What to feed Maine

Agree that not every cat causes as many emotions in the owners and others, as good-natured, energetic giant Maine (Maine Coon). An adult cat’s weight can reach 7-12 kg, and the length of the body (including the tail) up to 135 cm. Such large and active cats need full proper nutrition, which will be able to saturate them with energy but will not lead to obesity.

Low-calorie dietary products will not be able to satisfy Maine’s appetite – it will not add enough weight and begin problems with wool.

Let’s talk about what to feed Maine, so that he grew up healthy and beautiful representative of this breed.

The best dry feed for Maine

According to veterinary standards, at least 26% protein and 9% fat should be contained in the quality ready-made feed, for feeding cats – 30% protein and 9% fat. The first thing to pay attention to when choosing an industrial meal – protein (meat) should be the label’s first ingredient. If the first place is soy or cereals – this feed Main is not suitable.

Second, and no less critical – give up the feed, which contains corn or wheat gluten. Choose grain-free foods – they do not lead to obesity. The grain is not an obligatory part of the cat diet – in the wild cats do not eat grain! Learn more about feed species.

Top 5 feeds for Maine

1. Wellness® Indoor Health for Adult Cat (USA) – holistic fodder;
2. Bosch Sanabelle Grande (Germany) – super-premium;
3. Eukanuba Mature Care Formula for Cats (USA) – premium class;
4. ProNature 30 Adult for Cats (Canada) – premium food;
5. Hill’s Nature’s Best™ With Real Chicken Adult Cat (USA) is excellent food.

Wellness® Indoor Health for Adult Cat

A high-quality grain-free American-made product with the right protein levels. The food recipe is designed specifically for cats and cats that live indoors. Protein content – 30%, fat – 12%.

Ingredients: boneless chicken meat, chicken liver, herring flour, ground brown rice, flaxseed, barley, oats, olive oil. Enriched with vitamins and minerals: E, D3, B12, B2, B3, B6, folic acid, calcium, copper, etc., for joint health, added glucosamine and chondroitin. Cranberries and tomato mixture are used as antioxidants and phytonutrients. Suitable for nursing cats.

Bosch Sanabelle Grande

Full-bodied dry food for cats of large breeds with high protein content (31%) And fat (20%).

In the composition: poultry, meat flour, liver, salmon, squash, flaxseed, rice flour, beet pulp. Cranberries and blueberries are used as antioxidants and enriched with beer yeast, marigold extract. Added chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine (extract from mussels) to properly develop and prevent joint diseases. Chicory root, as a natural prebiotic, enhances metabolism and improves digestion.

Eukanuba Mature Care Formula for Cats

High-protein food – protein content – 36%, fat – 17%. Manufactured in the United States.

Ingredients: chicken, chicken by-products, egg powder, animal and fish oil, beet pulp, cornflour. Vitamin and mineral supplements: biotin, calcium, folic acid, zinc, vitamins A, E, D3, B2, B3, B12, ascorbic acid. To strengthen the immune system of the cat added tocopherols. Fish oil in feed is a source of fatty omega acids. A balanced composition has a beneficial effect on the digestion of the animal, the quality of wool.

Pros of feed: high protein content.

Cons of feed: the composition has corn flour (allergen) – cheap filler.

ProNature 30 Adult for Cats

Canadian-made food high in protein (30%) The formula of feed is designed specifically for adult cats of breeds prone to forming the digestive system of hair lumps.

Ingredients: chicken flour, corn, beetroot pulp, wheat, flaxseed, chicken fat, cranberries. Vitamin and mineral supplements: lecithin, calcium, tocopherols. Yukka Shidiger’s extract increases the animal’s immunity, slows ageing, and reduces cat bowels’ smell.

Plus poop: protection from lumps of wool.

Minus feed: corn (allergen) is included in the composition.

Hill’s Nature’s Best™ With Real Chicken Adult Cat

Perfectly balanced food with sufficient protein content (30%) fat (19%) U.S. production.

Ingredients: chicken, chicken liver, egg powder, beer rice, wheat, corn gluten, beetroot pulp, oat fibre, peas, carrots, animal fat. Contains 25 mineral and vitamin supplements. The feed is enriched with iodine, copper, biotin, folic acid. A mixture of antioxidants strengthens the animal’s immune system. It contains no artificial dyes or flavourings.

