It’s easy to mistake overweight Maine Coons as healthy. After all, they’re supposed to be huge cats, right? According to a 2022 survey, 32% of cat owners think their overweight/obese cat is in normal shape. That’s a whole lot of felines at risk of diabetes and other medical issues.
Because the signs of weight gain aren’t very obvious initially, Maine Coon cats can easily become overweight, putting them at risk of serious diseases. This is why it’s important to keep an eye on your cat’s weight, even if they seem fine to you.
This post discusses everything about managing the weight of Maine Coon cats – how you can determine their weight, what strategies can be used for weight management, and more.
Contents
How Much Do Maine Coon Cats Weigh?
Unlike other breeds, Maine Coon cats don’t reach their full adult weight and size until they’re about four years old, which is why the average adult weight varies greatly. It also varies by gender – males are significantly larger than females.
Here’s a quick chart to give you an idea:
| Age | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|
| <1 year | 9-12 lbs | 13-19 lbs |
| 2-3 years | 10-14 bs | 15-25 lbs |
| 4 years and older | 11-16 lbs | 17-27 lbs |
As you can see, the average weight varies even between adults of the same gender. It all depends on the genetic makeup and the age of the cat. If the parents were of a bigger build, the Maine Coon offspring will be naturally heavy as well, especially if it’s purebred.
How to Check if Your Cat is a Healthy Weight？
So if healthy weights between Maine Coons differ so greatly, how can you be sure your fluffy friend is in ideal shape?
Well, your first step should be to visit a vet, because only an experienced professional can determine this for your Maine Coon. They’ll use a Body Condition Score to conclude exactly where your cat stands on the weight chart.
But if you want to quickly assess this at home for the time being, here’s how you can do so:
- Feel your cat’s rib cage. Ideally, you’d be able to feel some of the ribs with a firm pat. If you have to press really hard to feel any of its ribs, your cat is probably overweight. On the other hand, if the rib cage feels like it’s protruding, your cat might be severely underweight!
- Does your cat’s belly sag? Most of the time, a fat belly signals obesity. However, if your cat has given birth, it will naturally have a slightly saggy belly. Very obvious and full cheeks may also indicate weight issues.
- Take a good look at your cat from the top down. If the belly and back area seem very rounded, your cat is likely overweight. This is easier to determine in short-haired breeds, because the long hair on Maine Coons can hide the shape of the body. This is why seeking a vet’s help is important.
- Use an electronic measuring scale to weigh your cat. It should fall somewhere within the average weight range for your cat’s age. Kittens under 1 year of age can gain as much weight as they want, so don’t be worried about them being overweight. Rather, it’s being underweight that you should be on the lookout for.
It’s important to check your adult cat’s weight regularly, as overweight felines are at risk of diabetes, arthritis, and other medical conditions that can reduce their lifespan.
How to Manage the Weight of Your Big Maine Feline？
Before anything, you should ask your vet whether your cat’s weight is ideal. I emphasize this so much because underfeeding and overfeeding can result in serious health issues, so it’s important to be sure.
Once you determine where your cat stands, you can devise some strategies to maintain or reduce its weight.
1. Opting for the Right Food
Depending on your cat’s needs, you’ll have to be selective about the food you give your cat. If it’s overweight, check for the ‘weight management or ‘weight care’ labels on the package. These diets have more fiber content than regular ones, which helps cats feel more full with less food. They also have low fat and carbohydrate content, aiding in weight loss.
But just because your cat’s on a diet doesn’t mean you should be cutting down on essential nutrients. To ensure this, look for the ‘complete and balanced’ label as well.
For maintaining your Maine Coon’s current weight, continue feeding it regular adult cat food. However, you’ll want to dish out appropriate portion sizes (more on this later) and look for the ‘complete and balanced’ label. Don’t feed a weight loss diet to healthy weight cats!
You can’t just rely on labels and logos, though. Every pet food brand out of the dozens available claims to be healthy and the ‘best’ for your cat. But are they, really?
There are a few ways you can weed out the gimmicky ones and choose the right stuff. First off, look carefully at the ingredient list. Does it really have those beneficial ingredients it claims?
The first or second ingredient in wet foods, whether regular or weight loss, should be proteins like chicken, beef, turkey, or fish. Dry foods should always have protein as their first ingredient. Meanwhile, by-products and ‘meals’ should be listed lower on the list as a secondary source of protein.
As far as carbohydrates like rice or corn are concerned, they should also be listed lower in the list, especially in weight management diets.
Last but not least, you should look for brands that work together with vets and nutritional experts to formulate the best foods for your cat’s dietary needs.
2. Controlling Calorie Intake
Calorie reduction and control are just as important as choosing the correct type of food. In fact, a survey by APOP revealed that calorie reduction was the most common and effective method of weight loss in cats and dogs.
This is why the first step in maintaining your adult Maine Coon’s weight is controlling the portion size based on its daily caloric requirements (and not giving in to its pleas for more food!). Note that Maine Coons require more calories than the average cat.
This is usually measured by body weight. For every pound, adult Maine Coons need an average of 25-35 calories per day.
However, this varies for each cat depending on its current weight. For overweight Maine Coons, work with your vet to determine how many calories you need to reduce to reach the target weight. Don’t cut down on portions drastically – this can induce a fatal liver condition called hepatic lipidosis.
Based on the nutritional information provided on the cat food’s packaging, you’ll have to dish out the appropriate amount to ensure you don’t overfeed. For instance, if your Maine Coon needs 300 calories per day, and the calories in 1 cup of dry food are 400, you’ll have to feed no more than ¾ of a cup. Do the math based on your vet’s calorie intake recommendations.
This quantity of food may look very less as compared to how much you feed normally, but trust me, cats don’t need to scarf down bowls and bowls of food – not even giants like Maine Coons. This is especially the case for indoor cats.
They’ll likely pester you for more, though, which is why dividing the total food required per day into smaller portions may help. So instead of feeding twice or thrice a day, feed 6-7 small portions throughout the day so your hungry feline remains satisfied.
It may also help to switch to wet food, which is around 80% water. It will help your cat feel full while consuming less food.
3. Exercise
Indoor cats don’t get as much exercise as outdoor cats, which is another major reason for weight gain. And while Maine Coons are generally active cats, they tend to get into lazy routines as they grow older.
For maintaining a healthy weight, try to keep it physically active instead of cutting down on calories. This way, you won’t have to listen to incessant meows for more food and reap the benefits of keeping your cat physically fit.
For Maine Coons that have already become overweight, exercise becomes a necessity along with portion control. You’ll have to put in a lot of effort to get your cat moving and invest your time and money in toys.
Offer toys that trigger your cat’s hunting instinct, such as:
- An automated laser pointer
- Robot mice
- Feather teasers
Chasing these toys will definitely help burn those extra calories. Normally, you should try to engage your cat in play for around 30 minutes every day. If it’s overweight, add an extra 10-15 minutes of chasing and running sometime later.
Apart from this, you should take your cat on walks using a cat harness, as many Maine Coons enjoy being outdoors. Another option is to build a cat patio where your cat can jump up and about instead of lounging all day.
Final Thoughts
If your Maine Coon is overweight, reducing its weight should be your priority to avoid health risks associated with obesity. Work with a vet to reduce portions, along with incorporating exercises, holding back treats, and thorough evaluation of the food brand you select.
Maintaining a healthy weight is definitely easier than reducing it, so always encourage exercise and use smart feeding strategies as soon as your Maine Coon turns one. Precaution is better than cure!
