Choosing the right food and diet for the Maine Coon

Maine Coons are large, active cats that need the highest quality and balanced nutrition. Industrial food allows you to save time on preparing food for your pet and provides it with all the necessary nutrients. Choosing the right food is not an easy task , since among the wide range there are often products of poor quality.

Kinds

Ready-made dry food is very popular among Maine Coon breeders due to its ease of use and storage, relatively low cost and high calorie content. In addition, the food granules massage the pet’s gums and help maintain oral hygiene, helping to cleanse the teeth of plaque and tartar.

Economy

Economy class food does not contain natural whole meat ; instead, dried animal protein is added - fish or meat meal. The main part of the ingredients in such feeds are grains, soy, and artificial additives. At the same time, the animal may show interest in such food, which is explained by the content of flavorings, flavor enhancers and salt in it.

The poor composition determines the low cost of production. However, this is a dubious advantage, since the Maine Coon will require a larger portion, and the amount of nutrients received by the pet is very small.

Middle category

The quality of these foods is higher than that of economy class products, but they should be given to Maine Coons with caution and infrequently. Due to the content of soy, grains and preservatives, such food is dangerous for cats with weak bones and the genitourinary system.

Premium

Due to the high content of meat and meat products, premium food contains many times more protein of animal origin than economy food. However, the presence of chemical preservatives and various cheap substitutes cannot be ruled out.

Super - premium class and canvas rating

The food in this segment is made from natural meat (up to 70%), fresh vegetables and herbs. The composition does not contain artificial flavors, preservatives, soy, grains and by-products, but there are natural vitamins A and E, and thanks to the technology of their production, the benefits of all ingredients are preserved as much as possible.

The best food for Maine Coons among super premium and holistic products:

1. Go! Natural Holistic;
2. Concept For Life;
3. Primordial Adult Cat Holistic;
4. Carnilove;
5. Grandorf;
6. Acana;
7. Orijen;
8. EarthbornHolistic;
9. Innova;
10. Canidae

Feeding Maine Coon with holistic food excludes the consumption of other foods.

Medicinal

Most diseases are treated through the combined use of medications and medicinal feed prescribed by veterinarians. Experts recommend the following ready-made diets:

1. Royal Canin Obesity DP42 Feline or Satiety SAT 34 Weight Management, Hills Prescription Diet Diabetes/Weight Management m/d Chicken or Prescription Diet Weight Reduction r/d Chicken – for obesity;
2. Hills Prescription Diet Urinary Care s/d Chicken, Royal Canin Urinary S/O LP34 Feline or Urinary S/O High Dilution UHD34 Feline – for urolithiasis;
3. Hills Prescription Diet Joint Care j/d Chicken, Royal Canin MOBILITY Feline MC28 – for joint diseases.

It is allowed to use medicinal feed for the prevention of any diseases. Thus, food made for castrated animals helps get rid of excess weight and urolithiasis, and products enriched with chondroitin and glucosamine help avoid joint problems.

Sanabelle Grande

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The best food for large fluffy Maine Coons. Sanabelle Grande has an optimal granule size and a natural, perfectly balanced composition. It contains no dyes, no gluten, no flavors. At the same time, the food is enriched with polyunsaturated acids and chondoprotectors, which are so necessary for large Maine Coons, which experience increased stress on the heart and joints. The diet is based on natural meat, and only liver is used as an offal. According to the owners, with regular use of Sanabelle Grande, the pet's coat becomes shiny, sheds less, and the cat itself becomes more energetic. True, such pleasure is not cheap at all.

Sanabelle cat food for large breed cats

Advantages:

• enriched composition
• excellent prevention of urolithiasis
• improves the cat's appearance
• well absorbed
• optimal granule size

Flaws:

• quite high price

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.

Mera Finest Fit Giant

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German food Mera Finest Fit Giant is super premium. Wheat and soy free. A complete daily diet for adult large breed cats. Special formula: 1 type of animal protein and 1 type of carbohydrate. Special size granules. Increased fat and protein content to support activity. Glucosamine is added to the composition for cartilage tissue and joints. Reduced Ph level to prevent urolithiasis. And thanks to the presence of cellulose (beet chips) in the composition, complete prevention against hairballs is carried out. Cellulose prevents the formation and retention of hair in the cat's stomach and intestines. It helps move ingested fur through the gastrointestinal tract so that it can then be eliminated from the body.

