The best food for Maine Coons: advice from a veterinarian. What to feed Maine Coons?

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.

Proper diet from childhood

The Maine Coon cat, whose price varies between 500 euros, is quite an expensive animal. Accordingly, taking care of his health should come first, and a kitten’s proper diet will be the key to excellent health for the rest of its life. It should be remembered that the diet of a small Maine Coon is radically different from the diet of an adult. A kitten under 4 months of age must be fed at least 4–5 times a day, and especially large babies should eat 6 times, every 4 hours.

At this age, you need to decide what you are going to feed your pet in the future: artificial mixtures or natural food. If it is dry food, then you need to gradually increase the amount of the mixture, because kittens grow quite quickly, and hunger can set in much earlier. In the first few days, it is better to soften artificial food with boiled water, and only then gradually transfer the kitten to completely dry food. When choosing natural food for Maine Coons, you should remember that food can only be given to the animal in raw, boiled or steamed form.

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 ingredients

Some manufacturers conscientiously indicate all the products and substances that are included in dry food. But sometimes the word “meat” means processed horns, hooves, wool, and bones. Maine Coons need proteins to live a normal life. The state of health depends on how they are preserved.

Standard list of products on packaging

1. Meat with types indicated.
2. Cereals.
3. Vegetables.
4. Fruits.
5. Vitamin and mineral supplements.
6. Ash content.

The last point is not always indicated, but it is very important. Ash is called ash; it is rich in minerals such as potassium and phosphorus. Veterinarians advise feeding pets with granulated food, in which the ash content is no more than 6-7%. This substance is practically not absorbed by the body of the coon and other cats, and can be dangerous for sick animals and kittens.

If the cat is allergic, then by the type of meat you can determine whether the food is suitable or not. It is also useful to know about the gluten content. For example, processed corn is harmful to coons, and it is often used for economy and premium food.

Healthy vegetables, fruits, berries and legumes for cats and kittens

1. Carrot.
2. Peas.
3. Sweet potato.
4. Cranberry.
5. Apples.
6. Blueberry.
7. Cranberry.
8. Pumpkin.

In percentage terms, they are usually no more than a few percent. They are rich in vitamins and fiber, which helps Maine Coons digest food.

Add medicinal herbs for coons

1. Calendula flowers.
2. Chicory root.
3. Alfalfa.
4. Chamomile.
5. Dandelion.
6. Fennel.
7. Rosemary.
8. Seaweed.

They keep the kuna in the right condition. There are very few herbs in the composition, but they are necessary. Seaweed is an essential source of iodine. Animals often suffer from its lack. In addition, iodine enhances pigmentation, making red coons even brighter.

Trace elements for Maine Coons, as large animals, improve well-being, coat texture, strengthen ligaments and bones. This is especially important during growing up. Natural food is difficult to prepare, and many owners make the wrong diet. If you feed your cat ready-made food, you can rest assured that it is getting adequate nutrition.

Good to read: Don't like fish in cat food? But in vain!

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.

Prohibited Products

Below are foods that are strictly prohibited for Maine Coons:

• fatty meats;
• confectionery;
• spices;
• tubular bones;
• coffee and cocoa;
• smoked meats;
• salinity;
• sweet pastries and bread;
• legumes and pasta;
• any sausages and sausages;
• milk (for adult animals);
• viscous porridge;
• River fish.

If you do not give your pet prohibited foods, then the risk of any diseases is extremely low (not counting congenital pathologies). This is why it is very important to monitor your cat’s diet.

Please note that sudden changes in food are unacceptable. If the pet ate natural foods, then it must be switched to dry food gradually over 7-10 days. Also with the transition to natural nutrition. In case of abrupt transfer, diarrhea and other digestive problems are inevitable.

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.

