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Care and Grooming
Whilst the Maine Coon is one of the largest domestic cat breeds in the world, it is still just a cat, and looking after a Maine Coon is really not much different to any other cat. There are many good articles on how to look after a cat, readildy accessible on the internet and in books.
Maine Coon general care falls into five basic catagories:
Feeding, Exercise, Claws, Teeth, Grooming.
Feeding: Like all cats, the Maine Coon is an obligate carnivore, meaning that the must have meat in their diet. Feed a good quality "complete" food which contains the correct balance of protein, carbohydrate, fats & fatty acids, vitamims and minerals. A wide range of both wet and dry complete foods are available in the UK. Some foods have been designed specifically for Maine Coons, though the breed will happily thrive on non-breed specific varieties.
Always have a supply of fresh water available. Maine Coons do seem to enjoy playing with water and will often be seen pawing at their water bowl before drinking. Putting the water bowl on a tray or large broad bowl to catch excess water that drips over, helps to prevent your floor from becoming soaked. Some owners find that their cats really enjpy drinking froma water fountain and these are readily avaiable, both in pet stores and online.
Exercise: Some Maine Coons can become overweight or even obese, so regular exercise is essential to keep your cat fit and healthy. Interactive play sessions, perhaps ten minute sessions three times a day will certainly be of benefit. Some people have cat-proofed their garden or made a "catio" to enable their cats to go out safely without the chance of meeting any danger such as a car or a large dog.
There are a wide variety of toys available, from dangler toys on sticks (used under supervision of course), small balls and toy mice, through to larger tracks where balls can be rolled around and cat tunnels for them to run through and play in. A large strong cat tree or cat scratching post is an item that owners should also consider as Maine Coons like to stretch and claw at the post, which also helps with their claws and paws. Jumping on and off a cat tree will also help with exercise. Make sure that any cat scratching post or cat tree has heavy and has a large solid base to prevent these large cats from pulling it over.
Teeth And Claws:
Care of teeth and clasw helps to keep your Maine Coon healthy.
Teeth - Regular inspection of the teeth and gums will identify any potential problems before issues develop. Some people brush their cat's teeth daily using a specialist toothbrush or finger brush and cat toothpaste. There are now also interactive toys on the market in which cat toothpaste can be placed and the toy dangled for the cat to jump and bite, releasing the toothpaste - perhaps this may be an alternative if your cat really hates having its teeth cleaned manually. Many cats, not just Maine Coons, suffer from dental issues in theri lifetime, and some conditions, if not treated, can lead to serious illness.
Claws - regular examination of claws and clipping the very end when it is long, will help not only your cat, but also your furniture and prevent you from getting scratched accidently. Use cat claw clippers, not human ones, as these are the correct shape for feline claws. You can find out how to clip claws here. Clip claws every two to three weeks. Start when the cat is young so it gets used to the procedure and reward with a treat after the claw clipping has finished.
Grooming:
Maine Coons have a beautiful long shaggy coat and grooming is essential to keep the fur in top condition. Like with claw clipping, start grooming early, young kittens need to get used to being groomed, even if their softer shorter kitten coat doesn't really need as much attention. Maine Coons should be groomed two or three times a week - this helps to remove dead hair and any knots or matted areas that might occur, espeically when the cat is moulting. In comparison to some of the the longhaired breeds, the Maine Coon's coat is relatively easy to care for, but regular maintenance is essential.
Maine Coons may also benefit from being bathed. For show cats, a pre-show bath is essential, but pets also benefit from an occassional bath as this helps to loosen and remove old dead hair, general grime and grease and give the coat a real shine and bounce.
Sarah Holden has written an article on grooming the Maine Coon - bathing and brushing, which is worth reading as it contains lots of hints and tips. You can read it by following the link below (pdf file)
