Do All Maine Coon Cats Get Big?

Are you a new owner dreaming of owning a giant Maine Coon cat, or simply trying to determine how big your gentle giant might grow? If so, read on!

Maine Coon Size

Maine Coons are the world’s largest domesticated cat breed, weighing 12 – 22 lbs. All purebreds are relatively large cats, however, an extra-large non-pedigree cat can be larger than a small Maine Coon. Small Maine Coons have part or mixed-breed parents, though a poor diet has also been thought to stunt the growth of a Maine Coon.

As the largest non-hybrid domesticated cat breed in the world reaching a staggering 22 lbs, and the oldest natural cat breed in North America, these pedigree cats have won Guinness World Records for their length, and weight.

There will always be exceptions to this rule, however, it’s unlikely your Maine Coon will fall outside of these weight ranges:

• Length: 19 – 40 inches
• Height: 8 – 16 inches
• Weight: 12 – 22 lbs

Male Vs Female

Male Maine Coons often grow larger than their female counterparts, weighing 18-22lbs between the ages of 3-5 years (full-size). By comparison, females of the species are usually smaller, weighing 12-15 lbs.

Unfortunately, these cats are prone to obesity so owners need to keep their Maine Coons within a healthy weight range and feed them a nutritionally balanced diet, such as this.

Length And Height

Both male and female Maine Coons can grow up to 40 inches in length. However, generally speaking, the females are smaller:

Largest Maine Coon Cats On Record

Here are a few record-breaking Maine Coon cats:

Stewie

Whilst it is not crystal clear as to why some Maine Coons outgrow the average Maine Coon size charts, one of the Maine Coons most known for doing so was Stewie.

Stewie exceeded the known average, growing to a staggering length of 48.5 inches!

Although Stewie died in 2013 from cancer, he will be well remembered in the world of felines. Stewie holds the title for the longest Maine Coon cat ever.

Ludo

Ludo is one of the largest Maine Coons in history, weighing a staggering 34 lbs. He holds the record for being the biggest Maine Coon ever to have lived!

Ludo was recognized as the longest Maine Coon after the passing of Stewie and before the title of the longest Maine Coons was snatched by Barivel.

Currently, Ludo is the heaviest Maine Coon on record.

Barivel

Barivel is the longest LIVING Maine Coon cat. Stewie was taller!

Why Are Maine Coons So Large?

The Maine Coon cat’s lineage is embroiled in mystery and intrigue making it relatively difficult to determine why they grow so big. All answers can therefore only ever be educated guesswork.

The most likely factors contributing to the Maine Coon’s large size:

1. Slow Growth Rate

These large cats reach full size between 3-5 years old. Their large size has been linked to this slow physical maturing rate since their slow growth enables their bodies time to develop larger muscles and a rigid bone structure.

2. Origins

Regardless of how they arrived in the state of Maine, these cats evolved by growing long, shaggy fur to keep themselves warm during the cold winter climate of the Northeastern United States.

This resilient cat breed survived in the wild for many years before they were domesticated, and is therefore larger due to the breed’s natural lineage as wildcats.

Their thick dense fur makes these previously wild cats look even bigger!

Learn more about the Maine Coon cat’s fascinating history in this article I wrote.

3. Genetics

Genetics alone cannot determine the size of a Maine Coon, however, it does have a role to play in the overall size of your cat.

Generally speaking, a Maine Coon kitten with significantly larger parents tends to also grow pretty big.

4. Native Environment

These cats are big because of their native environment. Originating in Wiscasset, Maine, they developed ways of surviving through the harshest winter climates. For instance, their large bodies were key in helping them hold more body heat.

5. Fur

These cats are known to have long, luscious, thick coats of fur. Their shaggy fur makes them look larger than they are! The lion’s mane around their neck and chest adds to their large physical size.

With so much fur on them, you may have been wondering how much Maine Coons shed, this is the reality.

6. Diet

Although they are naturally large felines, a cat’s diet also aids them to grow bigger.

There is no scientific proof to back up this assumption, however, cats eating a nutritious diet can grow to their full potential.

Why Is My Maine Coon Small?

If your Maine Coon is not growing big, here are a few possible reasons behind your cat’s small stature that you might wish to consider:

Maine Coons Age

If your cat looks small a few years after you purchased or adopted it, it is probably not yet fully grown.

Unlike many other domesticated cat breeds, the Maine Coon has a very slow growth, taking up to 5 years to fully mature, compared to a normal cat that reaches full size within 2 years.

Cat Is A Hybrid

Adult Maine Coons with a considerably small stature are likely to have a mixed lineage rather than being purebred. Here’s how to tell if your cat is part Maine Coon.

Poor Nutrition

Your feline might be lacking important nutrients. Their diet should be high in protein and low in carbohydrates.

Read this article to discover the most suitable diet for this particular cat breed.

Under-Eating

Underlying health issues may cause your Maine Coon cat to under-eat, ultimately impeding its growth.

If your Maine Coon is small and seems not to eat very much, consult your veterinarian for intervention.

Dwarfism

Although rare, dwarfism can occur in Maine Coons. It is a genetic mutation causing some cats to be very small. Dwarfism can be inherited from parents.

Hyperthyroidism

This is a serious health condition that can impede a Maine Coons growth, where the cat’s thyroid secretes too much thyroxine, thereby increasing its metabolism. This causes the cat to burn calories faster, potentially causing them to be underweight.

Runt Of The Litter

Relative to their Maine Coon siblings, runts usually grow up to be small felines. As such, if your Maine Coon was born a runt, it may never grow as big.

Portosystemic Shunt

Although rare, this condition causes circulatory problems in a cat leading to growth problems.

Parasites

Some parasites like worms can infect your Maine Coon cat at a very young age and cause them to become underweight.

Parasites can also lead to the following issues which are key contributors to weight loss in your cat:

• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting

Here’s how to treat a Maine Coon cat with fleas.

Health Issues

Underlying health issues can impede growth in Maine Coon cats, causing the infected cat to grow unnaturally small. If your cat is sick, especially at a young age, it may not grow as big.

Top 7 Maine Coon cat health issues to be alert to.

Premature Separation From Mother

Kittens separated from their mother at a young age do not receive the care and nutrients they require to reach their size potential. This will adversely affect the kitten’s growth and development.

Many reputable breeders such as these and Maine Coon rescue centers will therefore not allow owners to adopt a Maine Coon kitten until it reaches between 8 – 13 weeks old.

Maine Coon Kitten Size Chart

Male Maine Coon cats tend to grow close to their full weight at the age of one year. Despite this, they continue to grow for the next 2 to 4 years!

The table below shows a male Maine Coon kitten size chart. Use this chart to help you keep an eye on your Maine Coon cat’s growth rate:

The table below shows a female Maine Coon kitten size chart:

Keep in mind that every Maine Coon is different, meaning your cat may grow at a different growth rate than listed above because growth rates are unpredictable.

All in all, as long as you have a purebred Maine Coon cat, expect growth spurts to take place within the first year, especially around weeks 32 to 50.

To develop a growth chart for your Maine Coon, get a suitable scale, like a functional postage scale, to measure their weight. You will also need a measuring tape to measure your cats:

• Height
• Length
• Waist

Keep recording the data and compare the figures with the breed averages.

Their disparity should not be very huge. If it is consult your preferred veterinarian to rule out any underlying issues.