Maine Coon kittens (photo): how to properly raise and care for them

Most of those who want to become the owner of a purebred or even an ordinary cat prefer to adopt a kitten. And this is understandable: a baby, unlike an adult, gets used to its owners faster, it is easier to tame it and wean it from bad habits. Many potential owners, just by looking at a photo of Maine Coon kittens, fall in love with this unusual breed forever! The size of the baby, sometimes equal to the size of an adult cat, a pretty face, expressive eyes, a kind disposition and the constant tufts on the ears - all this captivates and encourages you to give preference to the Maine Coon. Look at the photos, compare the kittens and choose the one who will become your family's favorite for many years!

Select the age of the kitten by month: 1 month 2 months 3 months 4 months 5 months 6 months 7 months 8 months 9 months 10 months 11 months 1 year

Maine Coon kittens 1 month

The weight of a Maine Coon cat at 1 month is approximately 560 - 740 grams, and a 1 month old Maine Coon cat weighs about 630 - 820 grams.

Red kitten, 1 month

Tortoiseshell

Black marble

Maine Coon kittens 3 months

The weight of a Maine Coon cat at 3 months is 1.7 - 2.3 kg, and a three-month-old Maine Coon cat weighs from 1.8 to 2.3 kg.

History of the breed

The homeland of majestic cats is the United States of America. The name “Maine Coon” literally means “Manx raccoon.” Maine is a northern US state. But what do raccoons have to do with it? The answer lies in one of the theories of the origin of the breed. We will talk about them below.

  1. The first theory has nothing to do with wild animals. It is believed that early settlers brought many varieties of domestic cats to the United States. In unusual conditions, they began to actively interbreed with each other, as a result of which a new species appeared. This version is considered official.
  2. There is a legend that Maine Coons are the result of natural selection between a cat and a raccoon. Proponents of the theory claim that it was the raccoon genes that “gave” these cats their striped color and bushy tail. According to another version, the ancestor of the Maine Coon was the lynx - hence the cute tassels on the ears. Both versions of genetics are refuted.
  3. The third version is associated with the French Queen Marie Antoinette. The wife of Louis XIV, fleeing from the revolutionaries, decided to flee to America. According to legend, she sent a ship in advance, which contained her favorite things and animals. The queen failed to carry out her plans, but her pets safely crossed the ocean and scattered throughout New England. Cats and male cats actively interbred with their North American counterparts. This is how Maine Coons appeared.

Photos of Maine Coon kittens at 4 months

The weight of a Maine Coon cat at 4 months is 2.7 - 3.6 kg, and a 4 month old Mei Coon cat is from 3 kg to 3.8 kg

What kind of creature is this?

Their owners often affectionately call them "gentle giants." They have an unearthly beauty. No person who cares about the animal world would refuse to become the owner of such a potentially wonderful, obedient pet.

A number of legends have been compiled regarding the origin of these cats. The most interesting of them is that the animals have native roots with raccoons, because their original name literally translates as “raccoon”. This hypothesis is confirmed by their similarity in fur, its color, and the slightly predatory expression of its cute face.

© shutterstock

Another legend has a more romantic direction. She says that they come from the cats of a French queen named Marie Antoinette, who moved to England during the Great War in France. The woman took with her 6 of her own cats and cats that she took from the nursery.

Photos of Maine Coon kittens at 5 months

The weight of a make-coon cat at 5 months is from 2.9 to 4.3 kg, and a five-month-old cat is from 3.2 to 5.5 kg.

Black color, 5 months

White color

Factors influencing growth

  1. Floor. Boy kittens grow faster than girl kittens and, as a result, when they finally mature, they reach larger sizes than their sisters.
  2. Genetics. Kittens from large parents are born with greater body weight and, as a rule, also grow up to be as large as their relatives.
  3. Physical condition of the newborn. Babies born weaker gain weight less quickly.
  4. Large litter size. Kittens from small litters are born larger than kittens from larger litters.
  5. Maintenance of mother kittens during pregnancy and while feeding offspring. If a mother cat eats properly and is kept in good conditions, then she produces healthy and strong offspring, which is the key to good growth and weight gain in babies.
  6. Stress. If there is a turbulent atmosphere in the house where the pet is growing up, if the owners are arguing, starting renovations, or something else is happening in their family that disrupts the usual rhythm of life in the house, then the kitten will gain weight worse due to strong worries.
  7. Past illnesses. Kittens that have recovered from the disease grow worse, and their growth may stop altogether for some time.
  8. Feeding. In order for a pet to grow well, it must eat properly and nutritiously.

