Is Your Maine Coon Overweight?
It’s not always easy to determine if a Maine Coon cat is overweight, because their build is naturally big, sturdy and they have very thick dense furry bodies!
Maine Coon cats weigh between 12 – 22 lbs. On average male Maine Coons weigh 18 – 22 lbs, and females 12 – 15 lbs. Many owners mistakenly overfeed their cats thinking they are underweight, when in fact their growth rate is far slower than a ‘normal cat’, not reaching full size until 3-5 years. Obese Maine Coons require a special diet.
Is My Maine Coon Overweight?
Overweight Maine Coons develop joint and bone problems and heart problems, so it is important that you pay close attention to your Maine Coons weight.
If you are not sure whether your cat is overweight, or not, use the techniques listed below to help determine if your Maine Coon is obese:
1. Measuring Your Cat
The first way to tell if your Maine Coon is overweight is to measure them. You can do this by using a tape measure or string and then measuring the length of their back from the base of their neck to where it meets their tail.
This should be done with your cat standing up, not sitting or lying down.
2. Check Your Cats Ribs
Look at your cat’s chest, you should be able to see its ribs and feel them through its fur or skin. If you cannot see or feel your cat’s ribs, it may be overweight.
3. Look At The Waistline
It is hard to tell if your Maine Coon is overweight when they are sitting, however, you can get an idea if your cat has gained too much weight by looking at its waistline.
When your cat is overweight they have a bit of fat around their abdomen.
4. Observing Your Cat’s Activity
If your cat seems less energetic than normal, then they may be carrying extra weight around with them.
Observe how much energy your cat has during playtime and how often they want to play with toys, go outside for walks, or run around the garden, house, or catio.
What Causes Obesity In Cats?
Here are some key factors that cause obesity in Maine Coon:
- Genetics and breed
- Lack of exercise or activity
- Environmental influence
- Food intake not controlled or limited
Keep reading to understand each of these causes in greater detail:
Genetics And Breed
Cats that have inherited their parents’ predisposition to getting fat are likely to become obese because they have inherited certain genes that make them prone to weight gain too.
Maine Coon cats are more likely to become overweight than other cat breeds.
They are not alone though, as both the Persian and Burmese cat breeds are also at high risk of becoming obese.
Age And Sex
Older cats tend to put on weight more easily than younger ones because their metabolism slows down with age.
Female Maine Coon cats are more likely to become obese than their male counterparts because they tend to gain weight after they give birth and nurse their kittens.
Caring for the kittens takes a lot of energy for them, so they do not get enough exercise during this period. This may lead them to obesity later on in life when their kittens leave.
Environmental Influence
Environmental factors are the most important cause of obesity in cats.
It is suspected that over 80% of all cat obesity cases are caused by environmental influences.
Cats who spend most of their time indoors tend to become overweight faster than cats who have access to outdoor areas.
Food Intake Not Controlled Or Limited
Cats are prone to overeating and if their food intake is not controlled or limited, they can quickly become overweight.
Some specialists advocate that cats should never be allowed free access to food at all times because they will eat whenever they feel hungry, and do not know when they have eaten enough.
Whilst this is true for some felines, this is not the case for all cats. Owners should therefore keep watch on how much their cat is eating, and adapt their Maine Coons diet if necessary.
From personal experience we have found that our male Maine Coon cat Pippin does not choose to overeat, so we allow him to free-feed dry food throughout the day, whenever he wants it.
Maine Coon Weight Chart By Age
The popular Maine Coon cat has been ranked as the largest cat breed in the world.
The table below shows the normal weight range for a Maine Coon kitten or cat:
| Maine Coon Age | Male Kitten | Female Kitten |
|---|---|---|
| Newborn | 90 – 170 g (0.19 – 0.37 lb) | 90 – 150 g (0.19 – 0.33 lb) |
| 1 Week | 190 – 290 g (0.41 – 0.63 lb) | 160 to 260 g (0.35 – 0.57 lb) |
| 2 Weeks | 290 – 430 g (0.63 – 0.94 lb) | 280 – 410 g (0.61 – 0.90 lb) |
| 3 Weeks | 430 – 600 g (0.94 – 1.32 lb) | 410 – 550 g (0.90 – 1.21 lb) |
| 1 Month | 620 – 820 g (1.36 – 1.80 lb) | 550 – 740 g (1.21 – 1.63 lb) |
| 2 Months | 1.1 – 1.6 kg (2.42 – 3.52 lb) | 1 – 1.4 kg (2.20 – 3.08 lb) |
| 3 Months | 1.7 – 2.4 kg (3.74 – 5.29 lb) | 1.5 – 2.3 kg (3.30 – 5.07 lb) |
| 4 Months | 2.9 – 3.8 kg (6.39 – 8.37 lb) | 2.5 – 3.5 kg (5.51 – 7.71 lb) |
| 5 Months | 3.3 – 5.5 kg (7.27 – 12.1 lb) | 2.7 – 4.2 kg (5.95 – 9.25 lb) |
| 6 Months | 3.4 – 6 kg (7.49 – 13.22 lb) | 3.1 – 4.3 kg (6.83 – 9.47 lb) |
| 7 Months | 4.1 – 6.5 kg (9.03 – 14.33 lb) | 3.3 – 4.6 kg (7.27 – 10.14 lb) |
| 8 Months | 4.4 – 6.9 kg (9.7 – 15.22 lb) | 3.7 – 5 kg (8.15 – 11.02 lb) |
| 9 Months | 5 – 7 kg (12.56 – 15.43 lb) | 4.1 – 5.2 kg (9.03 – 11.46 lb) |
| 10 Months | 5.1 – 7.8 kg (11.24 – 17.19 lb) | 4 – 5.5 kg (8.81 – 12.12 lb) |
| 11 Months | 5.5 – 8 kg (12.12 – 17.63 lb) | 4.3 – 6 kg (9.47 – 13.22 lb) |
| 12 Months | 5.8 – 9 kg (12.78 – 19.84 lb) | 4.5 – 6.5 kg (9.92 – 14.33 lb) |
Keeping A Growth Chart
Here are some tips on how to keep a Maine coon kitten growth chart:
1. Weigh Your Kitten Every Other Day
It is important to keep track of your kitten’s weight because it can indicate whether your cat is healthy or not.
