What dry food is best to feed a Maine Coon: ratings of products of different classes

Update date: 02/14/2021 14:36:52 24696 Share:

Author of the article: Astafieva Ekaterina Alekseevna

*Review of the best according to the editors of simplerule.ru. About the selection criteria. This material is subjective in nature, does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before purchasing, consultation with a specialist is required.

Anyone who has had the chance to meet this unique cat breed of “good giants” will remain forever in love with it and admired by the beauty, strength, proud grandeur and incredible playfulness of the Maine Coon. How to properly feed such a pet? What foods should you pay attention to? We will answer all questions.

Types of cat food

Food for Maine Coons is provided by different manufacturers in a huge assortment. In pet stores you can purchase economy, premium and super premium products. A large range of food for coons allows consumers to easily find products for both small kittens and adult and neutered cats.

Attention: having decided to give your cat dry food, it is not recommended to alternate it with natural food. Because to process it, the cat’s body produces completely different enzymes.

Middle category

Purina dry CAT CHOW Feline 3 in 1. Made in Switzerland. Provides prevention of urolithiasis, designed for Maine Coons with sensitive skin and digestion.

Bosch Sanabelle Adult Strauss. Manufacture: Germany. Contains ostrich meat, does not contain GMOs, dyes or chemical additives.

List:

Pronature Holistic Grain Free Nordiko (Canada);
GO! Daily Defense (Canada);
Hiil's;
Pro Plan Derma Plus Salmon (France).

Medium category food is of higher quality than economy class, but Maine Coons, with their weak bones and genitourinary system, should receive this food infrequently or not always. This group of feeds contains grains, sometimes soy, and preservatives.

What should be included in industrial food for Maine Coon?

When buying food for coons, carefully study its composition indicated on the package. It must contain:

healthy fats. They are an excellent source of energy. Cats digest fats of plant and animal origin well. Fats that are beneficial for coons are found in: meat, vegetable oil, fish, seeds;
carbohydrates. They are found in vegetables, fruits and bran. Namely, in carrots, blueberries, peas, apples, pumpkin and cranberries. It is good if the composition contains a small amount of seaweed. Since they are a good source of iodine, which is very necessary for cats;
vitamins, minerals and other supplements. Good cat food contains all the necessary vitamins and microelements. If your pet does not have health problems, you should not give him additional vitamins. They can be introduced into the diet only during molting, pregnancy and lactation.

Attention: food for Maine Coon cats must contain at least 26% protein, 10 – 30% fat and 2% fiber.

How to read the composition?

The ingredients used to make the food are listed on the packaging. However, some manufacturers, when indicating the word “meat,” mean by it products of processing of bones, hooves, wool or horns of animals. For normal growth and development, the Maine Coon needs proteins, and the health of the pet depends on how they are preserved.

The standard list of ingredients includes:

meat (indicating the type, which allows you to determine whether the food is suitable for a cat with allergies);
cereals;
vegetables;
fruits;
vitamins and minerals;
ash content (not always indicated).

Ash is ash rich in potassium and phosphorus. The Maine Coon's body practically does not absorb ash, and for kittens and sick animals it is completely dangerous.

The maximum permissible ash content is 6 - 7%.

The percentage of fruits and vegetables in the feed is small, but their presence is necessary - thanks to the vitamins and fiber they contain, animals digest food better. Beneficial for cats of this breed:

carrot;
peas;
sweet potato;
apples;
blueberry;
cranberry;
pumpkin.

The food also contains herbs that help maintain Maine Coon health:

calendula;
alfalfa;
chamomile;
dandelion;
fennel;
rosemary;
seaweed.

Despite their low content, these components are necessary for the Maine Coon. Thus, seaweed serves as a source of iodine, a deficiency of which is often observed in animals.