Veterinarian recommendations

To normalize digestion and maintain your pet’s health, it is recommended to follow the following recommendations:

1. Use stainless steel bowls. Plastic releases toxins into food.
2. Watch your drinking regime. The cat should receive 20–40 ml per 1 kg of weight for the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and urinary system.
3. Feed on a schedule. Cats get used to a certain regime. It is easier for their body to digest food if they follow a schedule.
4. Watch your physique. Manufacturers' recommendations are a guideline, but not exact data. If the general norm is observed, animals with different metabolisms and activities can lose or gain weight.

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.

Feeding the Maine Coon with natural food

Feeding a Manx cat natural food does not mean treating him to everything that you yourself eat. Such homemade food will not benefit your pet, rather the opposite. When preparing a diet, it is very important to find out in advance what Maine Coons can eat and what is not recommended.

Sometimes you can feed the Maine Coon porridge - rice, oatmeal or buckwheat. But porridge is not suitable as the main food, since this breed of cat is quite large and needs healthy food. Fans of the breed have adapted to preparing special kunin porridge, which includes all the necessary ingredients for the health of the pet.

Important! Greens, like water, should always be in a visible place so that your pet has free access to it.

Correctly calculating nutrients in natural nutrition is quite difficult. In addition, special vitamins and microelements must be added to the products.

Vitamins and mineral supplements for Maine Coons are produced by such manufacturers as CANINA, BEAPHAR.

Recommended vitamins for Maine Coons

• Vitamins and mineral supplements: “Top 10” from Canina.
• For strong bones and joints: Kangidrox (GAG Forte) from Canina, as well as “CALCIDEE” (calcium, phosphorus) from 8in1.
• Vitamins for the coat: “BREWERS” from Canina.

It is very important to seal the vitamins tightly and keep them out of reach of the animal.

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

Popular vote

What food would you choose or recommend?

CANAGAN Grain Free (salmon or game)

22.39 % ( 15 )

Leonardo Adult GF Maxi

13.43 % ( 9 )

Hill's Ideal Balance No Grain

7.46 % ( 5 )

Bosch Sanabelle Grande

2.99 % ( 2 )

HAPPY CAT LARGE BREED

8.96 % ( 6 )

Carnilove for Large breed cats

11.94 % ( 8 )

MERA FINEST FIT GIANT

2.99 % ( 2 )

BOZITA HAIR & SKIN WHEAT FREE Salmon

0.00 % ( 0 )

Eukanuba Top Condition or Hairball Control

2.99 % ( 2 )

Brit Care Tobby I'm a Large Cat

2.99 % ( 2 )

Wellness Indoor Health for Adult Cat

0.00 % ( 0 )

NATURE'S PROTECTION SUPERIOR CARE LARGE CAT

1.49 % ( 1 )

FLATAZOR CROCKTAIL ADULT LARGE BREED

1.49 % ( 1 )

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.

Special feeding

Dry food with a high phosphorus content is contraindicated for neutered cats due to the risk of urolithiasis. This element is found in large quantities in seafood. Companies have developed separate lines for neutered coons. They are also prone to obesity, so prepared food should be quickly and easily digested.

Month-old kittens are fed industrial food marked “kitten” or similar markings. They contain all the substances that are important for growth and activity. So they should be fed several times a day until 12-15 months, since coonlets become adults later than other felines. Their difference from adult options is their richness in proteins, the level of which is adapted for kittens, increased amounts of phosphorus, calcium, and vitamin D. Leading manufacturers conduct research, which is reflected in their product. Prebiotics are often added so as not to disturb the delicate microflora of the small coon.

It is a responsible task to feed a sick animal. Ready-made food for them is called holistic. It is prescribed after blood tests to determine the balance of microelements and a general examination of the horse. For food allergy sufferers of the Maine Coon breed, food is provided with a low fiber content, grains and without dangerous types of meat (chicken, fish).

Elderly Maine Coons with reduced activity, and, as a result, inhibited digestion, do not need increased fat content. Because of this, they need to be fed low-calorie foods.

