08.05.2022

What’s the average Maine Coon lifespan? Get the details from Untamed

Nicknamed “gentle giants,” Maine Coons are friendly and affectionate kitties. Their official life span is about 12.5 years, but most experts agree that they can live much longer.

Even though your companionship cannot last forever, proper care, an active lifestyle, and a balanced diet can significantly influence your Maine Coon’s lifespan. 

Untamed presents Maine Coons' life expectancy and stages and offers handy tips to keep your feline healthy and happy for as long as possible.

What is the life expectancy of a Maine Coon cat?

According to vets and feline experts, most gentle giants live about 13–15 years. 

Many Maine Coon cat parents question the validity of this data since their Maine Coons live past 20 years of age. The oldest Maine Coon—possibly even the oldest feline in the world—supports this theory by reaching the astonishing age of 31. 

What are the factors influencing this breed’s lifespan? It's hard to predict exactly how long they'll live, but with proper care and love, their life span can extend way beyond the expected.

What are the Maine Coon life stages?

Since they’re a large breed, Maine Coon’s skeletal structure and muscles take significantly longer to form, unlike smaller breeds, such as Siamese, Persians, or Munchkins. While average-sized cats stop growing at the age of one, Maine Coons don’t reach their full size until they’re four or five.

Enjoy my tiny frame now, hooman, for soon I’ll be able to stretch across your whole chair!

Source: Korina Stecenko

Consult the table to find out more about Maine Coon life stages:

What influences the lifespan of a Maine Coon?

Your Maine Coon’s longevity depends on numerous factors, such as:

1. Genetic predisposition
2. Diet
3. Physical activity and mental stimulation
4. Environment
5. Healthcare

Genetic predisposition

Getting the complete history of your Maine Coon’s bloodline could help you foresee any health problems they might be predisposed to. Knowing how long their ancestors lived can give you a loose estimate of what you can expect, but with modern veterinary medicine and proper care, genetics doesn't play a crucial role in your feline companion's longevity. 

Diet

Cats are obligate carnivores, so they must eat meat to stay healthy and happy. Raw diet closely resembles their natural feeding patterns, but the meat from the human supply chain is not the same as fresh prey (it gets frozen, defrosted, and comes in contact with various contaminants), so top-notch cat food is the safest and healthiest option for indoor Maine Coons.

The crucial aspects of your cat’s diet are:

1. Food quality—Choosing products with the essential nutrients and staying away from filler ingredients, allergens, and other harmful substances will enormously affect your Maine Coon’s lifespan. Eating poor quality food can trigger various chronic diseases and shorten your kitty's life
2. Food quantity—Overfeeding Maine Coons is a common problem because cat parents often think these kitties need more food than they do because of their size. Eating too much can lead to obesity, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, and digestive disorders

Physical activity and mental stimulation

Playtime is essential for proper development and health maintenance. During kittenhood, your feline will have loads of energy to play, explore, and exercise. 

Reaching adulthood and maturity often means settling into a sedentary lifestyle, and Maine Coons are not as easily stimulated and interested in play during this period. 

Oh man, I’m getting tired just thinking about playtime…

Source: Romain Chollet

Giving up is not an option because an active cat is a healthy cat! Grab your feline’s attention by providing:

• New toys—Kitties lose interest once their brain gets used to a particular toy. Laser lights and catnip toys are always popular among Maine Coons
• A different playground—Moving playtime to another room or installing a climbing wall will present a challenge for your feline
• Post-exercise treats—Instead of giving your Maine Coon random treats, serve them as rewards after playtime or once they learn a new trick
• Suitable exercises—Keep in mind that your furry friend won't be able to remain as active as before once they reach their mature years. The playtime and exercises must be adjusted to their current life stage

Environment

Indoor felines tend to live longer than those who live outdoors. Keeping your Maine Coon inside can be challenging since they have a strong urge to explore, but it will reduce the chances of them getting hurt, lost, poisoned, sick, etc.

Maine Coons are natural hunters, so they'll probably catch mice, birds, slugs, frogs, and insects if left to roam free. While there's nothing wrong in letting your gentle giant succumb to their predatory instincts, they can experience digestive issues like nausea, vomiting, and constipation after such hunting expeditions. Monitor them once they return home to make sure they don't show signs of poisoning. 

Your Maine Coone will be happier if allowed to go out, but it's better to supervise their outdoor adventures.

Healthcare

Although generally healthy and resilient, Maine Coons are prone to particular diseases. Regular check-ups are essential for prolonging your Maine Coon’s lifespan. Once they reach the senior stage, frequent visits to the vet may be required. 

