You may notice that your gentle giant’s coat has become dull, or they aren’t as active as they used to be. You feed your Maine Coon top-quality food, but they may seem like they may benefit from a supplement. You may even ask yourself if your commercial cat food delivers all your MC’s needs or if they may need supplements.
Your Maine Coon needs specialized nutrition in their early growing years and a properly balanced adult feed that supplies the essential amino acids and vitamins they cannot create on their own. Supplements are great for conditions such as coat care or digestive health, but you should always consult a professional before giving your cat supplements.
There are so many cat foods and supplements on the market that it’s hard to know which is best. Feeling your MC a supplement without medical advice may do more harm than good. So here is a breakdown of what to look for in nutrition and supplements for your Maine Coon.
Contents
6 Essential Nutrients for Optimizing Cat Health
1. Protein
Proteins are biomolecules that form long chains of amino acids vital for tissue repair, metabolism, and balancing pH. They also play a crucial role in fluid balance and immunity in your cat’s body. AAFO states that a cat’s diet should offer at least 26% protein for adult cats and 30% for growing or pregnant cats.
Within this minimum protein concentration, the proteins must include 11 vital amino acids from animal-based products. These include:
- Taurine
- Arginine
- Methionine
- Histidine
- Isoleucine
- Leucine
- Lysine
- Phenylalanine
- Threonine
- Tryptophan
- Valine
2. Fats
Fats are a vital part of your Maine Coon’s food and not only supply energy but make your cat’s food tastier. Fats contain essential fatty acids (EFAs) and supply fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, and E.
Unlike other animals, cats have lost the ability to convert plant EFAs into vital EFAs in their bodies and rely on animal fats where the EFAs are already transformed and available. AAFCO states a 9% fat minimum for both developing and adult cats.
3. Carbohydrates
In their natural state, the primary food source for cats is rodents, which have a naturally low carbohydrate percentage. According to Hare Today, the average nutritional analysis of a mouse is shown in the table below.
| Adult Mouse Nutritional Value | Percentage |
| Crude Protein | 57% |
| Fat | 23% |
| Carbohydrates | 3% |
Thus, cats gravitate naturally to a low carbohydrate diet and obtain blood sugar from protein breakdown rather than carbohydrates. This process is called gluconeogenesis, whereby cats obtain glucose from proteins rather than a carbohydrate source. Although they can digest and use carbohydrates, they are sensitive to excess carbs in their diets.
4. Vitamins
Vitamins are essential for proper growth, development, and immune function. According to AAFCO, a balanced cat food should contain the following.
| Vitamin | Function |
| Vitamin A | Necessary for functioning vision, bone and tooth growth, reproduction, and skin health. |
| Vitamin D | Vital for digestion, strong bones, muscle and nerve function, and immunity |
| Vitamin E | Vitamin E is a fat-soluble nutrient crucial for muscle development, circulation, and a healthy immune system. Vitamin E is also a potent antioxidant |
| Vitamin K | Aids in blood clotting and coagulation |
| Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) | An essential vitamin for carbohydrate metabolism |
| Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) | Breaks down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, which promotes a healthy coat |
| Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) | Enables energy production from fats and carbohydrates and specific vital metabolic reactions |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | Essential for energy metabolism, healthy skin, and nervous system |
| Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) | Support sugar metabolism, weight maintenance, healthy thyroid function |
| Vitamin B12: | Essential for the neurological system, red blood cell production, DNA synthesis |
| Biotin | Supports production of fatty acids, amino acids, and RNA/DNA |
| Folic Acid | Necessary for metabolic functions, DNA synthesis, red blood cell formation |
5. Minerals
Minerals are essential to all mammals’ nutrition and play several roles in maintaining a healthy Maine Coon. They are the building blocks of our bones, muscles, and nerves and regulate our essential pH balance. They also influence hormone and enzyme production and other vital compounds in the body.
Here are the AAFCO recommended minerals you should include in your Maine Coon’s diet.
| Mineral | Function |
| Calcium | Essential for healthy bones and teeth, and it also acts as a messenger between cells |
| Phosphorous | A vital requirement for healthy bones and teeth and fatty acid transport |
| Potassium | An essential electrolyte that affects the nerves, muscles, and heart |
| Sodium | Ensures proper nerve and muscle function and maintains a cellular environment |
| Chloride | Maintains alkali balance and creates acid to digest proteins |
| Magnesium | It plays a significant role in urinary health secretion of hormones, and bone and teeth formation |
| Iron | Essential for oxygen-carrying hemoglobin in the blood, metabolism, and RNA/DNA synthesis |
| Copper | Critical for collagen and bone formation and melanin production |
| Manganese | Promotes healthy bone formation, metabolism, and energy production |
| Zinc | Essential for DNA production, growth, wound healing, and immune function |
| Iodine | Maintains the thyroid gland and ensures healthy growth and development of young animals |
| Selenium | An essential antioxidant that supports immunity and is a potent antioxidant |
6. Water
Cat lovers often overlook the importance of water in their cats’ diet. Cat’s highly specialized evolution makes them prone to dehydration. This lack can lead to numerous health issues, such as chronic kidney disease and urinary problems.
