5 Signs Your Maine Coon Is Overweight

Every cat is different, some cats are naturally heavier or skinnier depending on their metabolism and genetics. Thus, just because your Maine Coon appears obese, does not mean you should immediately start restricting your Maine Coons food!

However, keep in mind that obesity can lead to serious health complications for your cat, so it is important to catch it early on.

Signs Your Maine Coon Is Overweight

Maine Coons typically weigh between 12 and 22 lbs, with males averaging between 18 – 25 lbs, and female Maine Coon cats weigh between 12 and 15 lbs.

If you are unable to feel your cat’s ribs, they are likely overweight. However, because Maine Coons have such long, thick fur, it can be difficult to know for sure. You should take your Maine Coon to the vet to check that your cat is at a healthy weight.

While you should ultimately rely on your vet’s opinion to determine if your cat is overweight, here are some signs to look out for that may indicate your cat needs to lose some weight (source 1,2):

1. Ribs

If you’re wondering if your cat is fat or fluffy, start by feeling your cat’s ribs.

It is more difficult or even impossible to feel the ribs of an overweight cat, while underweight cats tend to have sharp, distinct ribs.

2. Belly Shape

Many owners assume their cat is overweight because they can see their cat’s pouch.

For a Maine Coon, fat is stored in the primordial pouch, located by the abdomen.

This Maine Coon fat pouch can make a cat look overweight, but it is completely normal and healthy.

If you can see your cat’s pouch swinging from side to side as it walks, then chances are your Maine Coon is a healthy weight.

However, should your cat’s belly look round or bulging, then it is often a sign your cat is overweight.

3. Energy Levels

One of the most common symptoms of obesity in cats is decreased energy.

Since fat stored in the body releases inflammatory hormones, a cat with excess fat will be more tired.

4. Grooming Habits

Overweight cats often cannot reach far enough to groom their entire bodies. This can lead to a dull, unkempt coat, mats, and tangles.

Obese cats can also suffer from sores in the extra folds of their skin.

5. Width

Cat whiskers are meant to be just as wide as the widest point of a cat’s body.

This way, they can stick their head into an opening and judge whether or not they can fit based on whether their whiskers brush against the sides or not.

An overweight cat, however, will become wider than its whiskers and may end up getting stuck more often, too.

Learn more about cat whiskers, here.

Causes Of Obesity In Cats

Causes of Maine Coon obesity can be either environmental or medical. More often than not, cats become overweight due to their environment rather than an underlying medical cause.

Here are some things you may be doing that could lead your cat to become obese:

1. Improper Diet

While it may seem obvious, improper diet is one of the most common causes of Maine Coon obesity.

However, this does not just refer to the quantity of food you give your cat; food quality is also an important factor.

Low-quality cat foods often contain an excess of carbs and fat, but not enough protein.

This will cause your cat to feel hungry, even when it has eaten an expected amount of calories, and can lead to overeating.

2. Inadequate Exercise

Maine Coons are one of the most active cat breeds in the world. They are natural hunters and climbers, and they love to run and chase.

Aim to play with your Maine Coon for at least thirty minutes every day to keep them fit and healthy.

Make sure you also provide enough space and cat furniture for your cat to run and climb to its heart’s content!

These are the best extra-large cat trees that your large Maine Coon cat or kitten will LOVE!

3. Going Outdoors Unsupervised

Many well-meaning strangers like to offer treats to local cats.

But, if your cat makes the neighborhood rounds every day, there is a chance it is getting food and treats from several sources!

4. Food Aggression

If your Maine Coon is not the only cat in the house, it could be sneaking food from its housemates!

Should you witness your Maine Coon acting aggressively around its food, such as growling when you come near, your cat may be stealing food from other cats, too.

5. Table Scraps

Not only does feeding your cat table scraps add extra calories to its diet, but it often adds empty calories.

Nutrition looks very different for humans than it does for cats, and providing foods or treats with too many carbohydrates or fats can quickly lead to obesity.

6. Medical Conditions

Even if you are doing everything right, genetics and medical factors can cause your Maine Coon cat to become overweight.

