Maine Coon cats are fascinated with water, which is probably why many people ask me do Maine Coon cats drink a lot of water? This is what I tell them …
Maine Coon cats love to keep hydrated and drink a lot of water, which is good for their kidneys. They prefer drinking running or moving water, rather than still water, to ensure the water they are drinking is fresh. Always ensure your Maine Coon has access to fresh, clean, preferably running water i.e. a cat water fountain.
Whether it is jumping into the bathtub with you or spending copious amounts of time patting the water in their bowls, Maine Coons are obsessed with water. They exhibit many unusual quirks when playing with water too.
Read on to discover everything you need to know about Maine Coons habits as far as drinking water is concerned.
Do Maine Coon Cats Drink A Lot Of Water?
Maine Coon cats are one of the most popular cat breeds to own in the United States and other parts of the world.
These remarkably impressive felines are also well known for being the largest domesticated cat breed in the world, and many people love them, thanks to their long, luscious, thick fur coats and a great personality to match.
At first glance, the Maine Coon has a well-balanced rectangular appearance, which is made possible by their muscular, broad-chested, and long bodies. Their body parts are all in proportion.
As for personality, Maine Coon cats have a reputation for being:
- Very Intelligent
- Sociable
- Loyal
- Playful
- Sweet and Loving Temperament
They also love water and are fascinated by virtually every aspect of it.
It is thought that the Maine Coon cat’s love of water stems from their evolutionary path, considering that they have very thick, semi-water-resistant fur which is designed to keep them feeling warm and dry, even when playing with water.
Unlike most cat breeds, Maine Coons are massive fans of water.
In fact, many owners report that their Maine Coon cats spend plentiful amounts of time playing with water, from a wide range of sources, including:
- Water Bowls
- Turning On The Faucet!
- Shower Trays
- Baths
- Puddles
- Outdoor Pots
If you have just purchased a Maine Coon kitten, you will soon start noticing that this cat breed has some unusual behaviors around water.
Maine Coon cats show their love for water in a number of ways, and, for the most part, you will find it very cute to watch the funny habits that your Maine Coon cat exhibits around water.
Here are some Maine Coon water habits, that you will likely notice:
1. Dipping Paw In Water Bowl
You should not be surprised if you witness your Maine Coon dipping its paw into its water bowl and licking water off its paw. This is completely normal behavior for a Maine Coon cat, and this cat breeds technique for drinking water.
Maine Coon cats also like to pat the water in their bowls, to make it move.
These large cats will also drink from your water glass if left unattended.
2. Drinking From A Faucet
To the surprise of many, Maine Coon cats also love drinking from taps or running water, rather than still water. This is their way of ensuring the water is fresh, but do not fret as this doesn’t mean that your cat can only drink from moving water.
It is worth noting though, that their love of drinking from moving water does have consequences. For starters, with their above-average intelligence, the Maine Coon breed is capable of learning how to turn the faucet on!
Once they learn this trick, they will, from time to time, turn on your faucets and play with the running water, even in your absence.
3. Fascination With Water
Maine Coons love watching what is going on. Therefore, do not be surprised to see your Maine Coon coming to watch you in the bath. They want to be around you and are fascinated by a bath full of water.
Occasionally, your Maine Coon will jump into the bathtub for a swim, or precariously walk around the tub’s rim.
4. Rubbing Your Legs
Maine Coon cats have a habit of rubbing themselves against an owner’s wet legs when they come out of the bathroom.
Benefits Of Cats Drinking Water
Whether you Maine Coon drinks water from your tap or its water bowl, here are the key advantages it will likely get from drinking water:
a. Keeps Their Body Hydrated
Just like humans, Maine Coon cats need a healthy amount of water to survive and maintain their health.
As wildcats, they obtained water from the moisture content of their raw diet, which is not the case with domesticated cats.
Domesticated Maine Coon cats usually feed on dry food and therefore require their owners to provide them with plenty of water delivered via a bowl or a cat water fountain.
Drinking water helps your Maine Coon stay hydrated, which can prevent them from suffering a number of unwanted health conditions.
b. Reduces Kidney Disease
Many cats suffer kidney issues in later life because of not drinking enough water.
Thankfully, Maine Coon cats tend to drink a lot of water. Therefore, with a lot of water, the Maine Coons kidneys will not be put under strain, which is one of the primary causes of renal failure.
Drinking water can keep your Maine Coon from getting these life-threatening conditions:
- Urethral Blockages
- Feline Lower Urinary Tract Diseases
- Conditions Caused By Dehydration
c. Nutrients
Drinking water helps ensure that nutrients are carried and moved into and out of the cells of your Maine Coon cat’s body.
d. Digestion Of Food
Drinking plenty of water aids the digestion of food and absorption of nutrients.
This is very important considering domesticated Maine Coon cats typically eat dry foods.
e. Joints
Your Maine Coon’s joints will benefit from your cat drinking enough water. This is because water lubricates and cushions joints, ensuring smooth movement of joints.
