Keep These Animals Safe From Your Maine Coons!
Known for their wild and mysterious heritage, it’s only in recent decades that the Maine Coon cat breed has become domesticated.
What Do Maine Coon Cats Hunt?
These former wild cats used to be outdoor cats but eventually became a working breed kept by farmers in barns and houses, to keep their premises free of rodents.
Despite now being domesticated, they still enjoy hunting if given the opportunity, and are responsible for killing many bird populations.
Maine Coons, with their natural hunting instincts, are known to hunt a variety of prey. While they may not always act on their natural hunting instincts in a home environment, they still enjoy “hunting” in the form of play.
Here’s what Maine Coons might hunt in the wild or in a simulated way at home:
- Small Mammals: They have a strong prey drive for small rodents like mice, squirrels, and rabbits.
- Birds: Maine Coons can be attracted to birds, whether they’re flying or perched in a tree.
- Insects: Flies, moths, and other insects often catch the attention of these cats, who love to stalk and bat them around.
- Fish: Maine Coons are also known to have an affinity for fish, especially if they have access to water or live near water sources.
- Toys: At home, they often “hunt” toys like feather wands, laser pointers, and anything that moves quickly.
Their playful nature, combined with their history as skilled hunters, makes them excellent at pouncing and stalking, whether it’s a toy or a real animal!
How Do Maine Coons Hunt?
Maine Coons are natural hunters, and their hunting style is a combination of patience, stealth, and agility.
Here’s how they typically hunt:
- Stalking: Maine Coons often begin by silently observing their prey from a distance. They crouch low to the ground, using their long, bushy tails for balance, and move stealthily to get closer. Their large size doesn’t hinder their ability to move quietly when hunting.
- Pouncing: Once they’ve closed the distance, Maine Coons use a quick, powerful pounce to capture their prey. This movement mimics the instinctive behavior of wild cats, where they leap onto their prey in one swift motion. Their large paws help them hold onto the prey securely.
- Batting and Swatting: If hunting smaller creatures or insects, Maine Coons may use their paws to bat and swipe at their target. This swatting behavior is often seen during play as well when they’re using toys like feathers or small balls.
- Chasing: If the prey manages to flee, Maine Coons are capable of chasing it down, using their quick reflexes and stamina to keep up with fast-moving targets. They are also very patient and persistent in their pursuit.
- Water Hunting: Maine Coons are unique among cats for their love of water. In the wild, they may hunt fish or aquatic creatures, using their paws to splash or scoop prey from shallow water. This water-loving trait also leads many Maine Coons to “fish” in their home environment, whether it’s a fish tank or even water bowls!
At home, they may not always engage in full hunting behaviors, but their playful instincts often mimic these actions when chasing toys, shadows, or laser pointers.
What Do Maine Coons Eat At Home?
At home, Maine Coons require a diet tailored to their large size, active nature, and nutritional needs. Here’s a breakdown of what they typically eat:
High-Quality Dry Food
Many owners feed their Maine Coons high-quality dry cat food designed for large breeds. This food should contain 30-40% protein to support their muscle mass and energy needs.
The fat content should be around 15-20%, providing the necessary energy, while carbohydrates should be kept at a lower percentage (around 5-10%).
Look for food with high animal protein sources like chicken, turkey, or fish.
Wet Food
Wet food is also commonly fed, as it helps with hydration and supports urinary health, which is especially important for Maine Coons.
Wet food typically contains 40-60% protein, depending on the brand and formulation.
A high-quality wet food will have at least 8-10% fat for energy and should also be low in carbohydrates, generally under 10%.
Protein-Rich Foods
Being obligate carnivores, Maine Coons need a diet rich in animal proteins to thrive.
High-protein foods (chicken, turkey, beef, and fish) should make up the majority of their meals.
The protein content should be between 30-40% of their total diet, which supports their large frames and active lifestyle.
Treats
While treats can be given in moderation, they should complement, not replace, a balanced diet.
