Breed Info

The Maine Coon is a massive cat with a powerful muscular athletic body in keeping with their impressive size. They have large, pointed ears held wide and tall and an intelligent expression.

The coat is long and thick and consists of an undercoat covered by a substantial glossy, waterproof top coat and have attractive tufts on ears and paws. Their tails are spectacular and should be at least as long as their body so they can wrap it around their body for extra insulation.

10 - 16 Inches

9 - 15 years

4.8 - 8.2 KG

Personality

Maine Coon cats have an affectionate nature and are very playful and friendly. They enjoy human company and this makes them excellent companions for someone who enjoys sharing their home with such an enormous cat. Maine Coon cats are noted for the delightful quiet chirping sound they make.

Indoors or Outdoors

This is very much an outdoor cat who is athletic, needs plenty of enrichment and exploring opportunities, and will be unhappy with a life confined indoors.

If owners are worried about their cat roaming or being stolen, they should cat-fence their garden or provide a very large outdoor run with plenty of ever-updated enrichment opportunities – although this will not replace free-roaming and so owners should ensure they spend more time giving their cat an outlet for their natural behaviours. This need should be considered before taking on a Maine Coon.

Enrichment and Specific Needs

A clever, athletic cat who loves – in fact craves – human company, the Maine Coon is rather high maintenance as they need plenty of enrichment in the form of games with their owner that simulate hunting, plus opportunities to climb, jump and survey their territory from a variety of different heights and vantage points.

For owners who are so inclined, the Maine Coon is surprisingly trainable and by using reward-based training methods and understanding how to motivate a cat, they can learn a surprising amount of trained behaviours – hence why they can often be seen in TV adverts!

Feeding

Every cat is unique and each has their own particular likes, dislikes, and needs when it comes to food. However, cats are carnivores and every cat must obtain 41 different and specific nutrients from their food. The proportion of these nutrients will vary depending on age, lifestyle and overall health, so it’s not surprising that a growing, energetic kitten needs a different balance of nutrients in their diet than a less active senior cat. Other considerations to bear in mind are feeding the right quantity of food to maintain ‘ideal body condition’ in accordance with feeding guidelines and catering to individual preference regarding wet or dry food recipes.

Grooming

Considering its length, the Maine Coon is a clean cat who generally deals with their coat well, however, they still need frequent grooming to keep it in good condition and reduce shedding. As with all cats, regular vaccination and parasite control is recommended and this should be discussed with your vet.