You should weigh your kitten every other day from birth until he/she is 3 months old. This way you will know if your kitten is growing at the right rate, which is 1/4 – 1/2 pounds per week.
2. Record Your Findings In A Notepad Or Excel Sheet
Keep track of your kitten’s weight and length by writing down the data in notepad form or using an Excel spreadsheet on your computer.
You can also use this data to make comparisons with the data from previous weeks or months so that you can see how much your kitten has grown since they were born.
3. Compare Average Weight
Another thing to do is compare your kitten’s weight with the average weight of a Maine Coon kitten of his age. Use the table above to guide you.
A healthy kitten will gain about 1 oz (28 g) per week until he reaches 4-6 months old.
The rate slows down after that and averages about 1/2 oz (14 g) per week until they reach 12-18 months old.
Once they reach adulthood, their weight stabilizes for good and will not change much more.
4. Assess If Your Kitten’s Growth Rate Is Normal
If your kitten is growing at a normal rate but has not yet reached his full adult size, it may be because they are still growing in height or length (or both).
Just keep an eye on your Maine Coon and make sure that their body proportions are still proportionate.
It is vital that you realize Maine Coon cats do not reach their full size until between 3-5 years old.
5. Contact Vet if You’re Concerned About Growth Rate
Maine Coon kittens are known for their big size and long bodies.
They are the largest domesticated cat breed in the world and may reach up to 25 pounds when fully grown.
If you have a Maine Coon kitten, it is important to keep track of its growth. This is especially true if you have multiple cats or puppies in your home. It is easy to get confused about who is who when they all look so similar!
Keeping a growth chart for each kitten will help you monitor how quickly each kitten is growing.
If your cat seems to be growing too quickly or slowly, contact your veterinarian right away.
If your vet determines that there is an issue with your cat’s growth rate (or lack thereof), they will know what steps to take next.
6. Take Pictures To Help You Visualize Growth
Keeping a Maine Coon kitten growth chart is an important part of taking care of your new pet. As they grow, you will be able to see how much they have grown, what they look like, and how healthy they are.
It can be fun to watch your kitten grow up, especially if you have Maine Coon cat pictures to share with friends and family.
When you take photos regularly, it is easy to get a sense of how quickly your cat is growing. You can also see what kind of changes take place over time.
The best way to keep track of this information is by taking photos of your Maine Coon kitten every week or so. This way if there is anything unusual about their development, then you will notice it right away.
Feeding Tips
- Feed your cat high-quality food that contains all the nutrients they need for good health. A good diet will help your cat live a longer, happier life. These are the best dry foods for Maine Coon cats.
- Make sure fresh water is always available to your cat (ideally moving water from a cat water fountain). Cats can easily become dehydrated if they do not have access to fresh water at all times.
- Feed cats twice daily at roughly the same times each day to make it easier for you and your pet to keep track of how much they are eating. It is helpful to do this because when cats eat in the morning and evening their digestive system is better prepared for food intake than if you feed them once per day in the morning or evening when their stomachs may be empty from not eating during the night.
- If you may opt to free-feed your Maine Coon dry food you should monitor food intake to ensure Maine Coon obese signals do not present.
- Maine Coon cats should only be fed wet food roughly 2-3 times a week, to avoid them developing tooth issues. You can then feed them a high-quality dry food diet, a raw food diet, or a mixture of all three.
- Maine Coon cats require a diet high in protein, and low in carbohydrates.
How To Help Your Cat Lose Weight
1. Feed The Correct Amount Of Food
If your cat is overweight, it is important to reduce the amount of food you give them and gradually increase their exercise levels until they reach a healthy weight.
2. Get Cat Moving With Play!
You can buy cat puzzles from pet stores or online that help your cat burn energy by moving around and solving puzzles like:
- How to get a treat out of a box that has holes in it
- How to get a ball through a track filled with obstacles
3. Never Free Feed
If your Maine Coon cat suffers from obesity, stop free feeding. Once-a-day feeding is best for overweight cats.
4. Monitor Their Weight Regularly
Monitoring your Maine Coons weight regularly allows you to determine if the changes you are making are working, or not working.
If you notice other changes in your cat, such as bad breath or hairballs, it could be a sign that your cat has a medical issue.