Rating of dry food for adult Maine Coon by class

When studying the rating of dry food for adult Maine Coons, it is worth highlighting the products:

economy class. They do not contain natural meat. And instead, manufacturers add fish or meat meal. The main ingredients in inexpensive cat foods are: grains, artificial additives and soy. Despite this content, cats show interest in the food, as it contains flavoring additives and aromas. But you shouldn’t overuse economy class feed. Maine Coons need a nutritious diet rich in vitamins, minerals and various microelements, but these products do not contain enough of them;
premium. The quality of these products is much higher than budget options. But they are also not recommended to be given to cats too often, since they contain soy and grain preservatives. The composition of these products is dominated by natural meat products. Therefore, they contain a sufficient amount of proteins. Some unscrupulous manufacturers add various cheap substitutes and chemical preservatives to feed. And this causes diseases of the genitourinary system and other diseases in pets. Therefore, when choosing premium Maine Coon cat food, preference should be given to proven and proven brands;
super premium and holistic class. Food for Maine Coon cats in this price segment is made from natural meat, fresh vegetables and herbs. It contains no harmful artificial fragrances, preservatives, soy, grains or by-products. Such food contains a sufficient amount of vitamins A and E. And thanks to modern production technologies, the dry food will retain the beneficial properties of all the ingredients used to the maximum.

Types of feed and benefits

How to choose food for Maine Coons so that it will surely bring only benefits and health to your pet?

There are two types of food:

Dry food

“Drying” or dry food for Maine Coons is a product obtained under the influence of high temperatures and pressure. Often, in addition to meat products, various ingredients are added to dry foods. They can be used to provide a balanced content of vitamins and minerals, or simply to impart the Maine Coon’s favorite taste and smell of food.

What is it made from?

For example, the recommended composition and content of some elements in the Maine Coon menu necessary for the normal development and growth of the cat:

Meat or meat products (not meat meal);
Dried egg or natural egg powder;
Fiber is raw;
Yeast;
Probiotics (live microorganisms beneficial for the Maine Coon’s gastrointestinal tract);
Flavoring additives (salmon, tuna, chicken, beef, turkey, rabbit, etc.);
Acidity regulators and antioxidants (ensure long-term storage of feed and prevent the effects of free radicals);
Protein - at least 26% for adult Maine Coons, 30% for kittens and lactating cats;
Fats - minimum content 9%;
Calcium - minimum 0.6% for adult cats, 1.0% for kittens and lactating Maine Coon cats;
Phosphorus - up to 0.5% for adult cats, 0.8% for kittens and lactating cats;
The ratio between calcium and phosphorus is from 0.9 to 1.5 (obtained by dividing the percentage of calcium by the percentage of phosphorus);
Magnesium up to 0.04% for adult Maine Coons, 0.08% for kittens and lactating cats;
Vitamin A up to 5000 IU/kg for adults, 9000 IU/kg for kittens and lactating cats; maximum 750,000 IU/kg;
Vitamin D at least 500 IU/kg for adult Maine Coons, 750 IU/kg for kittens and cats during lactation;
Taurine up to 0.10% (or 1000 mg/kg);
Omega 3 fatty acids.

Dry food has the following advantages:

practicality in use;
ease of storage;
lower cost;
contains more calories;
massages the gums;
Helps maintain Maine Coon oral hygiene.

When “dry” feeding a Maine Coon, there should be sufficient water in the drinking bowl at all times.

Wet food

The second main type of food is Maine Coon wet food, which comes in a variety of textures. This:

mousses;
pates;
nuggets;
fillet.

What is it made from?

For normal development and growth, wet food for Maine Coons or other breeds of cats must include:

Meat or meat products, or fish and fish products;
Bouillon;
Vegetable oil, fats;
Cereals or fiber;
Minerals;
Vitamins.

Wet food for Maine Coon has the following advantages:

looks similar closer to natural food;
well stored;
the required amount is eaten with virtually no leftovers;
well balanced;
contains a lot of water.

Wet food for Maine Coon, if it is not completely eaten, should be thrown away, because soon the sauce or just moisture will dry out and the product will spoil.

Wet and natural food for Maine Coons is, of course, loved by animals, but storing and preparing it can be very difficult. Not all cats “know when to stop”, so Maine Coons often overeat on natural food. After overeating, your pet may vomit.

What food is suitable for neutered Maine Coons?

Castrated coons are fed special food, which contains the required amount of nutrients and microelements. With a natural diet, the diet should include vegetables, meat, offal, and vitamins.

