Choose a high-quality cat food. Maine Coons require a high-quality cat food to stay healthy. Choose a brand name cat food that is meant for cats. If your Main Coon has any special dietary needs that your veterinarian has identified, then make sure that the food you select meets those needs. For example, if your Maine Coon is overweight, then your veterinarian may recommend feeding him food that is meant for overweight cats.
- If you are not sure if a food is considered high-quality, then ask your veterinarian.
- When choosing food for your cat, look for taurine in the ingredients list. Taurine is an essential amino acid that cats require. Not getting enough Taurine or other required nutrients may result in heart and eye problems.
Develop a regular feeding schedule. Cat food packages list the amount of food that you should give your cat each day. You can use this amount to help you develop a regular feeding schedule. Divide the total amount of food that your Maine Coon is supposed to eat per day into two portions. Then, feed these portions to your cat about eight to twelve hours apart.[
- For example, you might give your cat her breakfast at about 7:00am and then give her dinner at around 6:00pm.
- Since cats prefer smaller meals, feeding your cat her daily food intake in two separate meals will make it more likely that she will eat all of her food.
Provide plenty of fresh, clean water. Maine Coons need to have access to a source of fresh, clean water at all times. Make sure that you clean your cat’s water dish daily and keep it filled with clean fresh water at all times.
- Do not place your cat’s food and water bowls near a litter box. Cats do not like to eat and drink near their litter boxes.
Give your Maine Coon treats. Treats provide your Maine Coon with a little reward now and then, so it is nice to keep some cat treats on hand. Just make sure that you do not give your Maine Coon too many treats or he may become overweight or obese. [
- Try to limit treats to about 5% of your Maine Coon’s daily intake.
- Look for treats that can help to clean your cat's teeth as she chews. These treats can help to maintain your cat's dental health along with regular tooth brushing.
Spend lots of time with your Maine Coon. Maine Coons love to be around people, so you will need to make sure that you can accommodate your Maine Coon’s social needs. Your Maine Coon may even try to follow you around the house and participate in your daily routine.[
- Try to set aside some time to just sit and pet your Maine Coon every day.
- Most Maine Coons are not fond of sitting on laps. Your Maine Coon may prefer to sit next to you while you pet her.
Watch for breed-specific health problems. Maine Coons tend to be quite healthy, but they are more prone to a few conditions than some other cat breeds. Some of the conditions that you and your veterinarian will need to watch for include:[
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy. This condition is a type of paralysis that occurs mostly in Maine Coon kittens. If you notice that your Maine Coon is having trouble using his rear legs, then take him to see your veterinarian right away.
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. This is a thickening of the heart wall. Your veterinarian will need to perform regular heart exams to monitor the condition of your Maine Coon’s heart.
- Polycystic Kidney Disease. With this condition, cysts form in the kidney and destroy the organ. The condition can be detected with a DNA test or ultrasound.
- Hip Dysplasia. This is a type of arthritis in your cat’s hips. Watch your Maine Coon for signs that she is having trouble walking or jumping. If you notice that she is avoiding doing these things or showing signs of pain (yowling or hiding), then take her to see your veterinarian.