Maine Coon Care
Most important requirement = abundance of love
You are about to begin a mildly challenging, yet most rewarding journey.
SUPPLIES YOU WILL NEED
Food and water + bowls Pet carrier and bedding Litter box, litter and scoop Brush/comb Toys, many toys! Scratching post Cat tree with large base (giant kitties)
FOOD
Maine Coons love kibble which is a form of dry food. This kind of food is easy to serve in a plain bowl, which can be refilled with kibble throughout the day as needed . Most cats know when to stop eating their fill, so it isn't necessary for you to take the bowl away after the cats have partaken. If you choose to add a form of wet nutrition, supplement it to the dry food. It is important to provide the Maine Coon kitten with a particular kitten formulated food made just for them and gradually blend in the adult food at one year of age, until the kitten food is completely replaced. Breeders will often advise owners as to the duration and kind of food that works best for Maine Coon kittens. Pistol Paws is proud to feed Royal Canine and Purina One.
HEALTH ROUTINE
Regular veterinarian appointments are required to ensure the health of your cat. Annual vaccines, deworming, and monthly flea/tick prevention will be administered according to the plan of the veterinarian of your choice. Pistol Paws kittens are to never be declawed and must be spayed/neutered per contract. CFA papers will not include breeding rights. These agreements are to ensure the best life, longevity and safety of your Maine Coon. Your female cat will live a longer, healthier life. Spaying helps prevent uterine infections and breast tumors, which are malignant or cancerous 90 percent of cats. Spaying your pet before her first heat offers the best protection from these diseases. Neutering your male cat companion prevents testicular cancer and some prostate problems. Your neutered male cat may be better behaved. Un-neutered male cats are more likely to mark their territory by spraying strong-smelling urine all over the house. Too often, people think that declawing is a simple surgery that removes a cat's nails—the equivalent of having your fingernails trimmed. Sadly, this is far from the truth. Declawing traditionally involves the amputation of the last bone of each toe. If performed on a human being, it would be like cutting off each finger at the last knuckle. It is an unnecessary surgery that provides no medical benefit to the cat. Educated pet parents can easily train their cats to use their claws in a manner that allows everyone in the household to live together happily. People often mistakenly believe that declawing their cats is a harmless "quick fix" for unwanted scratching. They don't realize that declawing can make a cat less likely to use the litter box or more likely to bite. Declawing also can cause lasting physical problems for your cat. Many countries have banned declawing. The Humane Society of the United States opposes declawing except for the rare cases when it is necessary for medical purposes, such as the removal of cancerous nail bed tumors.
BATHING AND GROOMING
Introducing bath time, brushing, and nail trimming to the kitten early on is important to develop ease for the long run. While cats typically maintain cleanliness themselves, Maine Coons have luscious coats that require some maintenance. Matts in the fur are common when brushing/combing is neglected due to the dense layers of thick hair. The face, ears, eyes, and nose can be cleaned with a damp towel or cotton ball.