Maine Coons enjoy treats like small pieces of cooked chicken or specially formulated cat treats. Treats should make up no more than 5-10% of their daily intake.
Raw Food (Optional)
Some Maine Coon owners opt for a raw food diet, which can include raw meat, bones, and organs. This diet closely mirrors a natural feeding pattern, but it’s important to ensure it’s nutritionally balanced and safe.
A raw food diet should have 45-50% protein and 20-30% fat to meet their needs.
Water
Fresh, clean water should always be available, especially since Maine Coons are prone to urinary tract issues.
Wet food can help with hydration, but they should always have access to water to ensure optimal kidney and urinary health.
Since Maine Coons are large and active cats, it’s important to monitor their food intake to prevent obesity.
A diet with high-quality protein and appropriate fat content, while keeping carbohydrates in check, is essential to support their long-term health and vitality.
Regular portion control and a balanced feeding schedule will help maintain their ideal weight and energy levels.
How Many Calories Do Maine Coons Need?
The daily caloric needs of a Maine Coon cat depend on several factors, including their age, activity level, and whether they are spayed or neutered.
On average, a healthy adult Maine Coon requires about 24-30 calories per pound of body weight each day.
Here’s how that breaks down:
Caloric Breakdown
- Active Maine Coons (particularly those that are young, playful, or have higher energy needs) might require closer to 25 calories per pound.
- Less active Maine Coons, including older cats or those who are more sedentary, may require around 18-20 calories per pound.
- Neutered or spayed cats tend to have lower caloric needs due to a decrease in metabolic rate, so they may need fewer calories.
For example, if your Maine Coon weighs 15 pounds and is active:
- 15 pounds x 25 calories = 375 calories per day.
Do Maine Coons Kill Birds?
As natural hunters, Maine Coon cats are as likely to hunt and kill birds as any other cat if given enough free time to explore and hunt.
These formally wild cats have the natural ability, strength, patience, interest, and stealth to kill a bird.
Will A Maine Coon Kill Chickens?
Maine Coon cats are not naturally predisposed to attack chickens. However, they may enjoy chasing chickens around and show a general interest in them.
In more severe situations, a cat may attack a chicken if it is hungry, poorly socialized, or has access to them.
Are Maine Coons Good Ratters?
Maine Coon cats are famous for being good rat catchers! Catching mice and rats on the farms was the main job of the Maine Coons ancestors.
Maine Coons have great hearing and sight, whilst also being very agile and very intelligent which allows them to learn, detect, catch, and even kill rats with ease.
Do Maine Coons Catch Mice?
These large cats are very agile and efficient are catching mice. Their patient and playful nature enables them to chase their prey for long periods without fatigue.
Can A Maine Coon Kill A Fox?
It is not thought that a Maine Coon could kill a fox. This is because foxes are much bigger, stronger, and more dangerous than Maine Coons.
Thus, it is more likely that your Maine Coon would try to avoid the confrontation.
However, it is possible that a bite from a Maine Coon could become infected and eventually kill a fox.
Can A Maine Coon Kill A Coyote?
Maine Coon cats are incapable of killing a coyote.
Whilst the Maine Coon could defend itself with their strength and skills from an attack, ultimately a coyote is considerably larger and stronger.
As a result, a coyote would probably prevail in a fight with a Maine Coon.
Can A Maine Coon Kill A Human?
Maine Coon cats cannot kill humans.
These large cats are known for their affability and calm, friendly nature, so if you were wondering if a Maine Coon can kill you, you are safe!
However, a Maine Coon might attack a human if feeling threatened or trapped. In such a situation they may react violently toward the human if feeling stressed.
Whilst it’s highly unlikely a Maine Coon could kill a human, it is important to mention that cat bites left untreated can quickly become infected, possibly resulting in death.
Will Maine Coon Hunt Rabbits?
A Maine Coon cat will hunt and kill a rabbit, and all kinds of rodents.
If a cat sees a wild rabbit outside the house, it is likely to try to hunt it, unless the cat is properly socialized.