Many cat owners do not take into account that after castration or sterilization of their pets, they may experience a stop in the development of the urethra. Therefore, it is necessary to exclude fish from their diet, which will only aggravate this situation, due to the high content of by-products, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium.

Attention : when feeding neutered Maine Coons with premium and super premium dry food, you should not give additional vitamins. Since they are already included in the food.

How much to give a kitten?

Age	Natural menu	Industrial diet	Daily norm	Number of feedings
Up to a month	Goat's milk, kitten formula	Cat milk replacer or infant formula	50 - 70 ml	Up to 2 weeks – 10, from 2 to 4 weeks – 8
1 month	Mother's milk, low-fat meat broth, whole goat's or cow's milk, boiled minced meat	Cat milk replacer or infant formula	60 - 100 g	6 — 7
2 months	Mother's milk, cow's or goat's milk, fermented milk products, broth, boiled minced meat, finely chopped raw meat, pre-frozen or treated with boiling water	Cat milk replacer or infant formula, canned food for kittens	80 - 120 g	5 — 6
3 months	Mother's milk or its substitute, whole milk, fermented milk products, boiled minced meat, raw meat, low-fat broth, chicken egg yolk, raw carrots, green apple	Cat milk replacer or infant formula, canned and semi-moist kitten foods	Former	5 — 6
4 – 6 months	Whole milk, fermented milk products, boiled and raw meat, lean fish, boiled offal, raw vegetables	Pates, wet food, soaked dry food	100 - 160 g	4 - 5 full feedings and 1 - 2 snacks
From 6 months to a year	Meat, offal, milk, dairy products, fish, broths, eggs, vegetables, fruits, herbs	Before teeth change - wet food, soaked dry food, after - 75% dry and 25% wet food	It fluctuates, the final serving volume is 180-260 g	2 – 4

For adults

The daily diet of an adult Maine Coon should contain 25 - 40% protein, 10 - 30% fat and 2 - 5% fiber.

Option 1	Option 2
eggs - 2 - 3 boiled yolks; sprouted wheat grains – 0.5 tsp; cottage cheese, yogurt, kefir (maximum fat content 3.5%); boiled beef – 100 – 130 g; chicken meat – 140 – 150 g; boiled lean pork – 100 g; vitamin and mineral complex.	meat – 70 – 120 g; kefir, curdled milk, yogurt - 30 - 60 g; boiled cereals - no more than 40 g; vegetables – 20 – 40 g; yeast as a source of B vitamins.

When feeding ready-made food, you need to choose it based on the composition, as well as the age and health of the cat.

Sterilized cat

Sterilized cats should be fed specialized food that contains trace elements and nutrients in the required quantities. With a natural diet, the diet should include meat, offal, vegetables and a vitamin and mineral complex (Radostin, Cat - Mineral Tabs, Tsamaks). It is acceptable to consume kefir, yogurt and cottage cheese.

Due to the high content of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium, the consumption of which leads to urolithiasis, it is necessary to exclude fish and some by-products rich in minerals from the menu of a sterilized cat.

Which dry food to choose for a Maine Coon kitten

In order for a Maine Coon kitten to grow into a beautiful, healthy and large cat, it needs to have the correct daily diet. Many people are interested in the question: what is better to feed Maine Coon kittens - ready-made food or natural food? If you have a lot of free time and you can buy and cook meat, fish and vegetables for your kitten every day, it is better to feed it natural food. But, as practice shows, most people, due to their busyness, prefer dry ready-made food. They are distinguished by a balanced diet, affordable cost and are completely ready to eat. Almost all pets love ready-made food, as it has an appetizing aroma and pleasant taste.

Dry food for Maine Coon kittens is made taking into account the characteristics of this breed. When producing it, manufacturers take into account the duration of growth of kittens, and its composition is dominated by calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D.

Attention: small Maine Coon kittens are recommended to purchase canned and dry food that contains 26% protein and 9% fat.