This is very important for highly energetic and playful cat breeds like the Maine Coon.
f. Keeping Cool
Drinking plenty of water can help cool your cat’s body down, as well as helping to maintain a normal body temperature.
g. Play Time
Maine Coons have a natural tendency to play with water.
These large cats are into everything, and will happily trot over to you to see what you are doing with the water, rather than running away as most other cat breeds would. They will likely decide to play with the water you are using too, as they simply love joining in.
The only big problem is that your water-obsessed Maine Coon will occasionally spread water all over the house. You will therefore have to deal with damp seats, and puddles on the floors unless you take the big responsibility of controlling your Maine Coon’s access to water.
How Much Water Do Maine Coons Drink?
Maine Coon cats are large with remarkably fast metabolisms.
For the most part, this means they need plenty of water to keep their systems working optimally. This is probably the reason why they drink a lot of water.
So, how much is a lot?
The amount of water your Maine Coon cat needs to drink every day varies depending on their:
- Size
- Activity Level
- Health
- Diet
On average a Maine Coon cat will need roughly 3.5 to 4.5 ounces of water for every five pounds of body weight.
Since male Maine Coons can weigh between 15 – 25lbs, that means they need plenty of water to stay happy and healthy.
Exceptions To The Rule
Your Maine Coon may require less water if they eat the following foods types since they are getting a level of water from their diet:
- Wet Cat Food
- Homemade Cat Food
- Raw Food Diet
No matter what type of food your Maine Coon eats, the best rule of thumb is to make sure that your cat always has access to fresh, clean water for it to drink whenever it needs to.
With this point in mind, make sure you invest in a large cat water fountain like this one sold by Amazon, to satisfy your Maine Coon need for water, and naturally playful instincts.
One of the key benefits of a cat water fountain is that running water is less likely to harbor bacteria.
Click the picture to take a closer look:
If you have trouble trying to get your Maine Coon to drink water, placing a few bowls with clean water around the house can go a long way towards encouraging them to drink water.
You should make sure you do not place the water bowl too close to the litter box.
Pickier Maine Coon cats may, by all means, avoid drinking from their water bowls, preferring to drink from the tap (sources 1,2).
Why Do Maine Coon Cats Like Water?
Myths and lore swirl around the history of the Maine Coon cat breed.
While the exact origin of the Maine Coon may never be known, when these felines were introduced to Maine, US, they developed certain physical traits to help them survive the unforgiving winters of New England.
These predominant features include:
- Snowshoe Paws: Their snowshoe-like paws enable them to walk on snow and thick.
- Semi-Water-Repellent Fur: Their fur helps to keep them warm in inclement climatic conditions and dry when playing with water. Perhaps it is their water-resistant fur that encourages them to play with water.
Maine Coon cats are also strong swimmers, and because of their love of water, they tend to be more cooperative during bath time than most other cat breeds.
Unlike the majority of other cat breeds, Maine Coon cats are not frightened by water. Instead, they enjoy:
- Patting the water in their bowls.
- Playing with water in a sink.
- Swimming.
- Taking a bath in a bathtub full of water.
- Opening faucets and drinking from them or drinking from leaking taps.
Although the exact reason why Maine Coons love water remains an educated guess, their love for water is well known and does not seem to change.
Do All Maine Coons Like Water?
There are several characteristics that make the Maine Coon cat breed unique, and one of these traits is their love of water. Many owners report that their Maine Coon cats are fascinated by almost everything to do with water.
But does this mean that all Maine Coon cats love water?
Well, while Maine Coon cats seem to love water, there will always be exceptions to the rule, since not all Maine Coons do.
This might be simply because they are not interested in water, or maybe it is because you own a part or half Maine Coon who did not inherit the Maine Coons love of water trait. Ultimately, it is hard to know.
Therefore, please do not rule out that your cat is a purebred Maine Coon simply because they are not too fussed with water.
Why Do Maine Coons Splash Water Everywhere?
Maine Coons are playful and have a natural impulse to manipulate things with their paws.
Although their distinctive drinking technique may be cute to watch, it can be annoying how these felines dip their paws into their water bowls, scratch around the bowls, then shake and splash water everywhere.
Be prepared to get wet feet from time to time, as this potentially annoying behavior is instinctive.
Here are some reasons why your cat dips its paw in the bowl and drinks from their paw:
- Instinct: The Maine Coons behavior of dipping its paws into their water bowl possibly stems from their basic survival instinct that running water is less likely to harbor bacteria. Your Maine Coon does this to know if the water is fresh.
- Maine Coon Whiskers: Another possible reason why your Maine Coon doesn’t drink from the water is that the bowl rim irritates the Maine Coons whiskers. Maine Coon cats usually have long whiskers (see here) that potentially touch the sides of the bowl, making it uncomfortable when they drink water from their bowl.
