Top 13 Maine Coon Grooming Methods

The Maine Coon is a long-haired cat breed, with a thick semi-water-repellent coat that requires regular brushing, ideally 2-3 times a week to prevent fur from getting matted.

Indoor cats will need their claws clipped regularly, and all owners should brush their cat’s teeth daily to prevent plaque build-up and tooth loss.

Bathing is not essential and should not be done more than once a month if the cat’s fur is dirty. Clean your cat’s ears and eyes, regularly.

How Do You Groom A Maine Coon Cat

Maine Coon grooming should always be a positive experience that helps keep your long-haired felines fur, teeth, health, etc, in great condition.

Implementing these simple cat grooming tips on a weekly basis will ensure they not only become second nature to you but also help your large cat live a happy life.

1. Start Young

Not every Maine Coon will enjoy being groomed, therefore, it is a good idea to get your Maine Coon kitten used to being brushed and cared for, from the beginning.

Regular grooming sessions will help build a stronger bond and trust between the kitten and the owner. It will also get your cat used to being handled, and groomed.

2. Establish A Routine

Establish a consistent Maine Coon grooming schedule, so your cat knows what to expect.

The more consistent you are with grooming regularly, the more likely your cat will accept being groomed and trust you.

3. Foster A Positive Environment

Before you start grooming your Maine Coon cat, make sure you have enough time and are not in a rush.

It is important that cat lovers stay calm and patient whilst grooming their Maine Coon, therefore, if you’re in the wrong frame of mind, groom your cat another time.

Keep an eye on your Maine Coon’s Body Language to ensure they are happy whilst being groomed. If they appear upset or stressed, stop immediately.

When you finish grooming your Maine Coon cat, make sure you feed them their favorite treats. This is important because it encourages positivity, and your cat will associate grooming with treats moving forward.

4. Brush Your Maine Coon’s Coat

Long-haired cats need to be groomed 2-3 times a week to remove any dead hairs, or loose hair that may have become caught in their thick fur.

There are a variety of different cat brushes that you can use to keep your cat’s fur tangle-free and healthy, including:

• Slicker Brush
• Soft Bristle Double-Sided Brush
• Pet Grooming Mitten
• Detangling Pet Hair Comb

These are my favorite Maine Coon cat brushes.

Cat slicker brushes are a great way to keep your cat’s fur free of knots and dirt, whilst also reducing levels of Maine Coon shedding.

Many cat slicker brushes also come with a self-cleaning function that makes them easy to keep clean.

A soft-bristled double-sided cat brush is an ideal way to loosen small tangles in your Maine Coon’s fur. These brushes are great for grooming a Maine Coon, and are gentle on your cat’s skin.

If your cat is not keen on being brushed, start by grooming their fur with a pet grooming mitten.

Whilst mittens cannot be used to remove heavily matted fur, they do gently distribute the natural oils across your cat’s fur and remove loose fur.

Finally, you could use a pet-detangling hair comb, otherwise known as a stainless steel comb, to remove your Maine Coons tangles.

5. Removing Matted Fur

Matted fur can develop anywhere on the Maine Coon’s body, particularly on sensitive areas like their bottoms. Knots are worsened when dead loose fur becomes caught within these mats.

Fur that has become tangled or knotted should be gently loosened with your fingers. Keep in mind that your cat may have already tried to remove the knotted fur by biting or clawing it, so their skin may be sensitive.

Never pull out or yank at the matted fur as this can be painful for your Maine Coon, and cause the cat’s skin to become sensitive in that area.

If your Maine Coon lets you bathe them, start by washing them in the bathtub with one of these cat shampoos and conditioners, then carefully loosen the knotted fur.

Pet owners should use a mat splitter grooming tool, or long-haired cat de-matting brush to gently remove smaller mats across their furry friend’s coat.

Your best options to remove stubborn Maine Coon matted fur, are as follows:

• Carefully cut the matted fur, then gently loosen and separate the matted lump.
• Use scissors to cut the mat off completely (If not too close to the cat’s skin).
• Gently use a cat grooming rake to get underneath the matted fur, and detach it.
• Ask a professional groomer or veterinarian to shave the matted fur off.

If your cat becomes distressed whilst you try to remove a mat, immediately stop and try again at another time.

