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

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 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.

Birth weight

Newborn Maine Coon kittens, funny creatures, weigh from 90 grams at birth. For females and males, the upper limits are 150 and 170 grams, respectively. The average weight of a Maine Coon kitten is 120 grams and depends on many factors.

How much a small Maine Coon weighs is determined genetically, the number of kittens in the litter, living conditions and gender. And even the state of stress into which a pregnant cat falls, for example due to the presence of other animals, affects the size it will reach.

In the first month, the baby's main diet is mother's milk. By five weeks, the kitten switches to food, because of this the weight of the Maine Coon may decrease. At 7-8 weeks, the mother stops feeding the offspring and the fluffy becomes independent. By this time he should weigh about a kilogram. Weight gain may depend on the quality of complementary foods and the condition of the baby at birth.

What to do if your kitten is not gaining weight

Aboriginal cats are usually quite healthy. But this does not exclude the presence of genetic defects in the kitten. If the size and weight of the pet differ from normal, it is worth undergoing examination for the presence of any disease that interferes with development.

Prevention and timely vaccination will help avoid disastrous consequences in the life of the animal. Keep an eye on the animal's fur; if it becomes dull and looks sloppy, this is a warning sign.

The larger the kitten is born, the faster it grows. But if this is the weakest baby coon in the litter, you will most likely have to carefully ensure that he receives enough milk and then solid food. Difficult labor and subsequent weakness can affect appetite.

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.

Why do you need to monitor a kitten’s weight at different periods of its growth?

Despite the large breed and individual characteristics of a kitten, changes in its weight at a certain age can be used to judge whether it is developing correctly. There is a breed standard that sets out weight standards. Deviation in either direction is not acceptable. Of course, a lot depends on the mother's milk supply. Therefore, it is recommended to feed her well.

The calorie requirement of a lactating cat is, on average, 3 times greater than for a pet at rest. Therefore, ad libitum feeding is practiced. To prevent food from spoiling, it is necessary to switch to professional nutrition with dry granules containing the necessary vitamins and other nutrients.

The industry does not produce special food for pregnant and lactating cats. Therefore, they use super premium food for kittens. This approach keeps milk production high and helps the kitten transition from mother's milk to solid food.

The weight of a younger kitten should constantly increase and double by the age of one week. Responsible felinologists weigh a newborn in the first week of life every day at the same hour. Then the frequency of mass determination is reduced and after six months monthly weighing is sufficient. Constant weight gain is considered an indicator of a pet's good health.

Be sure to read: British cat: character, care and maintenance, sterilization, when to vaccinate, feeding, what diseases they are susceptible to Kitten owners are concerned about moments when the growth rate drops or stops altogether.

In most cases, this is explained by the following objective reasons:

1. Weaning: the transition from mother's milk to solid food requires a restructuring of enzymes.
2. Deworming in preparation for vaccination. Dying parasites release toxic metabolic products, poisoning occurs, and growth stops.
3. Post-vaccination complications: even if the kitten’s health worsens for a few days, there is no need to worry about it.
4. Changing teeth: the pet is in a little pain, food eating decreases.
5. Upon reaching six months of age, feed consumption decreases and growth rate decreases. But these are the physiological features of the development of cats.
6. Puberty and the first estrus are accompanied by small plumbs.

In addition to physiological reasons for growth inhibition, pathological ones may appear: poisoning, infection or invasion.

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

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.

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.

Nutrition

When purchasing a small Maine Coon, it is better to feed him his usual food for a while. Then you can introduce the kitten to other foods.

A complete diet for a small Maine Coon should contain up to 40% protein, 15-30% fat, 2.5% fiber, and the rest should be carbohydrates.

When feeding kittens, it is important to follow a diet. The main diet is raw lean meat. These are beef, chicken, rabbit, and offal. To strengthen joints, you need chicken scallops, beef tendons, and pig ears. Meat should be frozen for at least three days.

The source of minerals will be raw chicken necks, heads, backs, paws, and tails. They must be ground or given whole. Raw yolk is very useful for kittens.

Be sure to read:

What to feed a Maine Coon kitten: recommendations, diet from a month to a year, what not to give

When purchasing a small Maine Coon, it is better to feed him his usual food for a while

Fish should be given with caution and infrequently. Kittens drink milk for up to two months, and then their body loses the ability to digest lactose. It is replaced with fermented milk products, cottage cheese, and hard cheese.

Sometimes kittens happily eat raw grated vegetables and fruits and herbs. Adding a small amount of olive oil will help. There must be clean water available at all times.

It is not recommended to feed kittens food from the human table: it contains too many different additives that are harmful to the animal’s digestion.

Natural nutrition table for Maine Coon kittens by month

The nutritional norms and diet for Maine Coon kittens are presented in the table:

Feeding kittens with prepared food

High-quality industrial cat food contains all the necessary nutrients. Some manufacturers produce special food for Maine Coons: Bosch Sanabel Kitten, Royal Canin, Hills.

The amount of dry food is calculated individually and depends on the size of the kitten. First, the granules should be diluted with store-bought milk. Adults can be given canned food.

Industrial feeds are stored for a long time and are convenient to use. The packages usually indicate the serving size and other recommendations.

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.

What to do if your cat is not gaining weight

During the first two months of life, a young Maine Coon's weight should be monitored weekly. Any prolonged deviation from the norm becomes a reason for a visit to the veterinarian.

Throughout each year of an adult Maine Coon's life, its weight is monitored. At the same time, excess weight is also dangerous for the health of the animal.

The big cat sometimes becomes capricious, refuses food and even loses weight. If it comes to the nature of the Maine Coon, then you can give the cat fasting days, and after that gradually change the diet. However, a prolonged departure from the weight gain schedule is an alarming sign that may indicate the development of a serious pathology in the animal’s body. In this case, the cat needs to be taken to the vet immediately.

But most often, representatives of the Maine Coon breed have good health, excellent genetics and powerful immunity. They are sociable and do not require special conditions. All the future giant needs is the love and attention of its owner, and the strong cat will definitely gain weight.

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.

Dry food

The beauty of such food is that it saves time for the owner. If the production is carried out conscientiously, from high-quality ingredients and taking into account the characteristics of the breed, then they may well become the basis of your pet’s diet. Don’t even think about saving for the health of an expensive animal.

Treatment for allergies or stomach problems will cost you more. So don’t even look at food from Whiskas, Friskas or Kitiket. There are many companies that develop food specifically for the Maine Coon breed.

Among them there are well-known ones, such as Royal Canin, Purina or Hills, and there are also little known ones, for example, Eagle Pack, Iams and Eukanuba. At the very beginning of the transition to dry food, you should decide on your choice. Make sure that your furbaby does not have an allergy to this brand. Therefore, do not rush to take large bags. Meat should come first in the composition.

Buy only industrially packaged goods, never buy in bulk. Even if you have completely decided to switch to ready-made dry food, periodically treat your Maine Coon with a piece of raw beef or fresh vegetables. Buy special products to care for your teeth. When choosing food and supplements, consult your veterinarian.

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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