The Best Cat Food for Maine Coons

To maintain my 15 lb Maine Coon’s amazing long-haired coat, large frame, and playful personality, I recommend ZIWI Peak Canned Wet Cat Food as the current best cat food for Maine Coons.

Best Overall

8.6

ZIWI Peak Wet Cat Food

• 92% meat, organs, NZ green mussels
• Free of fillers, carbs, preservatives, gums
• Flavors: Lamb, Beef, Venison, Chicken, Mackerel, & more
• Protein By Dry Matter Basis: 43.18%
• No Prescription needed

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But perfect for my Maine Coon may not be perfect for yours. So in this post, we talk about the various top picks for wet and dry Maine Coon cat foods. At the end is a buyer’s guide to make your own decision.

These are the products we review in this article (not all shown):

MOST POPULAR, BUDGET

Purina Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Collection

• Beef, Chicken, Turkey Flavors
• 50% min Protein By Dry Matter Basis
• No Prescription Required

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RUNNER UP WET

Feline Natural Wet Cat Food

• Beef, Chicken, Lamb, Venison, more Flavors
• 44.44% min Protein By Dry Matter Basis
• No Prescription Required

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BEST DRY FOOD

Dr. Elsey's Cleanprotein Formula

• Chicken, Salmon Flavors
• 63.64% min Protein By Dry Matter Basis
• No Prescription Required

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RUNNER UP DRY FOOD

Wysong Epigen 90

• Chicken Flavor
• 70.00% min Protein By Dry Matter Basis
• No Prescription Required

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FORMULATED FOR MAINE COONS

Royal Canin Maine Coon Cat Food

• Chicken Flavors
• 31.52% min Protein By Dry Matter Basis
• No Prescription Required

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BEST TREATS

Cat-Man-Doo Dried Bonito Flakes

• Fish Flavor
• 86.36% min Protein By Dry Matter Basis
• No Prescription Required

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Best Wet Cat Food for Maine Coons

8.6

ZIWI Peak Wet Cat Food

• 92% meat, organs, NZ green mussels
• Free of fillers, carbs, preservatives, gums
• Flavors: Lamb, Beef, Venison, Chicken, Mackerel, & more
• Protein By Dry Matter Basis: 43.18%
• No Prescription needed

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ZIWI Peak is likely the best canned cat food on the market today, with an ultra high-protein content from 92% meat, organs, and mussels.

The protein mix is great because in the wild, cats eat the entire animal, organs and all. Organs are incredibly nutrient dense and species-specific ingredient, I just love it.

ZIWI Peak also completely skips sugar, artificial preservatives, gums, and BPA. And you won’t find fillers like wheat and grains, potatoes, rice, soy, and rendered meals.

This is the type of natural cat food your Maine Coon would get from catching perfect prey in nature!

You feel good that all meats and seafoods used in this formula are 100-percent ethically and sustainably resourced from free-range farms and wild waters in New Zealand.

The meats and seafoods also have no like antibiotics or artificial hormones.

I also love about this cat food contains tripe and New Zealand green mussels to deliver chondroitin and glucosamine. These are both powerhouses for joint health.

That’s important because Maine Coons may be at bigger risk for hip issues as she ages, due to genetics. And of course, users also say their Maine Coons just eat this right up!

Rating Breakdown:

What We Liked:

• 92% species-specific protein mix
• Free of fillers, carbs, preservatives, gums
• Ethically and sustainably sourced
• Super clean high quality ingredients

What We Didn’t Like:

• Price

Most Popular & Best Budget Maine Coon Cat Food

9.4

Purina Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Collection

• Beef, Chicken, Turkey Flavors
• 50% min Protein By Dry Matter Basis
• No Prescription Required

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It’s really important for me to put a mainstream cheap cat food option on this list because not everyone is in a position to splurge on high-end stuff.

There are good “everyday upscale” options that offer your cat 100% complete and balanced nutrition, as recommended by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).

Purina Fancy Feast is one of those brands.

