04.05.2022

Maine Coon cats—Here’s what you need to know about everyone’s favourite feline!

Maine Coons are famous for their friendly demeanour, large frame, pointy ears, and long, smooth coat. Their fur is so dense and silky that you might as well call them “mane” Coons! This is one of the largest domestic cat breeds (along with Siberians and Ragdolls), popularly known as the “gentle giant.”

If you’re thinking about adopting a Maine Coon, you should learn all about this breed so you can care for your feline companion in the best possible way. In this article, you’ll find out more about the Maine Coon’s characteristics, personality, common health issues, and nutritional needs. You’ll also discover Untamed—the ultimate cat food for Maine Coons!

Typical Maine Coon traits

Maine Coon cats are so popular among pet parents because of their personality. This breed is playful and super friendly. They are known to be household-friendly cats because of the affection they display towards children, seniors, other cats, and cat-friendly dogs. 

While they’re generally an active and energetic breed, Maine Coons still like to sleep a lot, and you’ll find them napping for up to 16 hours a day. They’re usually active at dawn and dusk. 

Let me take a quick 16-hour nap!

Source: Korina Stecenko

Consult the table below to learn some basic facts about Maine Coons:

Perks of adopting a Maine Coon 

Maine Coons are great indoor cats because they are:

• Adaptable—Maine Coons are easy to take care of as they are super adaptable to the environment
• Slightly talkative—Maine Coons like to meow more often than most cat breeds, so it’s easier to determine their mood and respond accordingly
• Family lovers—Since they are super friendly, Maine Coons are great to keep in your household as they will get along with all family members and pets
• Intelligent—Being able to tame and train your cat can make your life easier. Thanks to their intelligence, Maine Coons are easy to train. All you need is basic knowledge of feline behavioural patterns and tasty treats
• Loyal—Maine Coons have many dog-like traits, including loyalty. The gentle giants tend to be devoted to all members of the household

While Maine Coons aren’t difficult to take care of, there are a few important factors to consider to ensure your feline companion has a happy life.

I know y’all love me so much. I love myself too!

Source: Pixabay

Things to keep in mind

Adopting a Maine Coon comes with specific challenges mainly because this breed:

• Is highly inquisitive—Maine Coons like to wander around, and this curiosity might put them in unfortunate situations (for example, they could eat something poisonous or get lost). To avoid this, it’s good to make their living space as safe as possible (e.g. make sure all harmful ingredients are stored safely) and to keep an eye on them while they’re outdoors
• Can be dependent—This is probably the only downside to Maine Coons sociable nature. You can’t leave them alone for a long time. These felines love company, and if your schedule keeps you away from home, adopting one more pet might be the solution
• Requires frequent grooming—The majestic Maine Coon fur needs to be groomed often. Like most house cats, the gentle giants experience some level of shedding all year round, and you need to take special care of their fur to prevent the mess and too many hairballs. You can expect more shedding in spring and autumn, which is when you’ll probably need to groom them daily
• Needs to spend time outdoor—Since they are active and curious, Maine Coons love large, open spaces where they can roam around freely. If you have a garden, this shouldn’t be an issue, but if you live in an apartment, you should consider taking your cat for a walk at least once a day
• Has a high prey drive—Cats are natural predators, and this breed is no exception. Maine Coons like to chase small animals like mice, frogs, birds, and insects. Hunting can be dangerous for your cat because of the various bacteria their prey could carry. If you want a cat who is active and playful like Maine Coons, you must ensure their regular diet and playtime satisfy their requirements so they don’t feel the need to hunt
• Can suffer from certain health issues—Despite being a hardy breed, Maine Coons can face specific health problems 

Which health issues do Maine Coons suffer from?

Maine Coons can suffer from various hereditary illnesses and lifestyle-related health issues. 

Genetic disorders

Maine Coons have a genetic predisposition to suffer from:

1. Heart disease—Maine Coons can develop hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a disease that causes the thickening of the heart walls. The warning signs include shallow breathing, coughing, and severe weight loss
2. Hip dysplasia—These gentle giants and other large cat breeds can suffer from hip dysplasia, a hereditary disease that causes the malformation of the hip joint and can lead to arthritis
3. Spinal muscular atrophy—This hereditary disease causes Maine Coons to have an abnormal posture and unstable movement
4. Polycystic kidney disease (PKD)—Maine Coons who suffer from PKD are born with pockets of fluid (cysts) in their kidneys. While the cysts are small at the beginning, they can grow and result in kidney failure. The symptoms of the disease are increased thirst, frequent urination, and loss of appetite

Did someone say...vet?!