Authorized Products

The Maine Coon cat breed is quite extraordinary, and you should feed them only with properly selected food; food from the owner’s table will not be suitable for this. Meat should be purchased only from trusted sellers and before feeding it raw to an animal, it should be frozen for at least 5 days - this will destroy parasites. Preferred varieties: rabbit, beef, turkey or chicken. You can also give by-products such as liver, heart, kidneys. But it is worth considering that the calorie content of such food is significantly reduced, therefore, portions should be increased in volume. And of course, food should not contain salt or spices. It is better to feed meat products with porridges cooked in water, because cereals are needed in the animal’s diet. But you should avoid rolled oatmeal, which leads to an imbalance in carbohydrate balance.

Fermented milk products, such as cottage cheese, sour cream, kefir or natural yogurt without additives, must be present in the Maine Coon breed's menu - the cat has a weak intestine, and such food helps stimulate the microflora. It is worth remembering that some fat content should be present in these products. The only thing you should avoid is milk, because it is poorly digested by such animals. Be sure to include raw or boiled vegetables in your diet, such as cauliflower, carrots, tomatoes, pumpkin, cucumbers, beets and others. They should be mixed with meat instead of porridge in a ratio of 1 to 2. You should definitely add chicken or quail eggs to your diet.

What is the best food for Maine Coons, according to veterinarians?

According to veterinarians, the best food for Maine Coons is professional super premium food:

Royal Canin. It is one of the best specialized feeds produced in France. It is recommended to feed small kittens with wet food, and adults with dry food. These products contain all the necessary vitamins, minerals and trace elements. Not only the composition of the feed, but also the optimal size of its granules deserves special attention. Cats don’t just swallow the granules, but chew them thoroughly, which cleans their teeth of plaque and helps strengthen their gums. Most cats eat this food with pleasure, as it contains a large amount of meat ingredients.
Hills. This brand produces specialized food for coons, which is formulated taking into account the body characteristics of large breeds, their development and vital functions. Their compositions are dominated by a large number of meat products, and are completely free of artificial preservatives and harmful additives.
Bosch Sanabelle. The food belongs to the super premium class. It contains all the microelements, vitamins, fats, proteins and carbohydrates necessary for a pet. This German food does not contain preservatives or flavor enhancers. Maine Coons adore it not only because of its taste, but also because of the large granules on which cats grind their teeth.

The best brands

Food for Maine Coon should be selected taking into account not only the physiology of this breed, but also the individual characteristics of a particular individual - health status, activity level, age. The best food for Maine Coons are:

Hiils;
Eukanuba;
Nutro Choice;
Brit Care;
Nutram;
Natyka;
Pronature Holistic.

Special mention should be made of the Royal Canin brand , which has developed an individual diet for kittens (labeled “kitten”) and adult Maine Coons: Royal Canin Maine Coon Kitten and Royal Canin Adult Maine Coon. These foods are enriched with Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, contain taurine, EPA and DHA and other beneficial components, and their granules are adapted for the jaws of Maine Coons. You can also choose food for Maine Coon of any age from the wide range of the Pro Plan brand.

How to properly feed your pet

Not all cat owners know that when feeding them it is important to follow certain rules:

Complementary food for kittens is introduced gradually and in small quantities. When switching to dry food, it is recommended to soak it in water for a couple of weeks in a row;
new foods are given to kittens carefully and no more than one product per day;
As the cat gets older, the number of feedings decreases, and the portion increases;
it is important to follow the daily dose indicated by the food manufacturer;
When feeding dry food, cats should always have fresh and clean water in the drinking bowl.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that the health, activity and beautiful appearance of a pet directly depend on how well the food is selected. Therefore, the choice of wet or dry food should be taken with full responsibility. After all, improper nutrition will lead to the animal having problems with the gastrointestinal tract, the fur will lose its shine, and the pet will begin to lose weight.

Prohibited Products

Fish is not recommended - high fluoride content can cause urolithiasis, especially for castrated animals. An exception may be sea varieties, no more than once a week. It is strictly forbidden to give Maine Coons chicken or fish bones - this leads to damage to the stomach and esophagus. Pork is not suitable due to its fat content. Fried, salted, smoked, peppered foods, sausage, and canned food are prohibited. You should also not give cats sweets, such as cakes, sweets, chocolate, etc. Potatoes should be avoided among vegetables, because starch is not absorbed by the intestines of such animals. You should not add legumes such as beans, peas or soy to the Maine Coon's menu.