“>The Maine Coon is a special cat: its imposing size alone distinguishes it from other cat breeds. But does the Maine Coon really need different food than other cats? What should the optimal diet for this cat breed look like and why the food industry special “Maine Coon Fodder” offers, you will find out in this article!
The Maine Coon: A very special breed of cat
“>They are extremely intelligent, love water and are very devoted to their people: Maine Coon cats are definitely something very special.
And not least because of her height, because the Maine Coon is the largest of all domestic cats, its long fur and “lynx ears” give it a majestic and fierce look.
The breed of cat whose name is derived from the US state of Maine and the English word for raccoon , i.e. “Racoon”, is one of the most popular in the USA.The demand for the gentle giants is also increasing in Europe.
Maine Coon tomcats can be up to cm and a shoulder height of 45 cm with a weight of 7 to 12 kg. Female cats are a little lighter at 4.5 to 7 kg and therefore smaller.
Also a Difference to other breeds is the slow growth of Maine Coons. The animals are only fully grown when they are 3 to 4 years old.
Maine Coon cats look special and appear so different in many aspects compared to other cats. The question arises whether there are also special features in their diet for the cat owner to consider.
Which cat food is best for Maine Coon cats?
The gentle giants are not afraid of water What makes good cat nutrition?
“>As special as this breed may be, the Maine Coon is and always will be a cat And what do cats naturally eat? Small prey, with all the trimmings.
A cat food should “recreate” this prey as best as possible to keep the cat in the best of health. Prey of the cat, consists of meat, offal, stomach contents (mostly vegetable), blood, bones, and indigestible parts such as fur.
The cat is an absolute carnivore, her body is completely designed for it. You can see that by the fangs and fangs. Also in relation to the body size very much short intestine is a clear indication.So the cat needs animal fats and proteins from which it gets its energy.
To break down and utilize carbohydrates unlike dogs, cats lack the appropriate enzymes.
Your hydration needs cats mostly cover their food, after all they drink very little by nature. Meat and offal contain approximately 69-78% Humidity.
The characteristics of a good and healthy cat food are clear:
A very high proportion of meat Wet food to cover the liquid requirement No grain or other vegetable Fillers – cats cannot use them! No sugar – bad for the animals’ teeth 1 – 3% easily digestible herbal ingredients No artificial additives that can lead to allergies and intolerance “> In addition, it is important to note how meat and offal are declared :
Only says “Meat and animal by-products” on the packaging, we would advise against buying it. Animal by-products are not necessarily a bad thing – chicken heart or liver are also animal by-products by definition – both very healthy ingredients in Cat food.
But the by-products could also be poultry heads, feathers, skin or claws . That is not only unappetizing, but also quite inferior. So you should always make sure that the manufacturer uses all his ingredients whole transparent reveals.
You can find more information about “good cat food” in our detailed guide.
But are we getting back to the Maine Coon? Is there anything special about your diet?
The Maine Coon, like any cat, needs a high Percentage of meat in their diet Do you need a special food for the Maine Coon ?
“>Food products are offered that are said to be “tailor-made for the Maine Coon”. For example, there is the food brand Royal Canin, which offers wet and dry food for the giant domestic cats.
Let’s look at the composition of the products of the well-known brand:
Royal Canin Maine Coon Adult wet food: Meat and animal by-products, cereals, fish and fish by-products, vegetable protein extracts, vegetable By-products, oils and fats, minerals, sugar, molluscs and crustaceans Royal Canin Maine Coon Adult dry food: Poultry protein (dried), rice, corn, animal fat, corn gluten feed, vegetable protein isolate, lignocellulose, animal protein (hydrolysed), dried beet pulp, min Eral substances, fish oil, soybean oil, psyllium (husks and seeds), yeast and parts thereof, fructo-oligosaccharides, yeast hydrolyzate [Quelle für Mannan-Oligosaccharide], borage oil, hydrolyzate from crustaceans [Quelle für Glukosamin], marigold meal [Quelle für Lutein], hydrolyzate from cartilage [Quelle für Chondroitin]
“>Unspecified animal by-products, cereals, vegetable proteins, vegetable by-products, sugar… and for the handsome Price from around 15 Euro per kilo We are not convinced at all.
And the dry food contains many vegetable fillers, the meat content is probably far too low is not visible for both products due to the non-transparent declaration. And on top of that, the animals cannot do more than 10 Offer % moisture…
But what is supposed to make the product from Royal Canin so suitable for Maine Coon cats? The manufacturer speaks here of:
one high energy content key nutrients that promote strong bones can Taurine and Omega 3 fatty acids that promote heart health can Vitamins and Omega 3 & Omega 6 fatty acids that promote skin and coat health can “> Apart from the fact that every good cat food contains omega 3 & 6 fatty acids, taurine and all the nutrients and vitamins that a cat needs, this is all formulated too vaguely for us.
In fact, there are some details to consider when feeding the Maine Coon – but you don’t need a special “Maine Coon cat food”:
Our recommendation:
ANIfit cat food for Maine Coons
“>The selection of cat food is huge and there is a lot to consider when making your selection. A purchase decision is not easy – but you can benefit from our experience from our large cat food comparison:
We recommend the high-quality for the Maine Coon Wet food from ANIfit The species-appropriate composition with 99% meat and selected food grade offal also make the product an optimal choice for the Maine Coon.