This Fancy Feast grain-free variety offers high protein, complete and balanced nutrition for any cat in a multitude of flavors. One real downside of some expensive, boutique brands is a lack of variety.

Coupled with a cat’s tendency towards finicky eating, it can be a struggle finding food she will eat. Get a Fancy Feast variety pack and you don’t worry about that.

There are more by-products in this food than I’d like. But I cannot that deny that globally, cats really flip for the rich scent and soft texture of this cat food.

Plus, the 24,000 reviews by happy owners and cats speak for themselves

The brand’s success speak for itself – and the tens of thousands of satisfied buyers.

Rating Breakdown:

What We Liked:

• Affordability & mainstream availability
• Variety
• AAFCO-approved complete and balanced nutrition
• Grain-free
• Soft texture is great for older cats with tooth or jaw problems

What We Didn’t Like:

• Meat by-products
• Gums

Runner Up Wet Food for Maine Coon Cats

8.6

Feline Natural Wet Cat Food

• Beef, Chicken, Lamb, Venison, more Flavors
• 44.44% min Protein By Dry Matter Basis
• No Prescription Required

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Feline Natural is another top-tier wet food with 98% protein in the form of meats, organs, and ground bones. Ingredients are sourced from grass-fed, free-range meats and cage-free chickens.

Some great ingredients to call out are lamb heart, kidney, liver, and blood. And just like our top pick, this brand also includes New Zealand mussels for overall joint health.

This is a superb low-carb, grain-free cat food option, with no fillers like legumes, plant protein, starches or gums, rice, wheat, or potatoes. This makes it a good fit for diabetic cats!

Feline Natural is also free of fillers, binders and BPA. And amazingly, the only “gelling agent” used to keep this food together is pure, fresh water from New Zealand.

One thing to note – a few users said that the flavor and texture is not for all cats, and bone shards mixed up in the foods sometimes were too much.

Rating Breakdown:

What We Liked:

• 98% species-specific protein mix
• Free of fillers, carbs, preservatives, gums
• Ethically and sustainably sourced
• Super clean high quality ingredients

What We Didn’t Like:

• Price
• Not all cats appreciate taste and bone

Also Great Wet Maine Coon Cat Food

8.6

Taste of the Wild

• Much more affordable than comparable “premium” options
• Grain-free
• High protein
• Fatty acids for skin and coat

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Maybe you are not into super-premium boutique wet cat foods. It’s quite alright since there are a number of quality commercial store-bought brands!

Made-in-the-USA Taste of the Wild is one of those. Their wet food has a high protein content, with real trout or salmon as the first ingredient, then liver, animal broth, or whitefish as the next few.

Their vitamin and mineral mix is on the ball, with taurine and vitamins A, B, D, E, and K.

Additionally, it contains no:

• wheat
• grain
• corn
• rice
• by-products

The ingredient list does includes some blueberries, raspberries and vegetables for fiber and that act as minor filler. Although not ideal, I imagine it’s like the contents of an eaten animal’s stomach to your cat.

One thing that made me want to call out is that Taste of the Wild’s formula is heavy on omega fatty acids that are ideal for skin and coat.

As a Maine Coon owner, it should be important for you because their luscious coat requires those nutrients.

Rating Breakdown:

What We Liked:

• Much more affordable than comparable “premium” options
• Grain-free
• High protein
• Fatty acids for skin and coat

What We Didn’t Like:

• Fruits and veggie filler

Best Dry Cat Food for Maine Coons

8.6

Dr. Elsey's Cleanprotein Formula

• Chicken, Salmon Flavors
• 63.64% min Protein By Dry Matter Basis
• No Prescription Required

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Dr. Elsey’s is one of the best dry cat foods out there. It boasts a clean and simple ingredient list, is extremely high protein, and the protein used is almost entirely (90%) from real animals.

Here are the first 5 ingredients (which indicate a lot about the food):

Chicken, dried egg product, pork protein concentrate, gelatin, chicken fat

Real meat and fat to start is a great sign. And the breakdown by dry weight is 63.45% protein, 19.88% fat, and only 6.8% carbs. Altogether wonderful ratios that mimic a natural wild diet and either the chicken or salmon flavors will be something your Maine Coon will love to eat.

