Maine Coon Growth Chart Tips
Learning how to keep a Maine Coon growth chart is an important part of owning a Maine Coon.
It is important to keep track of your cat’s growth to prevent it from becoming underweight or overweight.
To keep a Maine Coon growth chart, you need to record your cat’s weight, height, and length from kittenhood until it reaches adulthood (around three to five years of age). You should record your results once every month in a spreadsheet or notebook to ensure your cat is growing at a steady and healthy rate.
These are the largest breed of cats, and they take about three to five years to grow into their true size.
In this article, we will discuss why it is so important to keep a growth chart for this particular breed of cat, as well as how to go about keeping a detailed record of your feline’s growth.
Maine Coon Growth And Development
The average Maine Coon cat can weigh anywhere between 8 and 25 pounds.
Their length from nose to tail is generally between 19 and 40 inches, with an average height ranging between 8 and 16 inches.
Male Maine Coons are generally larger than their female counterparts when it comes to weight and height.
While the average female Maine Coon does not typically exceed a weight of 12 pounds, Male Maine Coons average between 15 and 25 pounds.
The height difference is a little less drastic, as females are usually between 8 – 14 inches tall, with males averaging between 10 – 16 inches.
You may be wondering how these sizes compare to other domestic cat breeds, and you’ll likely be shocked by how much larger Maine Coons are than your average feline.
While a male Maine Coon can weigh up to 25 pounds, the average domestic cat rarely exceeds 10 pounds.
Maine Coons are the largest domestic breed of cat, and they are often sought after for their sheer size.
While Maine Coons take much longer to reach their full size than other cat breeds, they also grow much more quickly.
In fact, they grow at about double the rate of most kittens, at a rate of about two pounds per month.
Learn more about the Maine Coon growth chart, in this complete guide.
Why Maine Coon Weight Charts Are Important
With most other cat breeds, maintaining a growth chart isn’t generally an issue, unless your cat has other underlying health problems or weight issues.
When it comes to Maine Coons, however, a weight chart is absolutely essential!
1. Not Comparable To ‘Normal’ Cats
When it comes to Maine Coons, it is hard to have a good comparison as to what size your cat should actually be, especially if you have kept other cat breeds in the past.
2. Fast Growth
Many owners will become worried by their Maine Coon’s exceptionally fast growth, and might even wonder if their cat is overweight.
This can lead some owners to actually feed their cats less food than they need, leading to a cat that is underweight.
3. Check Your Cats Weight Against The Breed
By keeping a growth chart, you can compare your cat’s weight to the average Maine Coon at various growth stages.
So you will know every step of the way that your cat is healthy and receiving the right amount of food.
How To Make A Maine Coon Growth Chart
Now that you understand the importance of keeping a growth chart for your Maine Coon, here’s how to get started making one.
Here is a list of the items you will need:
1. Notepad Or Spreadsheet
In order to track your cat’s weight, you should have someplace to record all of the information on a monthly basis so you can properly monitor your cat’s growth and development.
2. Set Of Scales
You should invest in a baby scale or even a postage scale in order to monitor your cat’s weight.
Make sure you use the same scale every time so that your measurements are consistent.
With so many scales to choose from online, it can be confusing which pet scales are right for you.
These digital pet scales on Amazon are ideal for measuring large cats.
3. Measuring Tape
If you do not already have one, you should invest in fabric measuring tape.
The stiff measuring tapes that are used to measure furniture and walls are not ideal for measuring your Maine Coons.
Instead, you want the flexibility of the measuring tape you would find in a sewing kit.
4. Willing Partner
This part is optional, but it may be easier to have one person nearby to help record the results as you measure so that you don’t have to go back and forth between writing down and measuring.
A second person will also come in handy when you measure your cat’s length, as your cat will likely become so large that you may have difficulty reaching that far.
5. Treats
While Maine Coons are known for their gentle disposition, your cat may not appreciate being prodded and poked throughout the measuring process.
You should keep a few treats on hand to make sure the measuring process is a positive one for both you and your cat.
What Measurements Should Owners Take?
When keeping a growth chart for your Maine Coon, there are three different measurements you should keep in mind
- Weight
- Height
- Length
As mentioned earlier, it is best to weigh your cat on a baby or postage scale, either in kilograms or in pounds.
When measuring length, you should measure from the tip of your cat’s nose to the base of its tail.
To make this process easier, you may want to measure your cat while it is lying on the floor. Make sure you take the measurement in a straight line to avoid any errors.
