Thought of the most important of home cat breeds, the Maine Coon holds a particular place within the hearts of feline lovers worldwide. They are usually laid again, clever, and pleasant, and so they share their heat and pleasure with family and friends for his or her complete lives.
How lengthy are you able to count on your Maine Coon to fill the house with their infectiously pleasant and adoring aura? We’ll focus on how lengthy Maine Coon cats reside on common and what you are able to do to offer them the longest, happiest lives potential.
Maine Coon Cat Common Lifespan
Maine Coon cats reside a mean of 10–15 years, which is barely lower than the typical cat. Although typically wholesome, Maine Coons are extra liable to some well being situations that will restrict their lifespan, together with weight problems and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).
Nonetheless, with correct care and wholesome genetics, a Maine Coon can reside effectively into their teenagers and even over the age of 20. A number of Maine Coons have been the oldest residing cats at numerous factors, together with a Maine Coon from England named Rubble, who lived to be 31 years previous!1
Methods to Care For Your Maine Coon Cat for a Lengthy Lifespan?
Maine Coon cats are hardy, however their longevity primarily is dependent upon their well being care. Selling an extended lifespan begins with guaranteeing your breeder does complete screenings for widespread well being points. Cats from breeders who supply vital testing and distinctive care can have the perfect probability of main lengthy, fulfilling lives.
After buying your Maine Coon, your feeding, grooming, and care routine will have an effect on not solely their lifespan but additionally their high quality of life. With considerate care, your cat will seemingly be happier, and also you’ll save money and time by stopping avoidable well being issues and vet visits.
Feeding & Weight loss plan
Maine Coons want high-quality meals wealthy in animal protein and low in carbs, with wholesome omega fatty acids to assist their organs, joints, pores and skin, and coat. Adults ought to eat 20–30 energy per pound of physique weight. Monitor your cat’s physique situation steadily, as many homeowners don’t acknowledge their Maine Coons are chubby and fail to regulate their weight-reduction plan and train accordingly.
Surroundings
Maine Coon cats want house to roam and play, which can embrace supervised out of doors areas like gardens when you reside in an house. An outside catio is even higher, offering house to play open air whereas avoiding the chance of interactions with different animals or escaping the yard.
Making your Maine Coon an indoor-only cat is suitable when you fear about out of doors hazards. They need to have loads of cabinets and climbing furnishings, cat bushes, scratching posts for train, and enrichment gadgets like puzzle feeders and crinkly animal toys to keep away from boredom.
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Care
Maine Coons ought to have a clear house and an energetic way of life. Encourage every day play to maintain them in form and construct your bond, utilizing toys like feather wands and balls to interact them. At all times guarantee they’ve contemporary water to remain hydrated and preserve hazardous gadgets or off-limits areas inaccessible.
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Cleansing
Brush your Maine Coon’s plush coat two to a few weekly to cut back mats, take away useless hair, and strengthen the pores and skin and fur, and bathe them each 1–2 months with a cat shampoo to maintain their pores and skin and coat clear. Nails want clipping each 2–3 weeks, and enamel require brushing each 1–2 days. Test and clear the ears weekly to stop infections.
Breeding
Breeding Maine Coons must be left as much as accountable breeders solely. These are individuals which are keen to have their animals screened for genetic sicknesses that may be handed right down to offspring. They’re additionally people who find themselves within the enterprise for the love of the breed, not earnings.
Healthcare
Maine Coon cats ought to go to the vet at the very least as soon as yearly as adults, whereas senior cats profit from going each 6 months. Spaying and neutering on the applicable age is usually a crucial step in stopping a number of well being points and lengthening your Maine Coon cat’s lifespan.
The Life Phases of a Maine Coon Cat
As a consequence of their comparatively sluggish progress fee, Maine Coons don’t totally mature till roughly 4 years previous. Males typically take the longest to succeed in full-blown maturity.
Kittenhood (0–6 Months)
Kittens want stimulation and a focus. To interact your cat mentally, keep a cat-proofed setting and rotate toys and enrichment gadgets. Socialization is crucial, as is introducing a routine with grooming and care duties.
Adolescence (6–18 Months)
The adolescent part consists of exercise and stand-offishness. Maine Coons nonetheless want a great deal of train and meals to gasoline their progress however may check boundaries and develop into extra impartial.
Be affected person as they work by this difficult part. Coaching might require a visit again to fundamentals, and also you’ll have to seek out artistic shops for his or her vitality and mischief.
Junior (1.5–4 Years)
Maine Coons develop quick within the first couple of years. Their growth then slows however continues till they attain their mature measurement at 3–4 years. They will transition off kitten meals after 18–24 months.
Grownup (4–10 Years)
Grownup Maine Coons are sometimes easygoing, affectionate, and extra relaxed. Take them to the vet at the very least as soon as yearly, and supply ongoing enrichment with a rotation of toys and gadgets to maintain them in form and docile.
Senior (10+ Years)
As your Maine Coon ages, discuss along with your vet about their routine. They might suggest specialty diets or dietary supplements to help your cat’s growing old physique. Monitor altering habits, as older cats might have environmental changes if they’ve points feeding, eliminating, or sleeping.
Methods to Inform Your Maine Coon Cat’s Age
Tooth
Everlasting enamel are available in at 4–6 months. Youthful cats will are inclined to have whiter enamel, whereas cats with stains are seemingly of their older years. Needless to say cats that don’t obtain correct dental care might have giant quantities of tartar accumulation that would make you assume they’re older than they really are.
Coat
A kitten’s coat can be voluminous and plush, whereas older Maine Coons might have extra graying and coarser fur with out as a lot fluff or density. Self grooming may even decline as cats lose flexibility and develop painful situations like arthritis as a result of age.
Muscle and Exercise
Younger cats are energetic and toned. As they age, they develop into much less energetic, typically taking up additional physique weight and areas of sagginess.
Eyes
Between 4-8 weeks, a kitten’s eyes change from blue to their remaining shade. Adults step by step present a altering look to their eyes, with seniors typically creating cloudiness and frequent tearing or discharge.
Conclusion
Maine Coon cats reside round 12.5 years on common, however the breed solely has a minor influence on any pet’s longevity or high quality of life. Breeding practices and upbringing are extra crucial than something, giving homeowners the flexibility so as to add years to their pets’ lives. By following these insights on how lengthy Maine Coon cats reside, you may set them up for a few years of pleased, snug companionship.
Featured Picture Credit score: pix-l ardour, Shutterstock