And basically, the rest of the ingredients are vitamins, minerals, and real seasons like salt and rosemary.

These tasty crunchies also happen to be 100% grain-free and gluten-free. They’re also full of omega-3 fatty acids that are important for skin and coat health. Also no gums as binders, since Dr Elsey’s uses real gelatin!

If the price is higher than what you are currently paying for kibble, realize this Dr Elsey’s is about 150% of the protein of most other commercial brands.

This means you feed less, and your cat stays satiated for longer! All the while avoiding the garbage filler Kitty has no use for.

Rating Breakdown:

What We Liked:

• Super high protein
• Clean, high-quality ingredients
• No fillers, wheat, gluten, artificial binders
• Omega 3 fatty acids

What We Didn’t Like:

• Price
• Not to all cat’s liking

Runner Up Dry Food for Maine Coons

9

Wysong Epigen 90

• Chicken Flavor
• 70.00% min Protein By Dry Matter Basis
• No Prescription Required

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If your Maine Coon does not take to our top pick Dr Elsey’s, give Wysong Epigen 90 a try. This food is unique because it’s appropriate for both cats and dogs.

But don’t let that lower your opinion of it. This dry food is a powerhouse in real animal protein content (just like our top pick) with a blend of fat to fuel your cat the natural way.

The top 5 ingredients:

Chicken Meal, Organic Chicken, Meat Protein Isolate, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Gelatin

At 63% (!) protein and 16% fat dry weight, along with vitamins, minerals, probiotics, prebiotics, plant-based nutrients, antioxidants, and superfoods, Wysong Epigen 90 is an ultra complete and very nutrient dense dry food.

And of course, as one of our best picks, this food does not contain grains, carbs, starches, fruits or veggies, random fillers, by-products, or any other undesirable ingredient.

This is another great pick if your Maine Coon is diabetic too, because of its high protein and its starch-free, grain free nature.

A key thing to note: some owners complain this food gives their cat digestive and litter box issues. Most likely, their cat’s systems are not used to a such a high-protein food.

A cat’s stomach is sensitive and any dramatic change can be upsetting, even with wet food. Take slow steps in the transition by mixing this brand in with their regular brand over a period of time,

Rating Breakdown:

What We Liked:

• Super high protein
• Clean, high-quality ingredients
• No fillers, wheat, gluten, starches
• Omega 3 fatty acids
• Wide array of added vitamins, minerals, and other supplements

What We Didn’t Like:

• Price
• Lack of flavor variety
• May require adjustment period

Royal Canin Maine Coon Cat Food

9.6

Royal Canin Maine Coon Cat Food

• Chicken Flavors
• 31.52% min Protein By Dry Matter Basis
• No Prescription Required

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A list of cat food for Maine Coons is not complete without this well known brand that bears their namesake! Royal Canin’s Maine Coon dry food formulation is a popular and tasty alternative to my above best picks.

This food contains ingredients that cater to your Maine Coon’s distinct needs, like their long coat, big bones, and heart health. See my full review of Royal Canin’s Maine Coon Adult dry food

Rating Breakdown:

Royal Canin Maine Coon Kitten Food

9

Royal Canin Maine Coon Breed Dry Kitten Food, 3 lb bag

• Formulated For Purebred Maine Coon Cats
• Specialized Kibble
• Bone And Joint 
• Healthy Digestion
• Immune Support

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Of course, we can’t forget about their kitten formulation. Royal Canin’s Maine Coon Kitten Food is chock full of protein to help your little tiger roar.

It ensures strong bones and muscles, and has ingredients that support a healthy coat while growing. See my full review of Royal Canin’s Maine Coon Kitten dry food.