Cats have evolved to absorb moisture directly from their prey, so their thirst response to water is far less sensitive than other animals. If your Maine Coon cannot access desirable water, they will allow their bodies to dehydrate much more substantially than a dog.
It’s super important to ensure that your MC can access multiple bowls of fresh water served in small-diameter bowls to encourage them to hydrate themselves.
3 Common Nutritional Challenges for Maine Majesty
1. Longer Growth and Development
Maine Coons take much longer to reach maturity than an average cat and only reach adulthood at around two years old. Not only that, but they will continue to fill out for up to five years. This extended kittenhood requires a specialized diet to promote their continued bone development.
So, your Maine Coon requires a diet rich in calcium and phosphorus for strong bones and an adapted protein and energy balance. The prolonged kittenhood of your MC also requires highly digestible protein, antioxidants, and vitamin E to support their gradually developing immune system.
2. Joint and Hip Issues
Maine Coons are genetically susceptible to joint and hip issues due in part to their XL stature. Therefore, your MC may require dietary supplements of food additives such as chondroitin and glucosamine to aid joint health.
3. Obesity
Maine Coons are prone to being overweight, especially as they age. A study conducted in Scandinavia by Malin Ohlund et al. found the Maine Coon ranked highly in their cross-sectional analysis of over 1000 cats. Besides the British shorthair, the Maine Coon took second place in the feline obesity ranking.
Obesity is particularly serious in large breed cats such as the Maine Coon, placing stress on their vulnerable joints and placing them at risk of diseases such as diabetes. So, one should find the correct balance between calorie intake and your MC’s exercise level.
What Is a Well-Rounded Diet for Maine Coons?
Your Maine Coon is a mini-sized predator and follows the fearsome, carnivorous diet of their ancestor Felis silvestris lybica, the North African Wildcat. Thus, these obligate carnivores‘ digestive systems evolved to thrive solely on a protein-heavy meat diet, where they find all the nutrients required to keep them healthy and active.
Unlike dogs and humans, cats rely on meat as their primary food source and cannot digest and absorb nutrients from a plant-based diet. Their highly specialized digestion relies on meat so exclusively that their bodies cannot produce certain nutrients on their own. These nutrients include:
Vitamin A
Your main Coon lacks the intestinal enzyme dioxygenase to convert vitamin A precursors such as beta carotene into active vitamin A. Vitamin A is essential for vision, the immune system, and skin health.
Arginine
Arginine is an amino acid that is a building block for the protein sourced in meat. While most animals can produce their own arginine, cats lack the enzymes to create arginine and must source it in their prey.
Arginine is vital in the urea cycle and the body’s disposal of ammonia, the product of protein breakdown.
Taurine
Cats lack the enzymes to produce taurine, an amino acid only found in animal-based products essential to their survival. Taurine is vital for several functions in a cat’s body, including the following:
- Heart muscle function
- Digestion
- Vision
- Immune system function
- Normal pregnancy
- Fetal development
Thus your Maine Coon’s diet is a highly specialized affair, and you should ensure that their diets have a balance of the following ingredients.
Why Do You Need Supplements for Your Maine Fluff?
Cat owners typically seek a solution when they feel their kitty lacks something. Perhaps their energy levels have dropped, or they are transitioning from one life stage to another and need a nutritional boost.
The caveat is that you should always seek professional advice before introducing vitamins and minerals to your Maine Coon. Unnecessary supplementation can harm your Maine Coon’s health rather than improve it.
Your vet will have insight into your Maine Coon’s medical history and several diagnostic options to pinpoint what supplements might benefit your kitty. If you use them correctly and in an informed manner, supplements can offer substantial benefits, such as the following.
1. Supplements Can Tackle Specific Health Issues
Each Maine Coon is unique. If you pay attention to their body condition and habits, you can isolate what supplements will best benefit them. For instance, if your cat’s coat is dull, you could seek a coat and skin-specific supplement that contains omega-3 fatty acids to improve their coat condition.
Maine Coons, as a breed, are susceptible to specific genetic health-related issues such as feline hip dysplasia. You could then opt for supplemental chondroitin or glucosamine to add to their diet to help prevent or treat your gentle giant’s joint decline.
Supplements allow you to introduce specific health-related vitamins, fatty acids, and minerals without changing your cat’s diet.
2. Supplements Can Provide Nutrients Lacking in Commercial Food
Many pet owners are unaware of the nutritional shortfalls of major store-branded pet foods. Although the food might carry the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) label, it is not an endorsement of the quality of the food. Instead, the AAFCO label merely means that the product provides the MINIMUM nutritional requirements by breed and life stage.
Even pet food companies who undergo the more rigorous AAFCO feeding trial protocols do so for six months with their trial animals. There May be vitamin and mineral deficiencies that only start to show after the 6-month trial.
Supplements are a great way to ensure that your cat has access to macro and micronutrients that may be lacking in their commercial food.