How to feed a maine kitten

Small bowls and saucers are not suitable for Maine kittens. It would be best to choose water bowls with a diameter of at least 30 cm and 10 cm deep. Water in them should be at least half of the dish. You need to change the water at least once a day. Kittens love to play with water: they wave, row, splash and dig.

Non-spills for dogs are the best option for this breed. Metal or ceramic bowls on the stand are suitable for dry food.

To the choice of food for a small Maine should be approached very carefully. On its correct selection will depend on the baby’s development, appearance, and ability to reproduce.

Cats of this breed feed kitten milk for up to 2-2.5 months. But the first bait can be given when the kitten turns one month old. Additional nutrition is introduced, starting from the condition of the baby, its development. Milk is needed Maine until the age of 2 months.
If the kitten is weaned from the mother, he is given adapted milk from pet stores or buys
goat. Cow’s milk is not enough protein and fat, which is necessary for the growing body of a large cat. Up to 4 months should be fed 5-6 times a day in small portions.

Feeding frequency of kittens:

• 3-4 months – 5-6 times;
• 4-6 months – 4 meals a day;
• From 6 months – three meals a day;
• 10-12 months – morning and evening.

Do not forget that Maine cats reach puberty later than representatives of other breeds. Therefore, Maine’s diet up to the age of 9 months should make exceptional food for kittens.

The main advantage of ready-made industrial feeds is their balance. This does not apply to cheap food from supermarkets. Feeding Kittens Main Whiskas and Kitekat – unacceptable! You can transfer to dry meals at the age of 3 months. Choose well-known brands of “super-premium” and “premium” classes.

What kind of food can be fed to kittens:

• Wahre Liebe “Junge”;
• Mera Cat “Classic”;
• Royal Canin Maine Coon Kitten;
• Eukanuba Kitten Dry Cat Food Health Start Chicken & Liver;
• NOW FRESH Grain Free Kitten Food.

Keep the bowl clean and that there is no food left in it. All those kittens did not finish, and it is necessary to clean after feeding.

Nutrition for diseases

Maine has impressive energy, endurance and excellent health, but these strongmen have health problems. The main “sores” are hereditary, so it is essential to conduct meticulous breeding work – not to allow to breed cats with poor heredity.

Key health problems:

• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The disease can cause the sudden death of a kitten or an up grown animal. It is essential to conduct veterinary heart research and reduce the amount of salt consumed;
• Urolithiasis. To prevent the disease, it is necessary: to exclude fish, not to use food class “economy”, to provide good drinking regime. It is useful for preventive and therapeutic purposes to use the feed of the veterinary line “Urinary”: Royal Canin Urinary S/O, Purina Pro Plan Urinary, Eukanuba Veterinary Urinary Oxalate.
• Joint disease. To prevent this type of infection, it is important to feed only high-quality feed, which contains chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine, responsible for the joints’ structure and health. If there are joint disease and obesity, which increases the joints’ load, the animal should be transferred to special veterinary feeds: Eukanuba Veterinary Diety Urinary Struvite for Cats Dry.

Natural food

Proponents of natural nutrition need to remember that Maine is a vast and very energetic cat. Cats of this breed behave like young kittens for a long time. To grow up healthy and vibrant, they need a high-calorie diet that provides the body with the necessary energy.

Meat should form the basis of the diet. Choose only high-quality and fresh essence of low-fat varieties: rabbit, beef, poultry and veal. It should be given raw meat, which has been previously subjected to a deep freeze. It is best to prepare the portions in advance, slicing them and freeing them from tendons, films and bones. Please do not give the cats cold food (immediately from the freezer); keep it warm until it becomes room temperature.

Fish is given no more than 1-2 times a week. Sea fish can be given raw, and the river must be boiled. More frequent consumption of fish can provoke the development of urinary stone disease in Maine.

What other products can be included in the Menu of Maine Coon:

• by-products: liver, kidneys, lung;
• boiled egg;
• cereals in limited quantities;
• vegetables: carrots, cucumbers, cauliflower;
• green salad;
• cheese is like a delicacy.

How to cook a full meal at home:

1. Grind the pork heart, chicken ventricles, chicken liver, chicken neck or head in a meat grinder.
2. Simmer in olive oil zucchini, carrots or cauliflower.
3. Mix it all up.