Maine Coon Cat Care Guide
Grooming
Most cats do a good job of grooming themselves and keeping clean. The Maine Coon is a longhaired cat, so you will need to help out with regular brushing. Regular brushing will be beneficial for several reasons. It will help to reduce shedding and also aid in the formation of hairballs. Brushing will help to keep the coat clean and smooth, and reduce the risk of knots forming. We recommend a brush with metal bristles, that also helps detangle hair as it works.
Bathing usually will not be necessary unless kitty gets into something really dirty. Your Maine Coon probably will not enjoy baths much either, so try and do them only when absolutely necessary.
Feeding
Food and water is vital for your Maine Coon's health. You should provide a constant supply of fresh food and water for your cat. Generally food and water should be changed or freshened up at least once a day, and more often for multiple cats or different situations.
A healthy dry food formula is suggested as part of the main diet, while wet food and other cat treats can be given in-between or as often as you feel is necessary. You may want to work with your vet, depending on the specific diet needs of your Maine Coon.
Water should be clean and room temperature. Self watering products are ok, but often the water gets dirty with hair and other debris, so make sure you clean the main bowl out occasionally that holds the water. The self watering and feeding products can be a good choice if you are away from the house often or go on a trip, to make sure that your Maine Coon is still getting the food and water it needs.
Litter
You should buy the largest litter box you can find for your Maine Coon. The pet stores generally have a better selection than your typical chain or grocery stores. The Web is also another great place to find larger boxes. They are large cats, and will definitely appreciate the extra space. If you have more than one cat, you may want to consider multiple boxes, or make sure that the one is oversized and they are comfortable sharing.
When choosing litter, we strongly recommend that you use a standard clay type non clumping variety. Recently, there have been many reports on the dangers of clumping litter, including ingestion that causes internal blockages and other health related issues. The risk of your Maine Coon developing serious health problems is just not worth the risk of using a more convenient type of litter. A plastic scoop will become your best friend!
Make sure to place the litter box in a quiet and secluded area of your home. Cats are very private creatures, and do not really enjoy having noise or an audience as they go to do their business. (Kind of like humans!). If you get a kitten, hopefully it will be litter trained already, so you can point them to the box and start off right.
Dental Care
Brushing the teeth of a Maine Coon is not the easiest thing to do, but it is recommended to prevent tooth and gum disease. Periodontal disease is a major cause of health problems in cats, and left untreated it can lead to organ problems and even death. There are a few products available to help you brush your cat's teeth, such as small brushes that fit over the finger, to cat food treats that help with plaque, to special fluoride that can be placed daily in your Maine Coon's water bowl.
If you do not brush your cats teeth on a daily basis, you should make sure that a dental checkup is part of your vet visit, and teeth cleaning may be one of the best things you can do to avoid health problems.
Hairballs
The Maine Coon cat is a very large feline that has a magnificent and thick fur coat. Even with regular brushing hairballs will more than likely form from time to time. Make sure to have a hairball remedy on hand that usually comes out of a tube. It will loosen the hairball and help to get rid of it naturally.
Another option for preventing hairballs is to use a hairball specific dry cat food formula. If they eat this on a regular basis, it will help to deter the formation of hairballs in the first place.
Claw Maintenance
Both front and back claws should be trimmed on a regular basis, to help with unwanted scratching damage to your house, and also to eliminate accidental scratches to you! Back claws do not need to be trimmed as often, and the best way to approach this is to use a standard nail trimming device for cats. You simply press on the bottom of their feet to spread the toes apart and clip as necessary. If you get into a habit of clipping you Maine Coone's claws from day one, it will become an easy and regular chore to handle.
Some owners opt to declaw their cats, as an easier option to dealing with unwanted scratching damage. This is a highly emotional topic, and one that brings different opinions. We generally do not recommend declawing a cat unless there is a very good reason to do so, such as having very small children in the house. It has been shown to be very painful for the cat, and that alone may not be worth any benefit it will bring for you as an owner.
Veterinarian Visits
Even if you plan on keeping your Maine Coon as an indoor cat, (which we strongly recommend), you will want to schedule regular visits to the vet. Generally once or twice a year should be fine, to get any necessary rabies or booster shots, and check for other health related issues.
Establishing a good relationship with a local vet will help you deal with problems and also is a good way to get your questions answered quickly by a professional. Your Maine Coon may throw a fit every time you get the carrier out to go, but it is definitely worth it and will help extend the life of your cat.
Other Considerations
Beyond the basic physical needs of your Maine Coon, you need to look around and examine the environment in which it will live. Is it safe and free from potential hazards? Small kittens like to explore (similar to children), and can get into things that they shouldn't. Make sure to cover up or close any open places where a smaller cat could possibly get stuck.
If you have children in the house, make sure to supervise the interaction between them and your new Maine Coon cat, until both sides have adjusted to each other. Children have a tendency to be rough without knowing it, and your new cat may not appreciate that very much. When bringing a new cat home, whether it is a kitten or adult, you want to make sure that they are gradually introduced to the new environment in a calm and peaceful manner.
You also need to make sure that your Maine Coon has its own set of toys such as a scratching post, turbo scratcher, and balls or mice. Some of the cat furniture that is available is a wonderful way to keep your cat entertained and out of as much trouble.
Owning a Maine Coon cat can be a wonderful experience, but you have to take the time to care for it properly. If you do, your Maine Coon cat will be a friend for life.