3. Supplements Support Life Stage Transitions
As your Maine Coon grows from a rambunctious kitten to a snooze-loving senior, their nutritional needs also change. Supplements can help your MC transition from kittenhood to senior years and provide specific life-stage nutrients to help them stay healthy and disease-free.
For example, Maine Coons have a substantially longer growing time than average cats and only reach adulthood at around two years of age. Because they grow larger and grow for a more extended period, you can seek to supplement their calcium and phosphorus to ensure they develop healthy and strong bones.
For insider tips on the best choices in Maine Coon food, please click here >
What To Look For in Coon Cat Supplements？
1. Consult a Professional To Determine the Best Supplements
Some cat owners do more harm than good when they feed their kitty supplements or vitamins without seeking professional advice. For instance, vitamin D can be deadly if given in large enough doses, even though it is necessary for overall health.
Your vet will have your MC’s medical history, insight into their body condition, and various diagnostic tools to pinpoint which supplements are necessary—and, more importantly—safe.
2. Choose Supplements That Support Your MC’s Life Stage
As your MC ages, their nutritional needs change. You should seek supplements that aid your cat’s transition from one stage to another. For example, young Maine Coons need higher protein and growth-specific vitamins and minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, and balanced vitamin D.
Senior Maine Coons typically are less active but also require a lower calorie diet with a higher protein level to avoid loss of lean muscle associated with aging. For example, glucosamine, chondroitin, and fatty acids like EPA/DHA will support your MC in healthy mobility as they age.
| Nutrient Profile By Life Stage | Growth and Reproduction Stage | Adult Maintenance Stage |
| Protein | 30% | 26% |
| Fats | 9% | 9% |
| Minerals | Minerals include phosphorus, potassium, chloride, calcium, sodium, magnesium, copper, manganese, iron, zinc, selenium and iodine | Same as Growth and Reproduction |
| Vitamins | Vitamins include vitamins A, D, E, K, B12, thiamine, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, niacin, pyridoxine, folic acid, choline, biotin | Same as Growth and Reproduction |
3. Look for Supplements That Carry the NASC Certification
The pet supplement industry is booming and is a billion-dollar industry. However, not all supplements contain high-quality ingredients that undergo safe manufacturing. So, look for the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) stamp on pet supplements.
Like AAFCO, NASC oversees animal health supplements and ensures that pet supplements that bear their seal contain quality ingredients from a facility that follows NASC Good Manufacturing Practice Quality Standards.
Essential Supplements for Maine Coons
General Care
Your Maine Coon may benefit from a multivitamin to supplement their commercial diet. Once you get the green light from your vet, you can opt for a broad spectrum of vitamins and nutrients to keep your Maine Coon in top shape.
Typically, multivitamins contain a mix of ingredients, including the most important essential nutrients such as the following:
- B-Complex Vitamins
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin A
- Taurine
Some general care vitamins also contain omega-three fatty acids to improve skin and coat health.
Digestive Health
Digestive supplements help improve your Maine Coon’s digestion which influences several aspects of their health. Impaired digestion can cause a host of symptoms such as diarrhea, gas, constipation, and bloating and lead to further health complications down the line.
Look for supplements that contain the following:
- Prebiotics are live microorganisms such as bacteria and yeast that pollute your MC’s gut and aid digestion.
- Probiotics are soluble fibers that feed the helpful probiotics. Here, we’ve also highlighted the finest probiotics for Maine Coons.
- Digestive enzymes such as protease, lipase, and amylase break down the various nutrients in your cat’s diet so they can access their beneficial ingredients.
Joint Health Supplements
Maine Coons are prone to hip and joint conditions—so giving them a specialized supplement may be a savvy idea. Typically, these supplements contain glucosamine and chondroitin, as discussed above. Other key ingredients include:
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- EPA
- Green-lipped mussels
Coat and Skin Care
Omega fatty acids are vital to keeping your MC’s coat shiny and their skin free from itchiness and dryness. Omega-3 and omega-6 promote a glossy coat and hydrate the skin. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant and protects the delicate fatty acids in your cat’s body from oxidative stress.
However, you should use this helpful fat-soluble vitamin with care as it may harm your cat.
Senior Maine Coon Supplements
Your cat’s nutrient requirements, energy levels, and overall health might change as they age. Omega-3 fatty acids help with their aging coats and skin. Joint issues may arise as your MC ages—so joint supplements such as chondroitin and glucosamine are popular senior cat choices.
As your MC’s digestive abilities may decline with age, seek probiotics and prebiotics to aid them in accessing nutrients in their food.
Closing Thoughts
As a proud owner of a magical MC, you should seek the best nutrition for your Maine coon to ensure a long and healthy life for your furry best friend. There are great options out there for many of the common issues that arise from your Maine Coons XL size. However, you can harm your kitty with the best intentions, so seek veterinary advice before choosing a cat supplement.
Here, we’ve also recommended the finest supplements tailored for Maine Coons. Dive into our article to uncover the best ways to support your Maine Coon’s well-being.