Source: rogel

Lifestyle-related health issues

If they’re not provided proper nutrition, exercise, and care, Maine Coons can suffer from:

• Dental diseases—Dental issues can be caused by poor oral hygiene and inappropriate nutrition and are usually indicated by discomfort and bad breath. To prevent them, you must brush your Maine Coon’s teeth at least two to four times a week using a specially designed cat-friendly toothbrush. You should also give them dental cat food to improve their oral health and make sure their regular meals don’t contain sugar, artificial colours, and other harmful ingredients
• Obesity—Cats on a high-calorie and high-carb diet tend to gain too much weight. While chubby cats are cute, obese felines can develop various health and mobility issues that make their life difficult
• Diabetes—Obese cats can suffer from insulin resistance, which often leads to diabetes mellitus. Common symptoms include increased appetite, thirst, frequent urination, and sudden weight loss

The best way to ensure your Maine Coon stays healthy, happy, and energetic is to feed them a meat-based, balanced diet that satisfies their nutritional needs and make sure they get enough exercise.

Mmm, my favourite part of the day!

Source: sweetlousie

What does ideal feline nutrition look like?

Your Maine Coon’s regular meals should include the following nutrients:

1. Animal proteins—Proteins are chains of amino acids (such as taurine) necessary for developing healthy muscle structure, protecting organ health, and generating antibodies. Cats should only be fed animal proteins because plant proteins don’t meet their nutritional requirements and are difficult to digest
2. Fatty acids—Animal fat is necessary to maintain of skin and coat health in felines. Your cat’s food should contain up to 20% animal fat because overconsumption can lead to obesity and related health issues
3. Water—In the wild, cats get the right amount of water by eating freshly killed prey. Felines have a low thirst drive, so they don’t feel the need to drink water to compensate for the lack of moisture in their meals. Dehydration can lead to various health problems, including struvite crystals. That’s why all domestic cats, including Maine Coons, should be given food with a high moisture content to keep them hydrated

Do Maine Coons need carbs?

Carbohydrates aren’t necessary in a feline’s diet because cats lack the enzymes to process simple carbs. The primary source of their energy must be animal protein. 

Overconsumption of carbs can lead to weight gain and obesity-related issues. A bit of fibre can be beneficial if your cat suffers from gastrointestinal issues but make sure carbs don’t make up more than 3% of their daily food intake.

Should Maine Coons be fed dry food or wet food?

While dry cat food can be more convenient to store, kibbles have only 10% moisture and are high in carbs, sugar, and various filler ingredients that are harmful to cats in the long run. Regular servings of quality wet food will keep your cat healthy and hydrated because most wet products have over 70% moisture, high amounts of animal protein, and bioavailable nutrients.

You can treat your Maine Coon to cat kibbles occasionally for variety, but make sure their diet is based on wet food. 

Untamed—the healthiest and tastiest Maine Coon cat food!

Cats are picky eaters, which means that the food you offer should be nutritious and tasty. Untamed delivers on both levels! We use only high-quality, human-grade whole meats to ensure our food is healthy, easy to digest, and irresistible for all cats. 

All Untamed recipes are formulated in collaboration with vets, which means that each meal is prepared according to the special dietary needs of every cat and free of sugar, grains, and all known allergens that could irritate your Maine Coon’s tummy. We also offer hypoallergenic recipes—such as Chocka Chicken in Jelly and Tuck-in Tuna in Jelly—for kitties who are super sensitive.

Untamed food contains twice the amount of exclusively animal protein compared to other cat food options available on the market. Cats of all breeds can benefit from our meals, regardless of their life stage—our food supports the health of growing kittens and helps maintain ideal weight and energy levels in adults and seniors. 

We gently steam our food to ensure it remains nutritious and delicious—even felines without teeth can enjoy our soft, juicy gravy and jelly formulas.

Besides providing the puuurrfect food to your feline, we also take care of our planet! Untamed believes in ethical cat food production, which is why our meat and fish come from sustainable sources, and our packaging is 100% recyclable!

Untamed knows how to give your Maine Coon a nutrition-packed meal!

Image (c) Untamed

Why is Untamed good for your cat?

Cat parents who have switched their felines to Untamed report the following changes:

Like what you see? Order your Untamed cat food trial pack now, and treat your cat to a variety of healthy and tasty recipes!

How to get your Maine Coon Untamed

Untamed is all about convenience! You don’t have to search for our products in stores—you can order cat food online in a few clicks and have it delivered to your doorstep within a day. Here’s how to get a custom-made trial pack for your feline companion:

1. Take our TRY NOW quiz and tell us more about your cat
2. Choose the products
3. Complete the order

If your Maine Coon approves, you’ll receive an Untamed box every month around the same time, so you don’t run out of your cat’s favourite meals. Wish to postpone, cancel, or modify your order? Our cat food subscription is super flexible—reach out, and we’ll be glad to assist!