Choosing the right food and diet for the Maine Coon

Maine Coons differ from many purebred cats in their greater weight and size, so to maintain the health of the animal and the beautiful appearance of its rich fur, you need to choose the right diet.

The diet can consist of natural products or specialized food for regular, spayed or neutered Maine Coons. It is also important to first familiarize yourself with the list of foods that should not be fed to pets, the nutritional habits of small kittens and pregnant cats.

How much does a Maine Coon eat?

As a child, a Maine Coon kitten needs to be fed in small portions from 5 to 7 times a day, later the number of feedings is reduced to 2-3 times a day.

An adult cat should be fed 3 times a day - the exception is feeding animals that are underweight.

Important! The Maine Coon must have regular access to water - it must be changed several times a week. It is best to give your pet filtered water: boiled water damages the enamel of the animal’s teeth, and drinking running water can lead to problems with the digestive and urinary systems due to the chlorine content in it.

Feeding castrated animals

Most animals show a more active appetite after surgery. This is due to changes in hormonal levels. The owner needs to closely monitor the weight, activity and general behavior of the neutered Maine Coon. As soon as the cat becomes passive, refuses to go for walks, or begins to breathe heavily after slight physical exertion, it means that its weight has exceeded the permissible limits. In this case, the portion is reduced and 2-3 fasting fasting days per month are prescribed.

Castrated cats are prone to manifestations of urolithiasis - a special series of industrial feeds is intended for them.

It is not recommended to give fish to castrated cats.

Proper nutrition of the Maine Coon is the key to its good health and guarantees that the pet will reach old age. And some of the difficulties in preparing natural food or the financial costs of high-quality industrial mixtures are more than compensated for by years of long and strong friendship between the owner and his giant pet.

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Natural nutrition

Cats are carnivores, so 80% of their daily diet should consist of meat products containing proteins, as well as vitamins and minerals necessary for the smooth functioning of the animal’s body. Natural food is best suited for the Maine Coon breed and should contain:

1. Various types of lean meat . The raw product should be frozen in advance so as not to harm the cat’s health. Before serving, you need to grind it in a blender or cut it into small pieces.
2. Offal . Give crushed, raw, no more than once a week.
3. Sea fish with a minimum amount of bones to avoid injury to the digestive tract. Red varieties of fish, introduced into the diet 1-2 times a week, will help saturate your pet’s body with fatty acids.
4. Porridge . Sprouted wheat, oats or barley are best suited for the Maine Coon, since these grains contain the maximum amount of vitamins.
5. Eggs . Preference is given to quail eggs, but chicken eggs are also allowed. Veterinarians recommend mixing a raw egg with a small amount of milk and feeding the cat this cocktail 2 times a week.
6. Milk, cottage cheese, kefir, natural yogurt without additives . It is better to choose products with a fat content of 5–9%. It is recommended to avoid fermented milk products with a long shelf life: the preservatives included in the composition have a detrimental effect on the general health of your furry pet. It is recommended to gradually eliminate milk from the diet after the kitten reaches six months.
7. Fresh and boiled vegetables . Carrots, zucchini, cabbage, cauliflower, pumpkin and cucumbers go well with meat and cereals.
8. Greenery . Activates the digestion process and cleanses the stomach of toxic substances.

The Maine Coon must be fed vegetables and dairy products in small portions daily, as they contain fiber and probiotics, which have a positive effect on the pet’s digestion process.

How to switch to natural

If the owners of a Maine Coon, after feeding it with ready-made food, decide to switch the pet to a natural diet, it is important to do this gradually: sudden changes can cause stress and loss of appetite in the pet.

Note! On average, switching a pet to natural foods takes from 1 to 2 weeks.

Experts recommend replacing 1 meal with your cat every 2-3 days. The main requirement is that the animal must receive proteins, fats and carbohydrates in quantities necessary for the normal functioning of the entire body.

Initially, it is recommended to offer the cat meat: if the animal eats it and there are no problems with stool, after a few days the next natural ingredient is introduced.

Feeding rules

Cats tend to get used to certain food compositions. For Maine Coons, you should choose a monotonous, but always balanced diet. The food can be changed periodically, but the ratio of the amount of meat it contains to other ingredients should remain the same.

It is important to immediately determine what to feed your coon: natural food or dry food. The enzymes that are produced during animal feeding are different in each case.

Therefore, you should not practice both types of nutrition at the same time.

If the dry option is chosen, the animal should have constant access to a bowl filled with granules. Maine Coons are able to independently regulate the amount of food they eat. But sometimes there are animals that are prone to gluttony. In such cases, the total daily amount of food is divided into 3 meals.

Twice a day you need to pour fresh filtered water for your pet. Maine Coons drink more than regular cats. For kittens, food granules should be soaked in warm water or low-fat cream.

If you can’t decide which food option to choose for your pet Maine Coon, it’s better to consult a specialist. After all, incorrectly selected dry food can harm the animal. Signs that your pet is unwell are:

• diarrhea or increased stool volume;
• constipation;
• hair loss;
• lacrimation;
• vomit;
• allergic rashes, spots on the skin;
• lack of appetite.

The best option for Maine Coons is considered to be monofeeding with a suitable industrial composition. To prevent food granules from absorbing foreign odors, experts advise storing them in a container with a tightly closed lid.

Dry and wet food

It is recommended to feed with premium food because they:

• contain all the necessary nutrients and meat;
• have a long shelf life;
• convenient to transport and use;
• saves a lot of time.

Suitable food for Maine Coon is divided into the following varieties:

• holistic - food that is recommended by experts even for animals with health problems;
• super-premium class - have a balanced composition with a high percentage of meat content;
• premium class - contain vitamins and minerals in the quantities necessary for the animal.