Rating Breakdown:

Best Maine Coon Treats

9

Cat-Man-Doo Dried Bonito Flakes

• Fish Flavor
• 86.36% min Protein By Dry Matter Basis
• No Prescription Required

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I did not forget about the treats for your Maine Coon! Cat-Man-Doo Dried Bonito Flakes is the best stuff I’ve found.

Who says delicious can’t be nutritious too? We all know the how important a good cat treat is, either for rewards, training, or just for any reason.

So instead of the ever popular Temptations Cat Treats with by-product meal, corn, rice and wheat, reach for human grade, single ingredient minimally processed, and high protein dried bonito fish instead.

With 76% protein and 3% fat, Cat-Man-Doo Dried Bonito Flakes is totally biologically appropriate for your Maine Coon. Natural fish oils keep her long coat lush and reduce hairballs.

Reviewers call this high quality stuff “kitty crack,” and with no chemicals, preservatives, or artificial flavors you can feel great about giving it too

Rating Breakdown:

What To Look For In Maine Coon Cat Food

So what do Maine Coons eat? To start, they are obligate carnivores, meaning their diet must contain a good amount of animal protein for optimal health.

Your Maine Coon is a relative of tigers, lions, jaguars, and the like, so ensure your little killer gets their protein!

According to the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) cat food nutrient profiles, a well balanced food contains at least 20% protein and 9% fat. Plus the following:

• fatty acids like Omega 3’s and Omega 6’s
• amino acids like Taurine
• various vitamins and minerals

The AAFCO label on a product means it is nutritionally balanced, but is not the ultimate mark of quality. Most popular commercial foods on the market have this label.

Do Maine Coons Require Special Diets?

Maine Coons are unlike most cat breeds, and more akin to small dogs. For example, taking a Maine Coon walking outside or playing fetch is not unusual.

A loyal, true companion of a cat breed, I find myself “talking” to my Blue Smoke girl often! So a natural question is whether or not they require breed-specific cat food.

While it’s true that Maine Coons differ in personality and size from most other breeds, they don’t actually require a special food. All domestic cats have the same essential nutritional needs.

Quality cat food is quality cat food. Buy good brands and read ingredient lists to make sure that the right nutrients are there to support the large size, thick coat and active nature of this breed.

What’s the Food Requirement for Maine Coon Kittens?

Majestic and large, the Maine Coon takes much longer to reach full size than other breeds. You can think of them as slow-growing giants! Maine Coon kittens, like all kittens, require specific kitten formula food and not adult cat food.

While most cats are ready to make the switch from kitten food to adult food after their first birthday, Maine Coons should typically be left “at the kid table” until at least 18 months because that’s when they reach maturity.

This is where I’ll say you should definitely ask your vet about making a timeline for switching from kitten to adult cat food.

How Much Should I Feed My Maine Coon Kitten?

Feed your Maine Coon kitten as much as he or she would like to eat, provided they are scampering around playing all day. Kittens expend so much energy that it is okay to free feed them.

Growth periods are not the time to withhold calories. Unless a cat shows weight problems, you don’t need to measure exactly.

You can leave out a bowl of dry food for grazing purposes all day. Supplement that with few times a day wet food in the morning and early evening. You’re set!

What’s the Best Cat Food for Maine Coon Kittens?

Any of the choices above make great wet and dry choices for Maine Coon kittens. Kittens do not necessarily have different nutrient requirements – the main thing is enough good clean protein to support their growing bodies.

But if you feel like feeding your kitten a dry food something tailored to them, check out my full review on Royal Canin’s Maine Coon Kitten Food linked above.

How Long to Feed a Maine Coon Kitten Food?

As mentioned earlier, my Moon Coon kitten will take three to five years to reach adulthood. Therefore, you’ll need to continue feeding her kitten food for the first fifteen months.

Is Your Maine Coon Kitten Eating A Lot?

Yes, this is a good thing! Maine Coon kitten will require lots of calories per day to attain her full size. For this reason, she will need to eat lots of food per day.

Ideally, you should feed her three to four portions per day and decrease this to two portions after ten months.

Wet or Dry Food?

A proper diet for Maine Coons have a combination of wet cat food and dry cat food. Vets seem to back this up.

