Include THESE Ingredients In Maine Coon Raw Food Diet

A raw food diet for Maine Coons consists of fresh, unprocessed meats, organs, and bones that mimic what their wild ancestors would have consumed.

This diet is designed to provide optimal nutrition by replicating the natural prey model of wild felines, ensuring that Maine Coons receive a biologically appropriate diet packed with:

• Protein
• Moisture
• Essential Nutrients

Unlike commercial kibble, which often contains fillers, grains, and artificial additives, a raw diet is rich in high-quality animal proteins, healthy fats, and natural enzymes that support a Maine Coon’s overall health.

How It Resembles A Wild Maine Coons Diet

Maine Coons are thought to have originated from long-haired cats brought to North America by sailors in the 1800s. These cats adapted to the harsh climate of Maine, surviving by hunting local wildlife.

In the wild, Maine Coons would have hunted and eaten:
✅ Small rodents (mice, rats, voles)
✅ Birds (pigeons, small songbirds, and waterfowl)
✅ Fish (trout, salmon, or other freshwater fish)
✅ Reptiles and amphibians (frogs, small lizards)
✅ Insects (beetles, grasshoppers)

They consumed the entire prey (including bones, organs, and fur), providing essential nutrients like:

• Taurine
• Calcium
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids

The modern raw food diet follows this prey model by ensuring Maine Coons get the same nutritional benefits.

Foods To Include In Raw Food Diet

A balanced raw food diet includes a combination of muscle meat, organs, and bones in proper proportions. The most common feeding model is the 80/10/10 prey model diet, which consists of:

1. Muscle Meat (80%)

• Chicken breast or thighs
• Turkey
• Rabbit
• Duck
• Beef
• Lamb
• Venison
• Pork (only if frozen for at least 2 weeks to kill parasites)

✅ How It’s Served: Cut into bite-sized chunks or ground. It can be lightly seared for transitioning cats.

2. Raw Edible Bones (10%)

• Chicken wings
• Chicken or turkey necks
• Duck necks
• Quail bones
• Rabbit bones

✅ How It’s Served: Fed whole or ground into meals for easier digestion. Helps clean teeth and provides calcium.

3. Organ Meat (10%)

• Liver (mandatory for Vitamin A)
• Kidney
• Spleen
• Pancreas
• Brain

✅ How It’s Served: Chopped into small pieces and mixed with muscle meat. The liver should be limited to prevent excess Vitamin A.

4. Optional Additions

Raw Fish (1-2x per week only):

• Sardines (high in Omega-3)
• Salmon (ensure parasite-free)

Eggs:

• Raw quail eggs (whole)
• Chicken eggs (yolk only)

Supplements (If Needed):

• Taurine (essential for heart and eye health)
• Fish oil (Omega-3 for coat health)
• Probiotics (gut health)

Benefits Of A Raw Food Diet

Let’s take a closer look at the advantages of feeding your cat a raw food diet:

1. Improved Digestion And Reduced Allergies

• Raw food is highly digestible compared to processed kibble.
• No artificial additives or grains that can trigger food allergies.
• Fewer digestive issues, gas, and bloating.

2. Healthier Skin And Shinier Coat

• High Omega-3 content leads to a soft, glossy coat.
• Reduces dry skin, dandruff, and excessive shedding.

3. Stronger Teeth And Gums

• Chewing raw bones scrapes off plaque, reducing tartar buildup.
• Prevents gum disease and bad breath.

4. Increased Energy And Lean Muscle Mass

• High protein intake helps maintain a muscular body.
• Maine Coons remain active, playful, and strong.

5. Better Hydration

• Raw meat is naturally high in moisture, reducing the risk of dehydration.
• It helps prevent urinary tract infections and kidney issues.

6. Smaller, Less Smelly Stools

• Raw-fed Maine Coons produce smaller, firmer stools due to better nutrient absorption.
• Less odor compared to kibble-fed cats.

7. Lower Risk Of Obesity

• No unnecessary carbohydrates or fillers that contribute to weight gain.
• A natural diet supports a healthy metabolism.

Tips And Tricks

If you’re keen on learning about feeding your gentle giant a raw food diet, here are some great tips to get you started on your journey:

Transition Slowly To Avoid Digestive Upset

Start by mixing small amounts of raw food with your cat’s current diet and gradually increase over 7-10 days.

Always Use High-Quality, Human-Grade Meat

• Choose organic, free-range meats when possible.
• Avoid heavily processed meats with additives.

Freeze Meat For At Least 2 Weeks to Kill Parasites

• Especially important for wild game and pork.
• Prevents potential bacterial infections.

Never Feed Cooked Bones

• Cooked bones splinter and can cause choking or intestinal blockages.
• Only raw, edible bones should be fed.

Store And Handle Raw Meat Properly

• Keep raw food frozen and thaw in the refrigerator before serving.
• Use separate cutting boards for raw pet food to prevent cross-contamination.

Balance The Diet Correctly

• Following the 80/10/10 prey model ensures proper nutrition.
• Deficiencies in taurine or calcium can lead to severe health issues.