Common health conditions you should be on the lookout for are:

• Hip dysplasia—Due to their size, Maine Coons are prone to joint laxity, which often leads to arthritis 
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy—HCM is often genetic, but the cause can also be lifestyle-related. The disease can lead to heart failure, so make sure your cat eats healthy and stays active because obesity in cats increases the chances of getting HCM 
• Spinal muscular atrophy—The condition is relatively common in Maine Coons and causes the degeneration of muscle-controlling nerves
• Periodontal disease—Maine Coons are prone to gum issues, including gingivitis and, in later stages, periodontitis. Make sure to maintain proper dental hygiene and provide dental cat food to postpone the effects 
• Polycystic kidney disease—PKD is a hereditary disease causing ulcers on feline kidneys 

Although you cannot fully prevent genetic diseases, you can do your best to postpone them with an active lifestyle and a proper diet. 

You’re here to brush my teeth again, aren’t you?

Source: Michelle_Raponi

The perfect diet for your Maine Coon

Regardless of their life stage, Maine Coons have the same dietary requirements. If they’re old enough to eat solid food—meat is the way to go!

Providing your feline with all the right nutrients will help them reach old age with as few health niggles as possible. 

While it is uncommon for Maine Coons to suffer from food allergies, they can experience stomach sensitivity and be finicky eaters. Choosing the wrong type of cat food could cause your kitty to meow in disapproval. Wet food is generally the best option, while dry, raw, semi-moist, or homemade alternatives come with a few downsides.

When it comes to the ingredients, there’s a proven formula for success that never fails. The products you offer your Maine Coon must contain the proper ratio of:

1. Animal protein
2. Animal fat

Animal protein

Felines metabolise animal protein efficiently, so it’s an excellent primary energy source. It provides them with essential amino acids, including taurine, that support:

• Muscle tone maintenance
• Skin and coat health
• Proper organ function

Choose products containing lean meat and fish, such as chicken, salmon, prawns, mackerel, tuna, etc. Liver is also a great choice, but in small amounts—overconsumption can lead to vitamin A toxicity. The same goes for ham and pork, which can be fantastic taste enhancers and treats.

Protein derived from vegetables isn't good for your gentle giant. Vegan diets won't keep your Maine Coon fit and satisfied. They cannot digest plant protein properly, so no-meat diets won't provide essential micronutrients to your cat. Avoid products with soya, sweetcorn, wheat, peas, carrots, rice, etc.

Animal fat

Fat is a viable secondary source of energy for your Maine Coon. It also delivers:

• Healthy fatty acids, such as omega-3 and omega-6, which prevent or delay inflammatory diseases, such as arthritis, allergies, kidney disease, heart disease, etc.
• An enticing smell and delicious taste making any dish irresistible to your kitty

Make sure to stay within the recommended amount (20%) to avoid weight gain, which could lead to obesity and other related issues.

Does your Maine Coon need carbs?

Although carbs are a quick energy boost, cats have little to no use for them. 

If given enough animal protein, felines will get all the calories, minerals, and vitamins they need. Cats lack the liver enzymes to metabolise carbs in large quantities. Even though your kitty’s diet can contain carbs, they shouldn’t surpass 3%.

How can Untamed help maximise your Maine Coon’s life expectancy?

Keeping your Maine Coon healthy and content has never been easier—Untamed is the pick of the litter!

Each recipe on our menu offers the perfect balance of high-quality nutrients and mouth-watering goodness. 

Our jelly and gravy products provide:

• Sufficient energy and calories to keep your cat fit and healthy
• Yummy taste your Maine Coon will find irresistible (even if they turn their nose up at wet food, they’ll come around after a single bite!) 
• A fine source of healthy nutrients, free of any known allergens

With proper nutrition, your Maine Coon will thrive and enjoy their relaxed senior years by your side!

Image (c) Untamed

Untamed cat food is:

1. Vet-formulated—Our recipes are honed by vets, so you can be sure that your Maine Coon's diet is complete and balanced
2. Made with human-grade ingredients—We strongly believe that our kitties should eat the same quality food we would choose for ourselves. Our meals contain only the best ingredients. Each tin has more than 60% of prime meat and fish
3. Eco-friendly—All our products are ethically produced. The meat and fish that go into our meals come from sustainable, cruelty-free suppliers, and we use 100% recyclable packaging 

Take our quick online quiz and get the best food for your gentle giant.

Don’t waste time—get Untamed now!

Since your Maine Coon isn’t getting any younger, there’s no time to waste! 

Order your taster pack filled with deliciously healthy Untamed meals for your precious cat. 

With Untamed, ordering canned cat food online is an absolute breeze—all you have to do is:

1. Share some info on your Maine Coon
2. Pick the dishes your feline will adore
3. Order your trial pack

The products will be delivered in a day, and your kitty can enjoy the tantalising taste and health benefits of Untamed. When they finish sampling the taster pack, we'll start delivering cat food customised to their taste every month, so you don't have to bother with shopping anymore!

Maine Coon parents who made the transition to Untamed have noticed the following positive changes in their felines: