Maine Coons are large, cheerful cats that love movement and play, so their home should be adapted not only for relaxation, but also for entertainment. You can buy a house for a Maine Coon, or you can make it yourself, taking into account the features of the apartment’s interior and the nuances of the animal’s character. Some manufacturers of cat systems offer individual modular assembly, when the product is created only from popular elements. Often, hanging toys such as mice or pompoms are included in Maine Coon houses.
How to choose or make a house
A full-fledged house for an adult Maine Coon will be his favorite place in the apartment if you provide it with all the necessary components. Many owners of such cats prefer to buy a ready-made complex in a store rather than spend a lot of time building it at home. This is convenient - you will bring to the apartment a ready-made home for your Maine Coon, which he will certainly appreciate.
Those who are looking for a profitable option financially should think about building a house for a Maine Coon cat with their own hands. You yourself will take into account and make for yourself a list of those components that must be included in the cat complex. Agree, you know your pet better than anyone else, what games and entertainment he likes best. The assortment in the store is not always pleasing.
Another point that speaks in favor of building a house with your own hands: store-bought copies (even if you take into account that you have found an option that is ideal for a pet) are usually made of cheap materials. You can spend money on a much better quality house, but their range is small, due to the fact that the demand for such expensive complexes is quite low. Even if you have the funds, it is not always possible to buy a good house for a Maine Coon.
So, in order to build a multifunctional and practical complex for your Maine Coon, you should consider the following recommendations from experts:
- height of the observation deck. As a rule, there should be at least two such sites. Their sizes depend on your preferences. But if you want to please your pet, watch him. Where does he most often like to be located? Surely, he has already noticed several observation platforms in the apartment and often climbs there. Make the upper viewing area slightly higher than where the Maine Coon spends a lot of time, and the second area should be slightly lower - this is the main “comfort zone” for the cat;
- viewing area. Most houses for Maine Coons are located opposite the entrance to the room. By nature, these guards like to control the entire room with their gaze. It’s good if the entrance to another room comes into their field of vision - they will immediately prefer to occupy such a place;
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- presence of a scratching post nearby. Otherwise, its role can be played by completely different objects;
- designing the shape of the booth. This largely depends on the character of the cat. If she likes to hide in the closet or under the bed, then her home complex needs to be equipped with a closed place where she can fully relax.
Nobody can offer you a mandatory house design as such. Rely on the habits of your pet and the practicality of the materials you plan to use. Experiment to your heart's content, and the house will become your pet's favorite place.
suspended house
These options are not used so often, since few cats actively use them due to the instability of the structure.
If you plan to construct a rigid frame, then you need to use materials such as plastic, wood, MDF or chipboard, plywood or thick cardboard. It is unacceptable to leave these materials without covering. Because cats love everything soft.
But the skin must be sufficiently resistant to mechanical damage. Therefore, we make a cat house with our own hands step by step and from the right materials. After all, the cat may well want to sharpen its claws on the surface.
Choosing a food bowl
The choice of a bowl for food must be approached with the utmost seriousness: even small kittens require a lot of food, so the container for food mixtures should be both spacious and convenient for the pet. It is advisable that the diameter of the bowl be 15–20 cm. As for the material, the best option would be ceramic or stainless steel. The second copy will be much cheaper. Don't forget to consider the presence of a rubber rim at the bottom. Otherwise, such a bowl will always slide on the floor.
The water bowl also needs to be selected wisely. Interestingly, drinking is a real ritual for Maine Coons. Before starting the process, he often rake the water with his paw. Some individuals even put their paw there, and then bring it to their mouth and drink. Accordingly, such a process is unlikely to be completed without water splashing. A much bigger problem awaits the owners of these huge pets when they reach adulthood. An adult Maine Coon will chase the water bowl around, spilling water everywhere. That is why the container must be spacious and stable. Some owners prefer to install a fountain for their animals.
Complex structure for your beloved cat
There are many such designs. Their structure depends on the imagination of the creators. You need to find and examine them in pet stores or online before you start making them yourself. Here you will find step-by-step instructions with photos of the construction of a typical playground suitable for one or more pets.
Necessary materials
Prepare materials for manufacturing in advance, select tools, draw a rough diagram - all these are simple steps to begin the creative process. Involve the whole family. There, a common cause will unite and help improve relationships, especially with teenagers. What you will need:
- ten mm plywood;
- wooden post with a diameter of 10 cm;
- furniture corners about 20 pieces;
- non-toxic liquid glue;
- twine, jute;
- upholstery fabric;
- working tools - jigsaw, drill, screwdriver, screwdriver.
Build process
The working process
Make from plywood , cut out entrance circles in 2 of them. The inner and outer surfaces of the walls of the future house need to be upholstered with foam rubber, and then with the selected fabric. Use furniture corners to connect the plywood walls. Wrap a rope around a wooden post, after lubricating it with glue. The base for the resulting scratching post will be the roof of the house. An observation deck is attached to the top of the jute pole. This is a plywood or wooden plate upholstered with fabric.
Fabric upholstery
Useful tips and additions
Ideally, such a structure should be securely fixed to the floor. Then you can hang various toys on the edges of the observation deck. The fastening will prevent the playhouse during active fun.
Purchasing and choosing a location for the tray
What should a litter box be like for a Maine Coon? For an adult pet, it is better to install a closed toilet - a tray with a door. If you want to purchase an open container, keep in mind that its walls must be high. Maine Coons love to dig into the litter: if the tray is low, small particles will be spread throughout the apartment, and a lot of dirt will accumulate around the toilet itself.
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It is advisable that the sides of the tray be bent inward. This option is considered standard. However, not all owners of these large cats go to a pet store to buy a tray. You can find a good alternative: bathtubs with high sides, trays, and various storage boxes.
There should be litter in the tray, but it is advisable for you to think in advance about how to teach the kitten to go to the toilet without it - this may be necessary in case of tests. In general, there are several types of litter for an adult Maine Coon:
- woody;
- mineral and clay;
- silica gel.
Never fill your pet's potty with sand brought from outside. As for where it is better to put the tray, the most optimal place is the bathroom. You can also place the cat litter on the loggia or balcony. Remember: the Maine Coon must have constant access to the litter box, so do not close the door tightly.
Free life in the local area
Owners of private houses and cottages, and part-time cat lovers, can set up a whole catarium for their pets in their local area. They will have trees for climbing, but they also need to set up an outdoor house. Only a strong structure that can withstand moisture is suitable here. If the owner has skills in working with wood and has the appropriate tools, he can construct an imitation of a hut, with ladders and windows. Such a house will become a decorative decoration of the yard. The wood will have to be treated with water-based varnish or non-toxic stain. After complete drying, provide the inside with soft bedding. You can invite your cat to your housewarming party.
What kind of carrier and harness are needed?
It is recommended that a Maine Coon kitten be taught to wear a harness from a young age. During the first walks, your pet will most likely not feel very comfortable, but a strong harness is necessary so that you can control your cat. The best material for a harness is leather, but many people prefer to buy nylon straps.
A Maine Coon carrier is another item in the arsenal of the owner of cats of this breed. The thing is that this pet does not really like transportation; even a trip in a car can be very stressful for him. That is why purchasing a special backpack or bag is simply necessary. For carrying, they buy both plastic containers and cages. What exactly is right for your four-legged friend remains to be seen. First, buy a bag, leave it in the apartment - let the cat gradually get used to it.
Related article: Keeping and caring for a Maine Coon cat
Story
Large cats first appeared in the American state of Maine, located in the north of the country. Living conditions in those places are so harsh that natural selection left only the hardiest and strongest animals alive. This is how a breed of large cats, covered with thick hair, was formed.
At first, local farmers did not pay attention to the unusual appearance of their pets. Maine Coons have very developed hunting instincts, and farmers were simply glad that they had such effective helpers in the fight against rodents.
regarding the origin of our heroes. According to one of these legends, a raccoon was inflamed with passion for a cat and, in all likelihood, achieved reciprocity. In fact, the consolidation of the breed occurred through natural selection. Small animals simply would not survive in Maine conditions.
A visiting lover of these animals drew attention to the unusual beauty of northern cats. The tourist left the inhospitable area with a kitten. This was the Maine Coon's first journey into a new life.
Fame came to them only in 1861 at an exhibition in New York. The popularity that flared up after this event quickly faded away. At the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Persian cats came into fashion and farmers remembered our heroes again; it was thanks to their ability to fight tailed pests that Maine Coons survived. The breed was officially recognized in 1878. These days, cats are rarely used as mousecatchers; their duties in the family are often limited to companionship.
Why do you need a scratching post?
This simple item exists not only to save your furniture from attacks by pets and tearing off the upholstery, but also to ensure that your furry pet remains healthy.
It is very important for them to be able to grind down their claws and do it in a timely manner. Otherwise, the claws may become chipped, and this is incredibly painful, even more painful than a pulled out human nail.
A deformed or curled claw makes it impossible for a cat to climb trees or simply walk freely. In some cases, the animal cannot even step on its paw.
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Ultimately, discomfort and pain can lead to serious injuries , torn ligaments and even tragic accidents. It is your direct responsibility to provide your pet with everything necessary to maintain health and improve the quality of life.
Rules for walking a pet
There are two types of walking - independent and with the owner on a harness. In the first case, the cat goes for a walk and comes home in the evening to sleep. This is what they usually do in a village or country house. Walking on a harness is safer, as the cat is always under control. For the city, this method is more preferable, especially for the kuns, who can simply be stolen. In addition, the animal may encounter stray dogs or get hit by a car.
It is better to walk your pet in quiet green places - parks, squares. There are a number of pros and cons of such walks. The advantages include:
- the animal can show its hunting instincts;
- the sun is good for the animal;
- a cat can sharpen its claws on trees;
Walking the Maine Coon.
Street walking also has significant disadvantages:
- there is a risk of contracting dangerous diseases and infections;
- meeting other animals;
- the cat may get scared of something and run away;
- the cat may eat some dangerous foods (poisoned meat) scattered in the bushes.
Considering that city conditions are not the most comfortable for an animal, it will be much safer in your own apartment. A cat can throw out its energy by playing with its owner or in its play area. After a walk, the animal needs to be bathed, especially since coons like this procedure. Before going on a walk, you should also treat them with flea and tick sprays or wear a special collar.
