a kitten’s first steps in your home
When you first take your Maine Coon home with you, this is a momentous and life changing moment. When they take their first steps through the threshold of your home you know that your life will never be the same as before. The bond you create with your Maine Coon will be strong and they will soon become an important member of your family. Likewise you become responsible for their well-being. A Maine Coon is a luxury and a privilege to own.
When you first take your kitten home it is likely that they will be three months of age. They rely on your guidance and love as they take their first steps into their new life with you. A Maine Coon has tufts beneath their paws. These tufts are there for protection. The tufts keep their paw pads protected against snow and ice.
It is likely that your breeder will have grown your Maine Coon kitten in a safe environment suited to the lifestyle of cats. This means an environment with a variety of surface types and textures for the cats to become familiar with.
It is unlikely your apartment or home has been designed with cat requirements in mind. Over time you will modify your living space to suit your Maine Coon. However, there are some things which probably can’t be changed easily and you will have to make considerations as your Maine Coon grows.
Types of flooring versus Maine Coon paw tufts
Flooring in your household is one of those things that you won’t be able to change easily. In particular flooring types such as slippery surfaces such as marble, granite, untextured tiles or polished wood. These surfaces are part of the structure of the house. Slippery surfaces and paw tufts are not a good combination. Maine Coons have long legs. They run faster and jump higher than normal cats. This puts additional strain on their legs and joints.
Cats will jump up and down from tables and kitchen tops. If all of these surfaces are slippery then this can be physically detrimental to your Maine Coon. As a cat lands on a slippery surface all their joints are placed under immediate strain in order to keep their legs aligned.
The same is true when a cat runs or sharply turns corners on a slippery surface. The hind legs do not gain traction. You Maine Coon can also be injured by sliding into furniture, objects and anything that happens to be in the way.
Simple solutions to help your Maine Coon live comfortably with your type of flooring
As your Maine Coon grows they gain weight. This slipping and sliding can be hazardous to the development of your Maine Coon. Repetitive strain injury builds an array of bone issues and can cause hip dysplasia, if not fractures and other painful motor issues.
There are some things which can help minimise this risk.
- Add carpets throughout the house. Place an anti slide membrane beneath the rugs to stop them from sliding too. This is a cost effective method of securing your floor and also can add some nice decorative effects.
- You can carefully position soft furnishings in areas that you thing your cat slides into.
- Look at where your cat likes to jump up or down from. Place a grip-able object in that area to help them do this securely, such as a carefully positions chair.
- You can trim the tufts under your Maine Coon’s feet so their pads are exposed. You will have to regularly control the paw pads (daily).
This is not an exhaustive list and I am sure to add more solutions. Every environment is different and you are likely to find bespoke solutions to your particular situation.