The main disadvantage of such feeds is their high cost. Products in the form of mousses or pates should be consumed by the cat at one meal, and the leftovers should be thrown away immediately. This is due to the fact that such food quickly deteriorates when opened and becomes dangerous to the health of your furry pet.

Economical feeds do not contain enough meat and by-products and are of low quality. Long-term consumption of such foods contributes to the development of kidney, bladder and digestive tract diseases in your pet.

A list of the best brands of ready-made dry and wet food for representatives of the Maine Coon breed is highlighted.

Rating of super-premium brands

The most popular and healthy brands of food:

1. Acana . A Canadian product consisting of 75% fresh meat and 25% vegetables. Contains probiotics that normalize digestive processes.
2. Wildcat . German food contains 79% chicken or turkey, it also includes berries and chicken fat.
3. Orijen . Canadian-made food consists of 85% poultry or fish and 15% vegetable additives. Can be fed at any age, suitable for sterilized cats. There is a line for pets suffering from excess weight.
4. Applaws . Produced in the UK, contains 80% meat and 20% herbal additives.
5. Optima Nova . Spanish products contain 75% animal protein and 25% natural additives.

The described foods, unlike cheaper products, do not contain potatoes, soy, grains or trans fats, and therefore do not harm the health of the pet. Maine Coon can be fed with more affordable brands: Royal Canin, Purina, Nutra Mix, but it is better to choose premium food that matches the breed.

If your pet’s health has worsened or an allergic reaction to the selected brand of food has occurred, you must urgently exclude it from the cat’s diet and select a new food, taking into account the veterinarian’s recommendations.

The best brands

Food for Maine Coon should be selected taking into account not only the physiology of this breed, but also the individual characteristics of a particular individual - health status, activity level, age. The best food for Maine Coons are:

1. Hiils;
2. Eukanuba;
3. Nutro Choice;
4. Brit Care;
5. Nutram;
6. Natyka;
7. Pronature Holistic.

Special mention should be made of the Royal Canin brand , which has developed an individual diet for kittens (labeled “kitten”) and adult Maine Coons: Royal Canin Maine Coon Kitten and Royal Canin Adult Maine Coon. These foods are enriched with Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, contain taurine, EPA and DHA and other beneficial components, and their granules are adapted for the jaws of Maine Coons. You can also choose food for Maine Coon of any age from the wide range of the Pro Plan brand.

Kitten food

Frequency of feeding a kitten in different months of life.

The greatest changes in feeding and portion sizes for a Maine Coon kitten occur from 2 months. At this time, the pet begins to actively grow and gain muscle mass, so it needs to be fed more.

Economy class

Food in this class most likely does not contain the best quality ingredients. There is practically no natural meat. This food is available everywhere and can be purchased in an emergency.

List:

• Whiskeys;
• Kitekat;
• Friskies;
• Perfect Fit.

The composition contains dried meat protein, not a natural product.

These are the cheapest product options for Maine Coons. It contains fish and meat flour, there is no natural, whole meat at all and, accordingly, not enough protein. For Maine Coons, this class of food is more harmful than they need or even useful.

Special food

Your Maine Coon will need to be fed differently depending on factors such as neutering, pregnancy or old age.

For a pregnant cat

While carrying kittens, the expectant mother's portions increase: throughout pregnancy, the cat is fed foods high in protein, protein and beneficial microelements:

• the first weeks - the daily ration increases by 10%, it is best to add 1 meal;
• from 3 to 7 weeks - increase each portion by 5%, but do not overfeed the animal: this can cause excess weight gain and lead to problems with childbirth;
• from 7 weeks until birth - due to physiological changes, the cat’s appetite decreases, so it is recommended to feed her 3 times a day.

Note! The duration of pregnancy is 64–65 days, and throughout this time the cat must be fed with protein, vitamins and microelements included in the diet.

For nursing cats

After giving birth, a cat experiences increased energy expenditure associated with feeding the offspring, so the daily diet increases the amount of cottage cheese, kefir or sour cream, boiled eggs and fish are added, and the meat should be scalded with boiling water before serving.

For older cats

Adjusting the daily diet for an elderly Maine Coon:

• protein - 40%;
• fats - from 15 to 30%;
• fiber - 5%;
• carbohydrates - up to 20%.

The body of an adult Maine Coon produces sufficient amounts of enzymes designed to digest proteins, so the inclusion of carbohydrate foods in the daily diet is not necessary.

For neutered Maine Coons

Neutered Maine Coons are prone to gaining excess weight, so it is important not to feed them too much. If their diet consists of natural products, it is recommended to completely exclude fish: it leads to salt deposits in the kidneys, which increases the risk of diseases of the genitourinary system.

Experts advise feeding castrates only with specialized premium food with a low content of magnesium and phosphorus. When feeding dry food, the daily water intake should be increased by 3 times in relation to the food eaten.

Diet for weight gain

To gain weight to an acceptable standard, a Maine Coon should initially increase each meal by 5–10%, giving preference to meat products. If this step does not achieve the desired result, it is recommended to coordinate with your veterinarian to add another meal to the daily diet.

Middle category

Purina dry CAT CHOW Feline 3 in 1. Made in Switzerland. Provides prevention of urolithiasis, designed for Maine Coons with sensitive skin and digestion.

Bosch Sanabelle Adult Strauss. Manufacture: Germany. Contains ostrich meat, does not contain GMOs, dyes or chemical additives.

List:

• Pronature Holistic Grain Free Nordiko (Canada);
• GO! Daily Defense (Canada);
• Hiil's;
• Pro Plan Derma Plus Salmon (France).

Medium category food is of higher quality than economy class, but Maine Coons, with their weak bones and genitourinary system, should receive this food infrequently or not always. This group of feeds contains grains, sometimes soy, and preservatives.