What Affects the Weight of a Maine Coon
It is not difficult to determine the breed of Maine Coon cats – it is difficult not to recognize them. Owners of long hair, a luxurious fluffy collar, and ears with tassels, like a lynx, also have unusually large dimensions for a domestic cat. The head and body length of an adult is over one meter. The biggest registered coat length Maine Coons measure 1 m 23 cm from the forehead to the end of the tail. The physique of the pets is also impressive: The head of the animal is large the ears are also large, the paws are muscular, the tail is of fair length and the fur is thick. All this overemphasizes the fact that the Maine Coon should weigh twenty kilograms of weight.
In reality, this is not so. The Maine Coon Weight is not much different from the weight of representatives of the British breed of cats. It may fluctuate between 7 and 9 kg on average. Spaying also occurs in the feral cats of Britain and neutered cats may weigh up to 13 kg. Using the table that indicates the changes in weight by month we can estimate if its development is correct and what the kitten will be when it grows up.
It is not only worth choosing a healthy kitten when buying from a breeder, but It is also necessary to track its correct development. The following factors influence the growth and weight gain of a Maine Coon:
- Sex. Males are born larger than females and gain weight faster.
- The size of the mother cat. The larger the mother, the larger the cubs will be.
- Condition of newborns. Weaker kittens are lighter and develop more slowly than their stronger siblings. However, a born-decayed kitten, if given proper care and feed, can still grow to become a big strong cat let alone a small-enabled kitten.
- The litter size is the size of the kittens in a particular litter. The larger the litter, the smaller and lighter each kitten in it as will be seen when comparing.
- Genetic predisposition. The subsequent length and weight of a kitten are defined not only by the genes of the mother but by the genes of the father as well. Each kitten of the same mother cat from different fathers is different in size and rate of growth and development.
- General diet for a pregnant and even the lactating cat. If the mother cat ate a lot of quality animal products, fed herself properly, and gave her babies a balanced diet then it is guaranteed that they will grow up nursed and weighing lots of grams.
- The requirements for keeping a cat and kittens and the procedures that the owner is to perform for the pet’s comfort. For kittens not to get sick and to develop properly depending on the days of their age, they need a diet with the proper nutrition which also contains all the vitamins and necessary elements.
- Experiences of stressful stimuli in the domains of the life of the mother cat and her offspring. Loud noises, a change of residence, and the presence of unfamiliar people and other animals – all affect the development of kittens. The cat may refuse to feed – you will have to change their diet, and weight gain will slow down.
If a Maine Coon kitten has to grow and gain weight as it should, then it is required to consider all the aforementioned factors. Any difficulties observed including those, which refer to the health state of the baby should be discussed with the help of a veterinarian immediately.
Maine Coon weight by month
It is convenient to monitor the development of your four-legged friend based on the indicators established by the standard. The weight of the Maine Coon by month should look like this:
Maine Coon Age | Weight of a cat | Weight of a cat |
Newborn | 90-150 g | 90-170 g |
1 week | 180-230 g | 200-260 g |
2 weeks | 280-340 g | 300-360 g |
At 1 month | 560-680 g | 630-750 g |
At 2 months | 1.15-1.4 kg | 1.23-1.5 kg |
At 3 months | 1.7-2.3 kg | 1.8-2.3 kg |
At 4 months | 2.7-3.6 kg | 3-3.8 kg |
At 5 months | 2.9-3.9 kg | 3.2-5.5 kg |
At 6 months | 3.2-4 kg | 3.9-6.5 kg |
At 7 months | 3.5-4.3 kg | 4.2-6.5 kg |
At 8 months | 3.8-4.3 kg | 4.5-6.9 kg |
At 9 months | 4.1-5 kg | 5-7 kg |
At 10 months | 4.2-5.5 kg | 5.2-7.5 |
At 11 months | 4.3-6 kg | 5.7-9 kg |
At 1 year old | 4.5-6.3 kg | 5.7-9 kg |
At 1.5 years old | 4.5-6.5 kg | 6-9.5 kg |
At 2 years old | 4.5-7 kg | 10 kg |
At 2.5 years old | 4.5-7.2 kg | up to 12 kg |
At 3 years old | Up to 7.5 kg | Up to 13 kg
(castrated) |
Maine Coon should not be overfed as this can lead to various issues like overweight gain. Obesity is a catalyst for the development of severe diseases in the skeletal and cardiovascular systems, lungs, and organs, as well as many others.
Should your pet however gain túns of additional weight, apart from using a diet recommended by your veterinarian, you can always help your pet exercise through active play.
Maine Coon Sizes at Different Ages
Since adult Maine Coons are significantly larger than other domestic cats, their kittens are born larger than their peers of other breeds. The minimum weight of a kitten is 80 g, a smaller individual simply will not survive. The average weight is 100-180 g. As a rule, males are born larger than females.
Maine Coon kittens normally grow faster than kittens of other breeds. By the age of two months, small Maine Coons usually weigh more than 1 kg. At 3 months, kittens often exceed the size of adult representatives of other breeds. At 4 months, a Maine Coon weighs approximately 3.5 kg. At 5 months – more than 4 kg. At this stage, the animal grows especially quickly. By the age of six months, males weigh more than 5 kg. By 7 months, most kittens already weigh as much as adult individuals of other breeds. At 8 months, on average – 5.5 kg. A kitten that has reached the age of 9 months already weighs up to 7 kg. By 10-12 months, a Maine Coon turns into a real “giant” – its body weight is 8.5-9.5 kg. A sharp increase in weight occurs during the final period of development.
Please remember that all these values are only close averages – do not worry and panic if your pet is slightly overweight or underweight. Yet perhaps it is better to be cautious all the same. If you feel that there is something wrong with your pet’s health – don’t wait and take him or her to the clinic.
Until this time, representatives of the breed are still growing in size and weight.
Differences in weight and size between boys and girls
The size and body weight of Maine Coon cats differ. Adults who have reached the age of 3 years have the following weight indicators: for females, it has been reduced to 4.5 to 7.5 kg, and for males 8 to 10 kg. They reach 120 cm in length.
Weights exceeding the above standards are observed in Maine Coons, whose diet contains artificial additives that disrupt metabolism and contribute to excessive weight gain. Myths about 20-kilogram Maine Coons and the pursuit of record body weight are harmful to the animal’s health – they can lead to illnesses and early death.
Reasons for Maine Coon Weight Gain or Loss
The main reasons for the slow growth of a Maine Coon kitten are considered to be the following negative factors.
- Unavailability of adequate quality feeds for the mother cat. The cat should be fed balanced healthy foods containing all the nutrients the cat requires, at least three times per day.
- Insufficient quantity or saturation of toxins in mother’s milk. The kitten may not have enough milk, since the cat secretes less than required. In this case, it is necessary to add artificial feeding with special mixtures. Toxins are present in milk if the cat is sick and takes various medications.
- Anemia and lack of vitamins and minerals in the body. This is because there is not enough of them in the mother’s milk.
- Parasites. They get to kittens through the mother cat’s milk. You need to contact a veterinarian as soon as possible.
- Genetic abnormalities: One or more kittens in a litter are weak due to a predisposition.
- Diseases that slow down the normal growth of a kitten. In most cases, they are transmitted from the mother, but sometimes they also develop independently. If you notice alarming symptoms (weakness, stool disorder, vomiting, etc.), you should immediately contact a veterinarian – delay can be life-threatening.
- Cases when a purebred cat gave birth to kittens from a non-pedigree cat. The kittens are underweight for the standard.
If an adult Maine Coon is losing weight rapidly, the cause may be a serious health problem that needs to be addressed immediately. The most common causes are the following:
- External or internal parasites in the body.
- Stress.
- Incorrect diet or abrupt change.
- Hormonal imbalance.
- Problems with the digestive system.
- Oncology.
Generally, it is rather significant to always have a pet because one always farms for a living creature. For a happy, healthy, and well-developed animal to be with you for many years, always adhere to the feeding schedule and purchase quality foods that have been fully compounded with vitamins and minerals.