Whatever the reason for your Maine Coon dipping their paws in the water bowls, you can solve the problem of constantly getting wet feet by placing the bowl on an absorbent mat or in a secondary container to harvest the spills.
An even better solution is investing in a cat water fountain like this one sold by Amazon. A fountain will satisfy the cat’s instincts and takes their attention away from turning on the faucets.
Can Maine Coons Drink Milk?
Whilst a Maine Coon can drink milk, whether whole or raw cow milk, it is not advisable for them to do so.
This is because Maine Coons cannot digest milk properly because, like other cats, they do not produce an adequate number of enzymes to digest and break down the excessive lactose present in milk, or milk products.
For this reason, the undigested milk will ferment in the Maine Coon cat’s stomach, leading to the following painful conditions:
- Cramping
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
Typically, Maine Coons are intolerant to lactose rather than allergic to dairy products.
When nurturing Maine Coons kittens, you can frequently give your kitten milk to help them produce adequate lactase enzymes to break down the lactose present in milk. After the weaning period is over though, the digestive system gradually lowers the production of this enzyme, thus making mature Maine Coons unable to tolerate milk.
However, very small amounts of milk can be given if you need to appropriately balance the dietary needs of your Maine Coon.
Try to avoid giving your kittens’ cows milk as much as possible because it can introduce an unhealthy fat amount into the diet, affecting the body system. If you cannot afford the other milk products for your pet, opt to use goat’s milk. This milk is healthier than normal cow’s milk.
If you plan to feed your Maine Coon milk, always be sensitive on which kind of milk you serve your precious feline to reduce the health effects that may accompany milk consumption in cats. For example, whole milk or milk without lactose (skimmed or semi-skimmed) milk has a nice taste and feels better for your cat.
Additionally, look out for the specially manufactured milk, created with cats in mind. Before feeding it to your Maine Coon though, make sure to check the components of this milk.
If you wish to serve your Maine Coon yogurt, make sure you stick to cat-specific yogurts, such as this one sold by Amazon.
Why Isn’t My Cat Drinking Water
If you keenly watch your cat’s feeding behavior, you may notice some changes at different times and seasons.
One of these changes might be the water drinking patterns of your cat, which has led some people to say my cat doesn’t drink water but eats wet food. Why is this?
If your cat stops drinking water for some conductive days, it is wise to seek a veterinarian who will help you identify any problem with your feline.
These are the main reasons why your cat does not drink water:
Underlying Illness
A cat may stop drinking water because it is sick and lacks the urge to drink water.
Endocrine Issues
Issues like liver disease can cause a cat to lose its thirst.
In most cases, kidney issues may cause your cat to drink too much water, but as the disease progresses, the water consumption desire of your cat will reduce until it completely stops drinking water.
Cancer in the body of a cat makes it stop drinking water.
Peridontal Issues
If your cat has dental issues, it may stop drinking water because of the pain they feel in its mouth when they drink it. Learn more about this painful condition in my article ‘Interesting Maine Coon Teeth Facts‘.
Before thinking hard about why your cat is not drinking water, first, take a look in their mouth to identify any sign of periodontal disease.
Personal Comfort
It is essential to assess and determine how your cat feels when drinking water since some cats find it very uncomfortable to drink water, especially from a bowl.
Similarly, ensure you wash the bowl frequently because cats like a clean water bowl to drink from.
A cat may also find it uncomfortable to drink water because its sensitive whiskers scratch the sides of the bowl, making it very uncomfortable.
Wrong Size And Positioning Of Your Cat’s Water Bowl
The positioning of your water bowl may encourage or discourage your cat from taking water.
It is advisable to position the water bowel at some distance from the food, and litter tray.
Again, choose a sizable bowel that will not generate discomfort for your cats whiskers.
Diet Change
If you have been feeding your cat on a dry diet, then suddenly swap to a wet diet without warning, you will notice that your Maine Coon drinks less to no water during the day. This is because they have received all the water they need, from their wet food.
A cat that eats wet food gets its daily hydration water from the food; therefore, it requires less water. It may thus fail to drink water because it is already hydrated.
How Often Does A Cat Pee?
Now that you have given your cat water, you may be asking, how often does a cat pee in a day?
On average, healthy indoor cats will pee twice a day.
However, the times of peeing depend largely on the:
- Amount of water consumed
- Moisture in the food
- Humidity
- Other health conditions like hormonal imbalance, kidney, liver, and bladder infections
It is important to note that some cats urinate up to five times a day, and they are fine, whereas for others, it is a call for action since your cat might be sick.
If a cat that used to visit the litter box twice a day starts to go more or less, then you need to visit a veterinarian to seek medical assistance (source 1).
Conclusion
Maine Coon cats are unique in a number of ways.
Hopefully this post has answered the question of do Maine Coon cats drink a lot of water, for you.
If you have just purchased a Maine Coon, I hope this post educates you on how to keep your cat hydrated.