“>Other advantages of ANIfit:
Ingredients in best Swedish food quality No antibiotic residues, no genetic engineering, no growth hormones Meat from animal welfare Contains no grain or sugar Absolutely transparent declaration of the ingredients “>This is how ANIfit was able to achieve high ratings in all categories in our test and thus perform best – and is ours Test winner.
“>10 % discount for new customers with our ANIfit voucher:
11cat stuff code copied!
“>We recommend the Feed conversion package for an easy transition!
Diseases typical of the breed
“>The Maine Coon is considered to be a very robust and healthy cat breed But over time, due to overbreeding, she also developed Hereditary diseases occur, albeit rarely:
Disorders of the musculoskeletal system HCM (Heart Disease) Spinal muscular atro phie Polycystic Kidney Disease “>Whether a special diet protects against the outbreak of these hereditary diseases has not been clarified, may be doubted.
Certainly there is no harm in a cat food providing enough taurine and omega-3 fatty acids to support heart health.
And of course there are substances that promote joint health, including omega-3 fatty acids and, above all, glycosaminoglycan from green-lipped mussels and chondroitin, for example from the trachea of cattle.
On the one hand, these substances are usually contained in high-quality cat food anyway also slightly supplement:
This salmon oil of the highest quality contains omega-3, 6 and 9 fatty acids in an optimal ratio to each other. These are important for coat, heart health, brain activity and joint function.
Movement-Fit is a dietary supplement designed to promote joint health. With glycosaminoglycan from green-lipped mussel, glucosamine and chondroitin.
“>So we don’t see any reason why you have to resort to a special “Maine Coon cat food”.
You tend to be overweight
“> Maine Coon cats are mostly kept in the apartment in Germany. Unfortunately, the expensive pedigree cats are often stolen. Boredom threatens quickly in the house or apartment!
It requires a lot of commitment on the part of the cat owner, their animals through activity, play and variety enough exercise To provide.
Activity has a strong influence on the cat’s energy requirements.Laziness and too little exercise, often caused by boredom, can quickly lead to obesity in Maine Coon cats.
In addition to toys for velvet paws, a conspecific can be helpful here the animals engage with each other, are happier and more active.
“>On each package of feed the manufacturer must have a Feeding recommendation This should only be used as a guide.
Because how much food a cat actually needs depends heavily on its activity, and disposition also plays a role.
Ultimately, should Cats weighed regularly . This is the only way to precisely adjust the amount of feed based on the development of body weight. It is important that the animal is always fed at the same time of day, e.g in the morning before breakfast.
“>In addition to Royal Canin Maine Coon Adult, the same manufacturer also offers a kitten food for this breed with “Royal Canin Maine Coon Kitten”.
Main argument for this product: The long growth phase of the Maine Coon If she grows too quickly in the first few months of her life due to diet, this can have negative consequences for the healthy development of her bones and joints.
Royal Canin Maine Coon Kitten has a lower calorie count to ensure healthy growth.
In our opinion, this is not necessary, just the feed amount must be selected appropriately: Not too much, but not too little either. The kittens must gain weight at the appropriate rate. Regular body weight checks and consultation with the veterinarian are important.
In general is Kitten food superfluous, it’s more of a promotional ploy. Each complete food also offers baby cats all the nutrients they need. In nature, kittens eat the same mice as their mum…
Maine Coon kittens should also have high-quality wet food receive Important for Maine Coon cats: Many hairs are swallowed
“>Due to the long coat and the cat-typical care of the same, Maine Coons swallow a lot of hair. Malt paste and cat grass are the means of choice here.
“>As with all other cats: Better wet food than dry food in the bowl. Cats simply do not drink enough water to compensate for the lack of liquid in dry food. Especially since the high energy density of dry food helps the body digestion also removes liquid.
If the pet’s liquid intake is too low, sooner or later it can lead to the formation of In the worst case, there is also a risk of kidney disease!
What are Maine Coon not allowed to eat? “>Coonies should not be given human food. Leftovers are too salty, heavily flavored, and may contain foods that are toxic to cats. Examples would be legumes, chocolate, or onions.
Which cat food has a high meat content? “> Wet food generally has a higher meat content than dry food. In our cat food test you will find many brands and products that can have a high meat content. Here you will find a list of suitable products with good ratings.
How much food do Maine Coon need? “>In addition to the cat food used and its calorie content, this also depends on many other factors. Above all, the activity and disposition of the pet play a role here. We recommend weighing a Maine Coon regularly in order to be able to adjust the amount of food.
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1682230063903
1682190067558 Hello! My name is Dominik Hollenbach, I’m the founder of Katzenkram.
I’ve lived with them since I was a child Cats together, I have always been intensively involved with these fascinating creatures.
This is particularly important to me Healthy eating theme for cats. There is just way too much bad and unhealthy cat food on the market.
That’s why I test mine five cats PonPon, Bella, Tequila, Azrael and Lori many different varieties and rate them according to ingredients, declaration, analytical components, acceptance and tolerability.
As a nutritionist for cats, I know exactly what is important when it comes to good cat food. Our cat food test should help everyone to find the best cat food quickly and easily!