Never force your cat to endure long sessions of fur de-matting, as this will develop a negative association with grooming.

6. Bathing Maine Coon Cats

Maine Coons are fastidious cleaners, so it is not essential to bathe a Maine Coon cat to keep them clean.

However, cat owners may opt to give their cats regular baths to keep their Maine Coon cats clean, if they have gotten dirty when playing outside. Bathing will also help to remove excess hair from your cat’s long coat.

These large cats should only be washed using cat shampoo and never bathed more than once per month.

This is because frequent shampooing can strip the cat’s naturally produced oils and lead to skin irritation. The oils are also important in producing the cat its luscious, soft, long-haired fur.

7. Claw Clipping

Maine Coon cats have sharp claws that are fully retractable. They use their claws daily to:

• Hunt
• Climb
• Balance
• Play
• Bounce
• Defend Themselves

Scratching is an instinct of cats that helps them tone and stretch their shoulder muscles and back.

It also helps felines keep their claws healthy by removing the transparent sheath that grows over their claws.

The Maine Coon’s nails of an outdoor cat are kept healthy and sharp via self-maintenance, whereas indoor cats need a little more assistance.

Pet parents should purchase multiple scratching posts and towers for their home, which their cat can scratch against to keep their claws in great condition.

Another option is to trim your indoor Maine Coon’s nails using professional pet nail clippers or ask your vet to do this.

8. Your Cat’s Diet Impacts Their Grooming Needs

The nutritional needs of a Maine Coon are different from normal cats because they require high levels of protein to fuel their muscular frame and high energy levels.

Pet parents should feed their gentle giants a nutritionally balanced diet, containing the correct nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, to keep their cat’s body strong and healthy.

A Maine Coon not consuming the correct feline diet may develop health problems, such as hair loss, thinning fur, weak and brittle bones, etc.

If you notice your cat’s once beautiful coat has become dull and lacks shine, pay special attention to their diet.

9. Trimming Maine Coon Fur

Maine Coons are well known for having tufted fur and fluffy coats, but sometimes their thick coats can become an issue for them.

A key part of the Maine Coon grooming process therefore is to trim your cat’s coat if they are struggling to keep themselves clean.

For example, if your cat uses a litter tray and regularly has dangle berries hanging off their bottom, the best way to overcome this issue would be to carefully trim the fur around their backend.

Some Maine Coon owners opt to give their cats a haircut during the summer months. Think twice before doing this, since the Maine Coon’s fur helps keep these big felines cool during hot weather.

If you are considering giving your cat a Maine Coon lion cut, please ensure you read this guide, first.

10. Flea And Worm Treatment

All Maine Coon cats should be given flea and worm treatment as per the product instructions, even if you own an indoor Maine Coon.

If you notice fleas on your cat, one of the best Maine Coon grooming tips is to use a flea removal shampoo suitable for cats, along with a flea comb to brush through your cat’s entire coat.

11. Brush Your Maine Coon’s Teeth

Oral hygiene should never be overlooked when it comes to keeping your Maine Coon’s teeth in great condition.

It is important that Maine Coon owners brush their Maine Coon cat’s teeth regularly, to ensure they do not suffer from gingivitis, stomatitis, or periodontal disease.

Here are the Top 5 Maine Coon Toothpastes that you can buy from your local pet supply stores.

Learn more about the dangers of failing to brush your cat’s teeth, in this complete Maine Coon Teeth Guide.

12. Skin Issues

The Maine Coon is one of the most popular cat breeds in the world, yet many owners are not aware this cat breed can have sensitive skin, and develop Skin Problems.

If your cat has skin issues, contact an approved veterinarian to establish what might be causing the problem, and find out how to help your Maine Coon.

Some owners use specialist cat shampoo whilst bathing their cat’s fur and skin. This is thought to help ease cat skin conditions, however, it is important to get advice from your vet, first.

Owners who suspect their cat has a skin issue should be extra careful when grooming their cat’s thick fur, to ensure the nylon brush, etc, does not hurt them.

13. Clean Your Maine Coon Cat’s Ears

If you own a Maine Coon, it is important that you keep your Maine Coon’s ears clean.

To do this, gently wipe the cat’s ears to remove any visible dirt or debris that has become tangled in their ear furnishings.