Mera Finest Fit Giant cat food for adult large breed cats

Advantages:

• enriched composition
• excellent prevention of urolithiasis
• improves the cat's appearance
• well absorbed

Flaws:

• high price

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:

1. Hiils;
2. Eukanuba;
3. Nutro Choice;
4. Brit Care;
5. Nutram;
6. Natyka;
7. 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.

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.

Right choice

The main rule for feeding Maine Coons is not to mix natural food and dry food, since different enzymes are produced to process food. Among finished products, preference should be given to grain-free super-premium food or holistic food made from natural meat. When it comes to grains and carbohydrates, it is better to opt for foods containing rice, lentils, etc., rather than wheat or corn.

Food for Maine Coons must contain at least 26% protein.

Carnilove Duck & Turkey for Large breed

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The best solution for Maine Coons prone to allergies. A complete hypoallergenic holistic treatment that fully satisfies the needs of large pets and helps improve their health. Grain-free food is perfectly balanced and thanks to this it has a positive effect on the appearance of Maine Coons, the condition of their muscles and skeleton. It is also great for neutered animals. The basis of the diet is game meat, turkey and duck. It is complemented by a variety of herbs and berries, which saturate the pet’s body with antioxidants, minerals and vitamins. The diet also contains fish oil and chicken liver, which not only enrich the composition of the food, but also make its smell attractive to cats.

Cat food Carnilove Duck & Turkey for Large breed cats

Advantages:

• premium composition
• no allergens
• increases cat's energy
• large amount of proteins
• reasonable price
• minimum consumption

Flaws:

• rarely found on sale

This concludes our article. When choosing between ready-made food and natural products, do not forget that for proper nutrition, the Maine Coon needs a variety and balanced diet. The pet's menu should include offal, sea fish, dietary boiled meat, all kinds of grains and vegetables. Most often, it is much more profitable and easier to give your cat dry and wet super-premium or holistic food. Such diets contain everything necessary for the full functioning of a pet. The main thing is to choose the right food, taking into account the characteristics of your pet. Enjoy the shopping!

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Important points

You can minimize the risk of problems with excess weight and digestion by following feeding rules:

• Introduce complementary foods for kittens gradually: natural food in a minimal amount, dry food – in a soaked form;
• new products give 1 per day;
• As your pet gets older, you should reduce the number of feedings by increasing the serving size;
• you must follow the daily feed amount indicated on the packaging;
• castrated and sterilized animals must be given appropriate food;
• The cat should always have access to clean drinking water.

It is important to remember that every animal is different and feeding standards may vary for each cat.

Basics of a healthy diet

Many Maine Coon owners do not know what to feed their growing animal. The diet should be tailored to physiological requirements.

Carbohydrates are used as the pet's main source of energy. They stimulate intestinal motility and participate in metabolism. Proteins and proteins play an important role in metabolic processes. They are necessary for the animal to fully develop and grow. Protein also stimulates the body's protective function.

Natural nutrition

Natural feeding is the best way to raise a healthy and beautiful pet. Do not forget that 3/4 of the food your pet receives should be “natural”. The rest comes from dry and wet food.

Vitamins and microelements obtained from natural food have a better effect on the body than those contained in feed. However, you should not completely exclude industrial feed.

Allowed food

The Maine Coon should eat the following foods daily:

1. Chicken or turkey meat . The Maine Coon body digests meat by 90%. Before giving meat to your pet, you should freeze the pieces for 3-4 hours, and then cut them into cubes 1-1.5 cm in size. Freezing is necessary in order to reduce the risk of helminth infection.
2. Meat by-products . Of the entire range of meat by-products for cats of this breed, chicken paws, necks, heads, and bird stomachs are suitable.
3. Fish . Fish products, after removing the bones, are given to pets in finely chopped form. Sea fish is allowed to be given raw, and river fish - only boiled. Maine Coons are allowed to eat any fish except cod and pollock.
4. Eggs . Chicken eggs are a source of biotin, which is very beneficial for animals. It is advisable to give adult cats only the yolk. It contains a large amount of protein, which has a positive effect on the development of the pet.
5. Vegetables . Many Maine Coons love vegetables, so these foods can be included in the daily menu without any restrictions. Animals are allowed to eat cucumbers, zucchini, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli and pumpkin.
6. Cereals . Cereals cannot be boiled for animals. First, they are soaked in milk for 8-12 hours, and given to the pet in this form. It is allowed to add bread or fish to the porridge. In combination with meat, porridge can cause digestive upset.