For measuring height, position your cat so that it is standing on all four paws.
Rather than measuring from the head, you should measure from the top of the shoulder all the way down to the floor, running along with one of the front legs.
How Often Should Measurements Be Taken?
Measuring weekly can yield confusing results, as your Maine Coon is unlikely to grow at a completely steady rate, once you take growth spurts into consideration.
Because of this, you should measure your Maine Coon once a month.
Make it a part of your schedule to measure your cat on one of the first or last days of every month. Keeping yourself consistent is the best way to avoid forgetting.
Maine Coon Weight Chart
If you are a visual person, it may be helpful to plot your cat’s weight on a Maine Coon growth graph.
To do this, make a line chart where the X-axis represents time and the Y-axis represents weight.
Then, once a month, you should record your cat’s weight on the graph.
You should see that your Maine Coon weight increases at a steady rate over time before eventually plateauing as it reaches adulthood.
Cat Growth Charts
Some Maine Coon owners have plotted graphs for their own cat’s personal growth and posted them online as a resource for other Maine Coon owners.
However, because each individual Maine Coon is so different, there is no standard growth chart that is accurate for every cat of the breed.
You may be tempted at first to find one chart to compare your Maine Coon’s growth to.
While it’s fine to compare the size of your Maine Coon to other cats of the same breed, you should not use a standard cat growth chart.
Other cat breeds are significantly smaller than Maine Coons, and the results of your cat’s measurements will be much larger than the average cat.
How To Avoid Upsetting Your Maine Coon While Taking Measurements
Most Maine Coons have a fairly relaxed and gentle temperament, but your cat might not appreciate having its measurements taken.
To avoid any upset from your cat, you should provide a treat during the session, as well as after.
Take the measurements in a calm but quick manner to make the whole process as painless as possible.
Maine Coon Growth Spurts
Every Maine Coon is different, and will therefore grow at a slightly different rate.
However, you can generally expect growth spurts to take place.
Between the ages of three and seven months, most Maine Coons will gain about two pounds each month.
After this period, your Maine Coon’s first growth spurt will be over, and your cat will begin to grow at a slower rate.
Typical growth spurts take place around week 32 and week 50, but again, this will vary greatly from cat to cat.
When Do Maine Coons Stop Growing?
After about nine months of age, your cat’s growth rate will progress slowly but steadily.
Maine Coons grow for a much longer period of time than most cats, and they usually don’t reach their full size between the ages of three and five.
You should continue to plot your cat’s growth until you are sure it has plateaued.
Maine Coon Size Predictors
Some people claim to be able to predict your Maine Coon’s expected size in adulthood based on factors present at kittenhood.
However, there is no way to know for sure what your cat’s actual size will be until it is an adult.
You may be able to get a good idea based on the size of your kitten’s parents, but other than that, it is more of a waiting game.
Since Maine Coon’s vary so greatly in size, it really depends on each individual cat.
How To Tell If Maine Coon Is Overweight
Since Maine Coons are so big, it’s common to worry about whether or not your cat is overweight. Some main signs to look out for are:
1. Maine Coon Cats Waist
Your Maine Coon’s waist is the same size as the rest of its body.
If you run your hands up and down the length of your cat’s body, you should find that its waist is more narrow than its upper body. If this is not the case, your Maine Coon could be overweight.
2. Maine Coon Cat Ribs
You cannot feel your cat’s ribs.
If your cat is at a healthy weight, you should be able to feel its rib bones and spine (although they should not be too prominent).
If you have difficulty feeling these bones, your cat is likely overweight.
3. Cats Stomach Bulging
Your cat’s stomach is bulging.
If you find that your Maine Coon’s stomach bulges below its rib cage, this is another good indicator that your cat is overweight.
It is important to make sure that your Maine Coon is not overweight, as obesity can lead to a host of health problems in the future.
You should check to make sure your cat is at a good weight by performing the tests above.
If you are worried that your cat may be overweight, you should take it to the vet for examination.
Biggest Maine Coon
The title for the largest recorded domestic cat is held by a Maine Coon.
Stewie is the world’s longest domestic cat, measuring a total length of 48.5 inches!
While your Maine Coon is unlikely to grow that long, your cat may just get lucky enough to break the world record.
Conclusion
When owning a Maine Coon, it is important to know how to make a Maine Coon growth chart to make sure your cat is growing at the correct rate.
By measuring your cat’s weight, height, and length once a month, you will be able to track your cat’s growth and development, ensuring a happy and healthy feline for years to come.