Here are some medical causes of obesity in cats (source 1,2):

Medications

Some medications, such as steroids, can cause weight gain in your cat.

Talk with your vet about switching medications or finding other ways to keep your cat at a healthy weight.

Hypothyroidism

The thyroid, which affects one’s metabolism, can sometimes produce too few hormones, leading to a slower metabolism and weight gain.

Fluid Retention

Some medical conditions, such as certain types of tumors or diseases like feline infectious peritonitis can cause excess fluid to collect in a cat’s abdomen rather than escaping the body.

This can make a cat appear bloated and overweight

Maine Coon Weight Chart By Age

Having a Maine Coon kitten weight chart is handy to have around so you can compare your kitten’s progress as it goes.

Keep in mind, however, the size of Maine Coon mixes is much less predictable, so this chart will likely not be applicable if your Maine Coon is not a purebred (source 1):

Treatment Options

If you have noticed your Maine Coon’s weight has increased lately, and your vet has confirmed your cat is overweight, here are some ways to get your cat back to a healthy weight:

Switch Foods

Your first instinct may be to restrict your cat’s food intake, but you should first consider the kind of food your cat is eating.

If you are feeding your cat cheap, low-quality food with lots of filler carbs, then your cat may be overeating because it is malnourished.

Switch to high-quality cat food (like this) that contains a lot of protein, a moderate amount of fat, and only a small amount of carbohydrates.

Reduce Food Intake

A common cause of obesity among cats is “free feeding,” when owners allow their cats to eat as much dry food as they’d like.

Read more about free-feeding a Maine Coon cat, in this article.

If your cat is prone to overeating, you should be feeding your cat small meals two or three times a day, rather than allowing your cat to eat its fill.

Cats tend to become very hungry after twelve hours without food, so make sure you feed your cat at least every twelve hours.

Keeping a consistent feeding schedule can prevent your cat from begging or eating too quickly once it is food time.

Exercise

Play with your Maine Coon for at least thirty minutes every day.

Do not just play with a teaser toy while your cat lays on the floor; encourage your kitty to:

• Run
• Jump
• Climb

You may also want to consider training your cat to walk on a leash and harness. Here’s how!

That way, your Maine Coon can get some exercise and outdoor enrichment without the danger of cars, poison, or wild animals.

How To Put Your Cat On A Diet

If you have an overweight Maine Coon cat, your vet will likely recommend a combination of exercise and diet changes.

You will have to do some math to make sure your cat is losing a healthy amount of weight within a reasonable amount of time, and you will also need to keep a consistent schedule.

Here are some tips on helping a cat lose weight (source 1):

1. Reduce Calories

The average Maine Coon needs to eat between 25 and 35 calories per pound of body weight.

If your Maine Coon is eating more than this amount, you should reduce its intake to about 35 calories per pound of body weight.

Do not decrease your cat’s food intake too severely, or it can lead to starvation and dangerous weight loss.

2. Lose A Healthy Amount

If you are wondering how to put your Maine Coon on a diet to lose weight, you may be tempted to make your cat shed those extra pounds as quickly as possible.

While it is generally considered safe for a human to lose a pound a week, the same is not at all true for cats!

Your Maine Coon should only be losing about 1 to 2% of its body weight every week.

However, since each cat is different, you should also confer with your vet for the safest guidelines.

3. Keep Track

Record your cat’s weight at regular intervals.

It is usually best to weigh them once a month since weight can fluctuate too much from week to week.

Keeping a record of your cat’s weight loss can help you see if your cat is losing too much too quickly, or if the diet is even working at all.

4. Stick To A Schedule

Cats who are used to eating however much they want may not like the sudden switch to a new diet.

Since routine is very important to cats, you should create a consistent feeding schedule.

You may want to get an automatic feeder, which you can schedule to go off at certain times.

Obese Cat Life Expectancy

Most Maine Coons live to be between twelve and 17 years old. For obese cats, however, that life expectancy is cut much shorter.

Most obese cats sadly only live to be between five and ten years old.

Overweight cats have a lot of added strain on their joints and muscles, leading to less energy and difficulty walking or playing.

It also makes them more susceptible to things like diabetes or certain heart conditions (source 1).