Maine Coon

• Bathing: Maine Coons don’t require baths, but don’t be surprised if they try to join you in the tub or shower. 
• Brushing: Be prepared to brush your Maine Coon regularly at least two or three times per week, but daily is best. They’re prone to matting, especially during the heavy shedding seasons of spring and fall. The Ocean Plastic Double-Sided Pin Comb is a good brush for Maine Coons because the wider-spaced teeth are good for their body and tail, while the side with closer teeth is better for sensitive areas on the cats’ neck, cheeks, and ears.
  • Pro tip: “Due to their size, this can be a challenge, especially if the cat is resistant to brushing and combing,” Savoury-McCrary says. While some Maine Coons have silky coats, others have thick undercoats that mat more easily. If your Maine Coon becomes exceptionally matted or grooming feels overwhelming, enlist the help of a professional groomer.
• Ear care: Maine Coon cats don’t usually require regular ear cleaning. However, if you notice signs of an ear infection—such as head shaking, pawing at the ears, discharge, or a foul smell—or signs of ear mites (tiny black specks that look like coffee grounds), schedule a checkup with your veterinarian.
• Nail care: Trim your cat’s nails as needed, typically once a month or more. 
• Dental care: Poor dental hygiene can be painful for your cat and even shorten their lifespan. During routine wellness exams, your veterinarian will check your Maine Coon’s teeth and gums, and recommend a professional dental cleaning under anesthesia if needed.
  • Pro tip: Between cleanings, brushing your cat’s teeth at home with cat-safe toothpaste can help prevent tartar, plaque buildup, and dental disease.

There’s no one-size-fits-all food for a Maine Coon because the best cat food depends on your cat’s health, age, lifestyle, and preferences. (Cats can be picky eaters!)

At a minimum, your cat’s food needs to be complete and balanced for their life stage, whether they’re a kitten or an adult. You can tell if a cat food meets these standards by looking for a statement from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) on the label. This confirms the food has been formulated or feed-tested to meet a cat’s nutritional needs.

If you’re unsure what type or how much to feed your Maine Coon, your veterinarian is the best source of information. Some brands, like Royal Canin, make breed-specific food for Maine Coon kittens and adults. Ask your vet if this would be a good fit for your cat.

All cats need daily play to stay happy, healthy, and out of trouble. That said, your Maine Coon isn’t training for a marathon.

Cats are built for short bursts of energy, like a fast dash to pounce on a mouse. About 30 minutes of play a day will do, broken into two or three sessions. 

You can encourage exercise with wand toys, cat dancers, or ball and chaser toys that skitter down the hallway. “Some Maine Coons will fetch for you,” Savoury-McCrary says. 

Because Maine Coons are famously fond of water, you can channel that curiosity into water play. But Certified Feline Training and Behavior Consultant LeeAnna Buis suggests sticking to “mechanical fish toys that swim in the sink and splashing around in the tub over heading to the lake.” 

Between play sessions, give your Maine Coon plenty of opportunities to climb, jump, and stretch—whether that’s on a cat tree, scratching post, or cat shelves for exploring.

Mental stimulation counts as exercise, too, and it’s just as important.

“Some Maine Coons can be trained to respond to simple commands, such as sit, lie down, and come to their name,” Savoury-McCrary says. Others will appreciate a food puzzle or a foraging mat. 

The more you fulfill their needs for play and stimulation, the less likely you are to see unwanted behaviors, such as scratching furniture.

Despite their large size, you might be surprised to learn that a Maine Coon doesn’t need a large home.

As certified cat-behavior specialist Stephen Quandt explains, cats live in a three-dimensional world where their vertical space matters just as much, if not more, than the horizontal floor plan.

A cat-friendly home gives your Maine Coon plenty of ways to feel like a cat: climbing, playing, scratching, and lounging. Because they’re big cats, make sure structures like cat trees and shelves are sturdy enough to support their weight.

Cats are territorial, so if you have more than one, provide enough resources for everyone: multiple cat trees, scratchers, cat beds, and food bowls. You’ll also need one extra litter box than the number of cats in your home (so, if you have two cats, having three litter boxes is best).

Maine Coons are generally social and welcoming, making them great family cats. However, no matter how friendly your cat is, they should always have their own retreat—whether it’s a bed, cardboard box, or cat tree—where they can escape if they feel stressed or overwhelmed.