A lack of vitamins and microelements in a pet’s body leads to unpleasant symptoms. It is worth contacting a veterinarian if your cat begins to shed heavily, the quality of its coat has deteriorated, apathy and daily vomiting have appeared.

Junk food

There is a list of foods that should not be given to Maine Coons.

These include:

1. Meat of difficult to digest varieties (pork, fatty lamb, duck and goose meat).
2. Fish and meat bones . Sharp bone fragments can cause an animal to choke or injure itself.
3. Confectionery . Sweets, marmalade, and cakes contain a lot of sugar. Excess sugar provokes metabolic disorders.
4. Smoked meats and canned goods . These products negatively affect the functioning of the digestive system.
5. Potatoes, legumes, and soy are not digested by the Maine Coon's stomach, causing bloating.
6. Spices and salt . Food with added salt and spices provokes the development of urolithiasis.

A Maine Coon with congenital lactose intolerance should not be given whole milk. However, cats are allowed dairy products such as cottage cheese and unpasteurized yogurt.

Of course, cats are prohibited from trying any medications created for humans.

Ideal diet composition and daily food intake

For a pet to grow big and healthy, it needs to consume 60 kcal and 10 grams per 1 kg of weight. protein.

Natural food should have the following composition (per 100 g):

• protein – 30–45%;
• fats – 10–30%;
• fiber – 2%;

A pet needs 200-250 grams per day. food, with 100 gr. should be at least 320-380 Kcal. An adult cat should eat meat (120 g), cereals (25 g), vegetables (30 g), and fermented milk products (35 g) per day. You need to feed your pet 2-3 times a day, and you need to make sure that there is a bowl of clean, filtered, unboiled water next to the bowl. You should not give water from the tap.

Kunya porridge

Kunya porridge is another good option for a natural, balanced diet. The dish contains 80% meat and 20% other ingredients.

Chicken, turkey or rabbit meat, as well as offal (heart, liver, stomachs) are used as meat components. Additional ingredients are kefir, egg yolks, carrots or zucchini, flaxseed oil and a little parsley or dill.

Based on the listed products, you can prepare porridge according to different recipes. The simplest cooking method is to grind meat and offal through a meat grinder and then mix them with herbs. The resulting minced meat is placed in the freezer for 3 days and then served to the cat. Before serving, the food is defrosted in the microwave for 5-7 minutes, and then one of the additional ingredients is added to the dish.

How much to give a kitten?

For adults

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

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.

Feeding neutered Maine Coons

The operation of castration of Maine Coons often leads to a narrowing of the urethra, which is a threat to the full passage of the urethra. Therefore, in the menu for the Maine Coon, they adhere to a diet throughout their lives and do not consume foods that cause salt deposits. First of all, this is a fish rich in phosphorus, calcium and magnesium. There is no need to feed your Maine Coon to gain weight, which is dangerous for obesity due to increased appetite after castration of the pet.

For operated cats, factory-made, ready-made food, balanced for castrated animals, is well suited.

Advice! Outdoor games with a coon will help your neutered pet stay fit after surgery.

Economy class

Food in this class most likely does not contain the best quality ingredients. There is practically no natural meat. This food is available everywhere and can be purchased in an emergency.

List:

• Whiskeys;
• Kitekat;
• Friskies;
• Perfect Fit.

The composition contains dried meat protein, not a natural product.

These are the cheapest product options for Maine Coons. It contains fish and meat flour, there is no natural, whole meat at all and, accordingly, not enough protein. For Maine Coons, this class of food is more harmful than they need or even useful.