Use Supplements If Needed

• If feeding a homemade diet, consider taurine and fish oil supplements.
• If unsure about balance, use pre-made raw diets from reputable brands.

Monitor Your Cat’s Health

• Keep an eye on weight, coat condition, and energy levels.
• Schedule regular vet check-ups to ensure they are thriving on a raw diet.

Dietary Requirements

A Maine Coon’s diet must be carefully formulated to meet its nutritional needs, particularly when feeding a raw food diet.

A properly balanced raw diet should include essential vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and oils to support overall health, muscle growth, and a strong immune system.

Like all felines, they are obligate carnivores, meaning they rely primarily on animal-based proteins and fats. Their diet should consist of:

✅ Protein: 50-60% (Essential for muscle maintenance and energy)
✅ Fats: 20-30% (Provides energy, supports coat and skin health)
✅ Carbohydrates: Less than 2% (Not required, but small amounts from organ meats or egg yolk can be beneficial)

Essential Nutrients To Include

The following vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids are crucial for maintaining a Maine Coon’s health.

Below is a breakdown of what each nutrient does, how much is needed, and how to include it in a raw diet.

Taurine

This is the most important nutrient and it supports heart health, vision, digestion, and reproduction. A deficiency leads to heart disease (dilated cardiomyopathy) and blindness.

Requirement: 250-500 mg daily

Sources in raw diet:

• Raw heart (chicken, turkey, beef)
• Raw liver and kidney
• Dark poultry meat
• Sardines

Heart meat is the richest natural source of taurine. Ensure it makes up at least 10% of the diet.

Calcium & Phosphorus

Essential for bone strength, teeth health, and muscle function. An imbalance can cause brittle bones or kidney problems.

Requirement:

• Calcium: 800-1200 mg per kg of food
• Phosphorus: 600-900 mg per kg of food
  Sources in Raw Diet:
• Edible raw bones (chicken necks, duck necks, quail, rabbit bones) – natural calcium source
• Meat and organs provide phosphorus

Avoid feeding too much boneless meat, as it can cause a phosphorus imbalance.

Omega-3 & Omega-6 Fatty Acids

Maintains healthy skin, coat, and brain function, and reduces inflammation. Omega-3 is anti-inflammatory, while Omega-6 supports cell function.

Requirement:

• Omega-3: 200-500 mg per kg of food
• Omega-6: 1-2% of daily calories
  Sources in Raw Diet:
• Omega-3: Sardines, mackerel, salmon, fish oil
• Omega-6: Chicken skin, beef fat, sunflower oil

Feed oily fish once a week or supplement with fish oil to balance Omega-3 intake.

Vitamin A (Fat-Soluble)

Important for: 

• Vision
• Skin
• Coat Health
• Immune Function

A deficiency can cause blindness and poor immune function, while too much can be toxic.

Requirement: 2000-3000 IU per kg of food.

Sources in raw diet:

• Liver (chicken, beef, lamb) – small amounts needed
• Egg yolks

Feed liver sparingly (5% of diet) to avoid Vitamin A toxicity.

Vitamin D (Fat-Soluble)

Regulates calcium absorption for bone and muscle health. Maine Coons cannot synthesize Vitamin D from sunlight, so it must come from food.

Requirement: 100-250 IU per kg of food.

Sources in raw diet:

• Sardines, salmon, mackerel
• Egg yolks

Avoid excessive Vitamin D intake, as it can lead to calcium buildup in organs.

B Vitamins

Supports energy production, metabolism, nervous system function, and digestion. Deficiency can cause neurological problems, lethargy, and weight loss.

B Vitamins: Water-Soluble – B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, B12)

Requirement: Depends on specific B-vitamin (range: 0.2–5 mg per kg of food)

Sources in raw diet:

• Liver (the best source of B12, B6)
• Kidney, heart, and lean meats
• Egg yolks (B7, B9, B12)

The liver and kidney should make up 10% of the diet for proper B-vitamin intake.

Vitamin E (Fat-Soluble – Antioxidant)

Protects cells from oxidative stress and supports immune function and skin health.

Requirement: 30-50 IU per kg of food

Sources in raw diet:

• Egg yolks
• Fish oil
• Small amounts of wheat germ oil (tiny amounts only)

Vitamin E deficiency is rare in raw-fed cats but can occur if fish oil is overfed.

Iron

Essential for oxygen transport in blood and prevents anemia. Requirement: 30-50 mg per kg of food.

Sources in raw diet:

• Liver (beef, chicken, pork, lamb)
• Red meat (beef, venison, lamb)

Too much iron can cause toxicity, so avoid excessive liver feeding.

Zinc

Supports the immune system, skin health, and digestion. Requirement: 50-100 mg per kg of food.

Sources in raw diet:

• Red meats (beef, lamb, venison)
• Poultry (chicken, turkey)

Zinc deficiency can cause dry, flaky skin and slow wound healing.

Daily Nutrient Breakdown

The table below shows the daily nutrients that an adult Maine Coon weighing 5-7kg would need: