You have purchased a beautiful Maine coon cat but don’t know if your cat is healthy or not? Don’t worry we have got you covered. Maine coon cat is referred to as ‘the gentle giant’ because of its larger appearance and is native to North America, the state of Maine. They have a thick layer of fluff around them to keep them safe from the harsh weather conditions.
Having a Maine coon growth chart will prove to be highly beneficial in analyzing the health and growth of your cat. A growth chart with you will help you monitor your pet’s progress and identify possible health issues like parasites, hormonal imbalances, or hereditary problems.
It is advisable that you weigh your Maine coon cat once every month. Measure and record your cat’s height and compare it to the Maine coon weight chart by age, to analyze your Maine coon’s growth. In this article, we will be illustrating Maine coon weight charts and we’ll be telling you everything about how to weigh and maintain a healthy weight for your Maine coon cats.2
How often you should feed your Maine coon depends on its age, activity level, and weight. Normally, a kitten would need about 2-3 meals per day to fulfill their nutritional needs and keep them healthy. You can adjust your cat’s meal to 2 meals per day when it reaches 6 months of age.
You can analyze your cat’s requirements by keeping track of your beloved pet’s physical activity. The more active your pet is, the more meals they will need. Here are some tips for you to easily record your pet baby’s weight without making them uncomfortable.
There are some ways to maintain or track the weight of your beloved pet weight, here are some:
- When shopping for a measuring tape, look for one made of cloth rather than one made of a solid material. You will receive accurate results and can measure the weight easily without irritating your pet.
- Excel Sheet—Keep track of your Maine Coon’s development and growth with the help of a well-organized spreadsheet. Add the typical height and weight of cats of this breed to have a point of comparison when measuring your pet.
- Weighing Scale: Pick a weighing scale from a reputable brand to get accurate measurements. Be sure to stick with the same one at all times for accurate results.
Male Maine Coon Weight Chart
Yet, despite their reputation for being larger than usual, not all Maine Coons are huge cats. When they have reached their full adult size, male Maine Coons typically weigh between 12 and 18 pounds. You’ll be thrilled to know that the male Maine cats may attain gigantic masses of up to 15 kilograms (35 pounds). This doesn’t happen very often, but it is not unlikely. When they reach this stage, Coons are typically overweight.
It’s important to note that these are only approximate heights and weights. Maine Coons can vary in size and growth rate. Some males may reach their full height at 2-3 years, while others may continue to grow until they are 5 or older. The male Maine Coon weight chart below shows its average weight and height at different stages of its life.
| Age | Height | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Newborn | 10 – 12 cm | 90 – 170 gm |
| 1 Month | 10 – 15 cm | 620 – 820 gm |
| 6 Months | 25 – 30 cm | 3.4 – 6 kg |
| 12 Months | 30 – 38 cm | 5.8 – 9 kg |
| 4 to 5 Years | 48 – 56 cm | 6.8 – 11.3 kg |
Female Maine Coon Weight Chart
Female Maine Coon’s usually weigh between 6-14 pounds (4-7 kgs) at 2 years of age and height around 8-14 inches. Female Maine coon reaches 15-25 lbs till 4-5 years of age. Additionally, female Maine coons can fully mature in as early as 2 months or they will reach their adult stage at 5 years of age.
On the other hand, Maine Coon females are slightly smaller than the male Maine Coon. Their difference is not huge, they are just a few inches shorter and a few pounds lighter. Moreover, female Maine Coon’s are a little reserved and laid-back. The following chart provides the average height and weight between the ages of one and five years old cats.
| Age | Height | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Newborn | 10 – 12 cm | 90 – 150 gm |
| 1 Month | 10 – 15 cm | 550 – 740 gm |
| 6 Months | 25 – 30 cm | 3.1 – 4.3 kg |
| 12 Months | 30 – 35 cm | 3.6 – 5.4 kg |
| 4 to 5 Years | 46 – 48 cm | 4.5 – 6.5 kg |
How do I know my Maine Coon average Weight?
If you own a cute giant fluff ball and want to know its weight, you might visit a vet or weigh your cat on your own. Remember, the weight of a Maine coon cat is affected by various factors like gender, age, hereditary factors, and their meals. On average the breed gets 40 inches long and 16 inches tall and weighs between 12-22 lbs.
Large maine coons are mostly males and their weight falls between 18-22 lbs ( 8.16-9.97 kgs ), whereas female maine coons weigh between 12-15 lbs ( 5.4-6.8 kgs ). Maine coons are giant babies and are the warmest and cuddly cats. Some maine coons are huge while others may not grow that much and might be the size of an average adult cat. It is okay, they have different breeds after all.
To identify if your Maine coon is overweight or not, here are some areas where you can identify whether your cat is healthy or overweight.
Belly: Your fluff ball’s belly might bulge from behind the ribs. It may be rounded and have fat that sags down. This shows that your cat might be getting overweight.
Ribs: Maine coon cats have a big covering of fur around their body, so it may be hard to feel their ribs. However, you can easily feel their hip bones, spine bones, and shoulder bones through gentle petting. Additionally, their ribs can be detected too, which means your cat is healthy.
Waist: Your fluffy warm giant might be huge but they have a beautiful slim waist. It should be visible from above. If you cannot see your cat’s waist or if it has bulging sides then your cat is bending towards an overweight scale.
Jumping: Maine coon cats may be fluff giants, but they love running and jumping around. If your cat is getting tired quickly or is having difficulty when jumping to low surfaces you need to adjust your cat’s diet, it is getting overweight.
Overweight Maine Coon issue
Your Maine coon cat is a beautiful fluff giant, but sometimes it gets tough to analyze whether your cat is healthy or getting overweight. When your cat starts gaining extra weight, it might experience some health issues. These issues can make your cat sad and affect its health causing problems like diabetes mellitus, arthritis, and joint damage. Moreover, obese cats have a shorter lifespan. Here are some issues that overweight cats face;
Hip Dysplasia: The cat’s hip joints fail to develop normally, resulting in ball and socket dislocation. This disease mostly occurs in large cats, and it can lead to paralysis.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: The cat’s heart efficiency levels may be affected badly in this condition, leading to paralysis.
Spinal Muscular Atrophy is a hereditary genetic disease that can cause instability and posture abnormalities in your cat.
Stomatitis: The cat’s mouth and gums get painfully inflamed.
Polycystic Kidney Disease: This disease is hereditary and cats are born with cysts in their kidneys. These cysts grow in size during the cat’s lifespan.
A question might have popped up in your mind, how much should my cat eat in a day so it doesn’t fall in the overweight list? The average feed for a Maine coon cat is 24 to 35 calories a day per pound of body weight. To maintain a healthy weight you can feed your cat nine ounces of wet food or three ounces of dry food per day.
Conclusion
The Maine Coon weight chart can help you understand your cat and how to feed it for healthy weight gain. Also, it helps you take the necessary steps to control your pet’s weight by feeding them less often.
Numerous factors can affect your Maine Coon’s average weight, but gender, genetics, and the cat’s parents matter most. Being the cat’s parents, it is your responsibility to look after your little munchkin and a growth chart can help you do it effectively.
Despite their huge size, the loving breed is friendly and affectionate. You will also find several Maine coon colors and patterns. You must take all the relevant information before you decide to adopt one.
Good luck finding a lovely Maine Coon cat, or if you already have one, enjoy living with this loving creature.
