well-developed muscles. The neck is of medium length, the chest is wide.
- Limbs. Strong, medium length, proportional to the body. The pads are round and there are tufts of fur between the toes. The front paws have 5 toes, the hind paws have 4.
- Tail. Long, tapering towards the end, covered with long hair.
- Coat. Fluffy, long, silky. Shorter on the shoulders than on the belly and hind legs.
- Coat color. White, black, blue, red, cream colors, various variations of tabby and tipping colors are allowed.
Reasons for disqualification:
- Light frame.
- Wedge-shaped or narrow muzzle.
- Malocclusion.
- Strabismus.
- Noticeable use of cats of other bloods when breeding an animal.
Chocolate, lilac, cinnamon or Siamese coats are not acceptable.
Deviations from the norm in height and weight of Maine Coons
If your pet does not gain weight and grows more slowly, this may be due to improper care conditions. He may lack vitamins and nutrients. In addition, possible diseases should be excluded. However, if the baby is healthy and provided with the necessary conditions, but for some reason does not gain the required weight and height, then this is probably not a purebred coon.
Deviations from the norm in height and weight of Maine Coons
Why are cats so expensive?
Maine Coon kittens have always been expensive, but many believe that breeders unreasonably inflate the price. In fact, the cost of a kitten depends on several factors, including its color and gender. Thus, keeping a kitten in the first three months of life can cost more than caring for a child. In order to raise a 90-day-old cat, the breeder spends about 20 thousand rubles. The calculation takes into account the cat’s nutrition and the kitten’s feeding, including vitamins and specific fillers. Creating a veterinary passport and service at the clinic, including receiving routine vaccinations, are also not cheap procedures. The breeder who works 24/7 should also be rewarded. Thus, the minimum cost of a three-month-old cat cannot be less than 25 thousand rubles.
If you are offered a cheaper pet, most likely the breeder skimped on food for the kitten and its mother and did not observe basic hygiene measures. You should be wary if the so-called nursery does not have a website with photographs of pets and their merits. A kitten without a pedigree automatically becomes an outbred animal, so you shouldn’t skimp on this. Kittens in the breed and pet class categories have some deviations from the breed, so they are much cheaper. However, you should not try to purchase a kitten with serious disorders in the functioning of the internal organs: if the cat is not healthy, it can be given away for a nominal fee or given as a gift, but it is unlikely that a loving owner will simply come to terms with this illness.
Causes of weight gain and loss in Maine Coons
Raccoon cats vary in size and weight. Most often, the cause of this is a pet’s health problems or an incorrectly formulated diet. The weight of an adult coon may decrease for a number of reasons:
- The diet is chosen incorrectly and does not provide the pet with the required amount of nutrients;
- Genetic characteristics;
- Stressful situation;
- Helminths;
- Low quality food;
- Hormonal disorders;
- Serious health problems.
If an animal is rapidly losing weight, then it is necessary first to evaluate the quality of its nutrition. If it does not correspond to the norm, then make the necessary adjustments. If this does not help, then you should look for the reasons.
Often there is another reason. Overweight. Very often cats face this problem after castration. If your pet is obese, then dietary adjustments should be made.
Record holders
The largest Maine Coon in history had a body length of 123 cm. The tail was 41.5 cm long. This cat had a gray-smoky color, and the record itself was recorded on August 28, 2010. His name was Stewie, he lived in the USA, in the state of Nevada. Another record holder lived in Australia, his name was Omar. He weighed 14 kg. It had a length of 120 cm.
Maine Coon record holder.
One of the most sensational records concerning this breed lived in Australia and had similar dimensions.
The largest cat by weight lived in the USA. He reached a weight of 16.5 kg, and did not have any health problems that could cause such a body weight.
No artificial records
In order to achieve records, many owners begin to overfeed the cat or even introduce special hormonal supplements to quickly gain height and weight, thereby harming its health. Large weight impairs the functioning of the heart, liver, digestive tract, and also leads to metabolic disorders. This way the animal can die much faster. All this led to the fact that many international exhibitions and competitions canceled awards in this category.
What to do before buying a Maine Coon kitten
The kitten must be healthy, have beautiful fur and no defects. To buy a Maine Coon, it is better to go to a nursery that specializes in purebred breeding. You should not look for it on bulletin boards; there is a high probability of deception on the part of the seller. There is a risk of purchasing a sick animal. Although there, of course, the price will be very low.
What to do before buying a Maine Coon kitten
How much will a kitten cost the buyer?
In the list of “10 most expensive cats,” the Maine Coon cat breed takes an honorable ninth place (photo). The price can vary from 1700 to 2500 dollars - for this amount you can buy a budget car. The Maine Coon takes an honorable ninth place. Several positions separate the Maine Coon from the most expensive Asher breed, costing up to 100 thousand dollars, however, not every lover of four-legged fluffies can afford even these giants.
The most valuable are three-month-old kittens, which are divided into three categories: show class, breeding class, pet class. Kittens of the first category have an impeccable pedigree; the slightest deviations that could affect participation in exhibitions are also excluded. To own such a handsome guy, the owner must pay from 40 to 80 thousand rubles. However, these costs will be fully justified if you involve the cat in performances, which can soon bring in a lot of money and will pay for the pet several times over. If you are far from this idea, nothing will stop you from showing off your pet at the exhibition, and if the Maine Coon manages to take a prize, the owner is guaranteed a financial reward.
For kittens of the second category, minor deviations from the standards are implied, but this in no way prevents the owner from breeding. Of course, such cats will not be allowed to participate in exhibitions: they may differ from the purebred breed in the shape of their paws, the thickness of their tail, and the length and texture of their fur. However, the prices for such cats are significantly lower - from 30 to 70 thousand.
Kittens of the third category do not require further breeding. They are bought solely for their own pleasure. Agree, it is a great pride when, instead of a miniature cat, a real fluffy giant comes out of your bedroom. Its cost ranges from 15 to 50 thousand rubles.
Prices for Maine Coon kittens decrease significantly after 4 months have passed since his birth. Adult cats and cats depreciate completely, and they can be bought without the possibility of breeding for a cost not exceeding 25 thousand rubles.
Color variations
The original colors of Maine Coons were “wild” and “black tabby”, but later cats of other colors began to be bred:
- red is one of the most popular, a combination of light and brick or red tones
- white - light color without impurities or shades
- black - noble and deep color
- “black marble” is the most classic color, consisting of impurities and shades of black, white and gray in various variations
- “black smoke” - the color of a thundercloud, resulting from white hairs at the roots and black along the rest of the length
A Maine Coon of any color in the photo turns out to be a magnificent noble cat with a proud and formidable appearance.