Heredity depends not only on the mother of the kittens, but also on the father, so from different cats the same cat can produce offspring of different sizes.

Maine Coon kittens at 6 months

The weight of a 6-month-old Mei Coon cat ranges from 3.2 to 4.5 kg, and a six-month-old Mei Coon cat weighs from 3.9 to 6.0 kg.

Maine Coon 7 months

The weight of a Maine Coon cat at 7 months is from 3.500 to 4.900, and the weight of a Maine Coon cat at 7 months is from 4.200 to 6.500 kg

Stages of development

Maine Coon kittens grow quickly and gain weight rapidly. The first months of life of the cubs are divided into several stages:

  1. Neonatal. Lasts 4 days. During this period, normal weight gain is up to 10 g per day. If the kitten is not gaining weight, it is possible that the mother does not have enough milk. Then his feeding is controlled by introducing artificial mixtures;
  2. Sucker. Lasts from birth to 4 weeks. During this time, the kitten's weight constantly increases from 20 to 50 g per day. By the end of this period, the lack of mass during intrauterine development is compensated for, and its stabilization occurs. By the end of the 4th week, the pet should weigh at least 450 g and no more than 850 g;
  3. Transition. It begins at 4 weeks and ends by the end of the second month of the kitten’s life. The animal’s diet changes: “adult” solid food is introduced into the diet. Because of this, between 25-30 days a slight weight loss is possible, which levels off by week 7;
  4. Post-suction. final stage. When a kitten reaches two months of age, it completely switches to solid food and begins to live independently.

Important: Weight at each stage must be strictly controlled. The first two months are the most important in developing the pet’s health and immunity. Therefore, if deviations from the norm occur, you should either increase the amount of food or reduce it.

Maine Coon 8 months

The weight of a Maine Coon cat at 8 months is 3.8 - 5.2 kg, and an eight-month-old cat weighs 4.5 to 6.9 kg.

Genetic factors

If the kitten's parents are large, then it also has a very high chance of reaching the maximum size of the breed. Genetics is the most important factor determining the weight, length, and height of an animal. Although this does not necessarily mean that the cat will weigh exactly as much as its parents. There is always a possibility that a grandparent will be able to pass on their genes to their descendants.

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Maine Coon 9 months

The weight of a Maine Coon cat at 9 months is 4.1 - 5.5 kg, and the weight of a Maine Coon cat at 9 months is from 5.00 to 7.0 kg.

Photo of Maine Coon at 10 months

A Maine Coon cat weighs 4.2 - 5.8 kg at 10 months, and a Maine Coon cat weighs approximately 5.2 - 7.7 kg at 10 months.

Maine Coon cat at ten months

What standards does this pet have?

The breed has a number of inherent characteristics:

  1. The size of the cat is large. The body is elongated, muscular, and has a slightly rectangular shape. The chest is massive, wide, and the neck is medium, not very long.
  2. The ends are very strong, with good muscles, medium in size. The paws are round, large in shape, and have tufts of hair between each toe.
  3. The animal has a fluffy tail, which tapers at the base.
  4. The Maine Coon's head is predominantly massive and large.
  5. The ears have sharp tips, but are wide at the very base. They are placed the width of one ear, almost vertically.
  6. The wool is soft. Short on the head and long on the back, with a thick undercoat.

Maine Coon at 11 months

A Maine Coon cat at 11 months weighs approximately 4.3 - 6.1 kg, and a Maine Coon cat at 11 months weighs approximately 5.7 - 8.0 kg.

Photo of Maine Coon per year (12 months)

A 1-year-old Maine Coon cat weighs about 4.5 - 6.8 kg, and a 1-year-old Maine Coon cat weighs approximately 5.7 - 9.0 kg.

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