So what items do I need to purchase your Maine Coon kitten?
I am frequently asked by soon to be Maine Coon owners what items they need to purchase for their Maine Coon kitten.
Looking around online and at our local pet shops it is evident there is a plethora of choice. So how to make sense of it all?
Hopefully I will try to put in order some of the product choices available and distinguish between essential items and those which are not.
Please bear in mind that best practices and products types and uses do change over time. It is likely that some of the items listed on this page will become our of date. In this case please drop me an email and I will update this page.
Essential Maine Coon Kitten Starter Products
So, what is the bear minimum that I need for my Maine Coon? The following items are what I would consider essential to make your life easy and for your cat to feel that they have everything they need. If I can help minimize the chores then you can maximize fun time with your kitten.
The key areas are:
1. Food
There are many ideas about what is good for a Maine Coon and at what age. The following is what I consider a balanced diet would be for a Maine Coon.
Important Information
Cats are able to control their diet. They are not like dogs. Think of them more like cows which graze throughout the day. Generally they eat a little bit of food on the hour every hour.
0-10 months of age – Kitten
A Maine Coon is a kitten until 11 months of age. There are several stages a kitten grows through.
0-2 Months
The first stage is as a baby cat and lasts from 0-2 months.
3-10 Months
The second stage is from 3-10 months of age.
During this age kitten biscuits and kitten meat is required.
11+ months of age – Adult
Your kitten becomes an adult when they are 11 months of age. This is the point you can move to adult food.
Sterilization
You should be steralising your cat at 6 months of age. However, never ever feed your Maine Coon food for sterilized cats. They will require more nutrients than normal cats. Food for steralised cats is low on nutrients and should be avoided.
The daily feeding schedule
It is my opinion that the feeding cycle should remain the same.
Fresh water every day left out 24/7
1 clean bowl every 24 hours
Cat biscuits left out 24/7.
1 clean bowl every 48 hours
Meat portion twice per day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Each portion should be 85-100 grams
1 clean bowl every 24 hours
Recommendations
When looking for cat food you require quality food. That means with a low cereal content. There are plenty on the market. Here in North East Italy we can recommend the following brands:
Cat biscuits
Royal Canin, Farmina N&D, True Instinct & Trainer
Cat meat
Real Nature, Wilderness
Top Tip
An inexpensive cat meat option would be to make your Maine Coon a chicken broth. Cut some chicken breasts into strips. Place them in a pan and boil/fry this with a couple of cups of water until the chicken is cooked and like a thick broth. Do not add salt or oil. Allow to cool to room temperature and serve.
Cat bowls
You might want to purchase 6 metal dog bowls (for small/medium sized dogs). Whilst 3 bowls are in use, the other 3 can be in the dishwasher.
2. Health and Hygiene
This sections concerns the hygiene of a cats feeding and toilet area.
Feeding Area
It is a good idea to keep a cat’s feeding area high on a counter. This was you are able to control the food and water. You will also easily be able to maintain cleanliness on a daily basis. Maine Coons are big cats. You will find that they enjoy playing with their water bowls and quite frequently leave crumbs and morsels around their feeding bowls.
You will want to give this a quick wipe with anti bacterial spray in the morning and in the evening. As previously mentioned in this page you will need to clean and replace all bowls once per 24 hours.
Litter Area
The litter area should be kept at the furthest point from the feeding area. The cat should be shown where the litter is. They will know what to do.
The litter box should be cleaned twice per day (removing clumps with the trowel). Once in the morning and in the evening.
The litter should last a couple of weeks. You will know when the litter needs changing as it will smell of ammonia and will be discolored. The litter then needs to be thrown in the bin. The litter box and litter box lid then needs to be thoroughly cleaned.
You will need to use toilet cleaner. Soak the litter box in toilet cleaner mixed with water for 1/2 hour. Then clean and rinse thoroughly, then dry. Once bone dry you can add new litter.
You can read more about cat litter here: https://ruffiansmainecoons.it/en/considering-cat-litter/
Recommendations
When looking for a litterbox make sure you select an XXL size.
Top Tip
Purchase a large deep metal litter scoop. You will be able to lift the litter clumps easily in a matter of seconds. You won’t regret this purchase!
3. Sleeping
This section is going to be short…
Cat sleeping habits
Cats sleep about ninety percent of the time.
Generally the choose high places to sleep in. If the are warm and cosy they are generally happy.
If you get a thick woolen blanket and place it in a warm room, on a shelf, bed or seat they will be happy as can be.
Top Tip
If you create a circle a cat will come and place themselves in the middle.
If you use a second blanket and place that in a role, in a circle on top of the woolen blanket they will choose that spot to sleep in over almost anything.
4. Entertainment
Things to keep your cat entertained.
Items to keep your cat entertained
It is really important to keep your cat entertained. You can do this by giving your cat toys to play with. This generally prevents them from finding household items to play with like hairbands, paperclips and other household items.
There are also items which you can use to play with your cat, such as a feathered stick or a ball of string.
You will also need a scratching post. This will save you furniture.
Here is a guide to preparing your household environment for your new Maine Coon: https://ruffiansmainecoons.it/en/questions-about-maine-coons/the-dangers-of-slippery-surfaces-and-maine-coon-paw-tufts/
Catnip
Lastly there is a product called catnip. This product will put your cat at ease and is incredibly important when introducing your cat to a new environment. It comes in many forms but I quite like the version in small pouch form.
5. Transport
Moving your cat from A to B
Secure Cat Transport Items
You will need to purchase a cat carrier. I would advise purchasing an XXL car carrier made from hard plastic. This will become the only carrier that you will ever need.
If you can find a carrier that opens from the top this is even better. Make sure that the carrier has bolt holes so that the carrier can be bolted together if necessary. This becomes important when you have to transport your cat in the hold of an aircraft. Airlines insist on bolting the two halves together.
You will be able to use the cat carrier as a bed for your cat when it’s not in use. Remember to add in a blanket to make it comfortable.
Cat lead
A cat lead is a great way of transporting your cat locally in a safely. This is especially hand on car trips.
I can highly recommend Yup Collars: https://yupcollars.com/collections/cat-harnesses
Pet Passport
Obviously to travel beyond the border you will need a pet passport. You can start the process of applying for the pet passport when the kitten is over 3 months of age. The kitten will then be able to travel when they are 4 months of age.
Here are the instructions you require to get the pet passport for your Maine Coon: https://ruffiansmainecoons.it/en/questions-about-maine-coons/how-to-get-a-pet-passport-for-your-maine-coon-in-aviano/