Pregnant females are transferred either to baby food for future kittens, or they are served regular food, but the portion is then increased. In the case of “kitten” food for kittens, the embryos receive enough food, and after complementary feeding they will not have problems with digestion.

What to feed a Maine Coon kitten by month

The cat continues to feed the cubs until 2-2.5 months. There is no need to wean kittens prematurely. Breast milk contains all the necessary vitamins and substances - this is the main basis of strong immunity.

There are times when a kitten is taken away from its mother. In this case, he is given diluted goat milk or artificial mixtures, which can be purchased at a pet store.

They begin to gradually feed kittens from the age of one month.

1 month. At first, it is better to use beef meat. You can feed it with cottage cheese and raw quail yolk, milk porridge. You need to feed in small portions 5-6 times a day.

2 month. What to feed a Maine Coon kitten at 2 months? We add to the existing products: ocean fish, vegetables (pumpkin, zucchini, carrots, cabbage), herbs, cream with a fat content of 7-10%, vegetable oil. During this period, the kitten needs increased nutrition. The daily norm is 120-150 g, of which 30 g is meat.

3 month. Other foods are gradually introduced into the diet. The portion increases to 180-210 g, and meat to 40 g. We start feeding 4-5 times a day.

4 month. They begin to add offal to the diet (chicken hearts, liver, stomachs). They stop giving milk. Feeding occurs 4 times a day.

Subsequently, nothing changes, only the diet expands. The portion size increases and, consequently, the number of meals decreases. So for 5-6 months there will already be three meals a day with a norm of up to 250 grams. At 10-12 months, feeding occurs only in the morning and evening.

You can feed your kitten both natural food and ready-made food. It is better to choose the manufacturer whose food the mother eats. The food has age limits and recommended nutritional values ​​are written on each package. Depending on the development of the kitten, portions can be adjusted. Such food is completely balanced and does not require painstaking selection of products and vitamin supplements.

It is very easy to accustom a kitten to dry food from a small age. To do this, soak the granules in warm water until a paste forms and give it a try. You can dilute it a little with cream or goat milk. From 3-4 months they switch completely to dry food.

From the age of one month, it is recommended to choose the type of food and not mix it. It is better to wait with canned food until the kitten grows up. You can understand what food is suitable for your pet by its stool, behavior and appearance.

Purina ONE

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A well-deserved leader among economy-class feeds. The composition of Purina ONE cannot boast of being balanced, but it contains very few harmful additives. The food contains prebiotics and fiber that promote normal digestion. The amount of protein in the composition is normal, but the lion's share of it comes from plant ingredients. This diet is not suitable for constant feeding, but it is quite suitable as a temporary replacement. At the same time, the Maine Coon must be given mineral and vitamin complexes to maintain healthy joints and heart.

Food for sterilized cats Purina ONE for the prevention of urolithiasis

Advantages:

• affordable price
• calorie content
• minimum of harmful additives
• prebiotics included
• improves coat condition
• good aroma
• many different tastes

Flaws:

• addictive
• pets do not eat small portions

Basics of proper nutrition

The very first and most important rule can be called food choice. You need to decide on the type of food - it will be natural food or industrial feed. By choosing ready-made food, you can sometimes pamper your pet. But mixing these two types is not recommended.

If you choose to eat natural food or use it as a treat, it is important to know that adding salt and all kinds of spices is prohibited.

It is also recommended to refrain from feeding food from the table. Such food is not beneficial, but only contributes to poisoning and disease.

Natural nutrition must be supplemented with essential vitamins.

Sprouted grass is useful in the Maine Coon's diet. Greens are rich in fiber and carbohydrates, which aid digestion. You can grow the grass in a pot at home and provide free access for your pet. Seeds are purchased at the market or at a pet store.

Your pet should always have fresh and clean water available. Do not use tap or boiled water. Bottled or filtered water will do.