“Adding canned food to dry food is another way to increase the moisture content and enhance the flavor of the meal, while allowing you the flexibility of buying different types of food that fit your budget,”

Dr. Ashley Gallagher

Dr. Gallagher also adds that combinations of textures and aromas actually help to get a pet’s appetite going! I can confirm that this is true with my Maine Coon.

• With dry food, your cat is getting a great way to use her teeth that also happens to be very easy for you to prepare.
• With wet food, you’re giving your cat a nice dose of moisture that’s really helpful for hydration and kidney function. This more important as your cat gets older!

Don’t forget adding things like extra yummy food toppers or broth to meals to add interest – all cats, including Maine Coons, can be picky eaters.

What To Avoid in Maine Coon Cat Food

A “complex” ingredient list in Maine Coon food doesn’t mean much when you’re reading cat-food labels. That’s because many brands want to impress by adding things like:

• unreadable chemicals
• excessive grains and wheat
• rice and corn
• fiber and potatoes

However, many of those ingredients amount to filler. Because while they are healthy to humans, cats have no use for them.

Vets agree. According to Dr. Lisa M. Freeman at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University:

“Manufacturers include ingredients that will appeal to pet owners but probably don’t provide any nutritional benefit to the pet, such as artichokes, kale, and blueberries,”

Cats basically have been on the Keto diet for the past thousands of years!

• Watch out for chemical preservatives like butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), possible carcinogens, yet widely used in pet foods.

• Beware of excess carbs. Like in humans, they can cause diarrhea or even diabetes.

• If you have an older or diabetic cat, look for a grain-free option. I cover wheat-free, grain-free options in my reviews of the best cat food for Maine Coons.

• Keep an eye on the “by-products.” The fact of the matter is that by-products do often infuse lots of nutrition into cat food recipes. While there’s technically nothing wrong with cat food that contains by-products, they alone do not constitute quality food.

What About Maine Coon Food Allergies?

Like humans, Maine Coons have food allergies too. Food allergies develop after too much exposure to one ingredient, or if an ingredient simply does not agree with their system.

A Maine Coon’s immune system is unique, so they can be allergic to any ingredient. It’s not just the obvious things like chemicals, artificial flavors, or preservatives.

Sometimes the offending item is a certain type of protein, wheat, or even eggs. Not all food allergies are acute and instant, many times the accumulation of the item causes subtle but troublesome symptoms

That’s why in my above best foods for Maine Coons list, I point out whether or not that product contains or does not contain certain allergens.

Considerations of Feeding Raw Food to Maine Coons

A diet of raw food for your Maine Coon sounds logical. Emulate nature and the cat will thrive.

Eating what a cat would naturally (a freshly killed animal, like a rat) is best for their health. Eating this way avoids the artificial chemicals and highly processed by-products in modern cat food.

For me, it sounds idealistic and not practical. Consider that cats will eat a whole animal, bones, blood, and all. Personally, I cannot source all of this consistently and prepare it so it’s clean and appetizing.

Quality commercial cat food has a proper nutrient proportions of proteins, fats, and little carbs. You can even purchase raw food blends!

If you decide to feed her on a raw food diet, be sure to understand the below:

•  Ensure the food has no pathogens (avoid processed meats)
•  Supplement her diet with minerals and vitamins
• Learn the dangers that come with feeding her on such a diet

How Much Should You Feed a Maine Coon Cat?

An average Maine Coon cat weighs between 13-18lbs. Their large size means it needs a proper diet offered in the correct amounts for it to thrive. Below are the breakdowns:

• Calories: 350 – 600 (two to three cups of dry food)
• Per Pound of Body Weight: a 15lb Maine Coon cat needs around 450 calories per day

Life Stages

• Kittens: 90 calories per pound
• Adults: 60 calories per pound
• Seniors: 24 to 35 calories a day per pound
• Vs Normal Cats: Maine Coon cats tend to eat more than ‘normal’ cat breeds due to their large physique. On average, the Maine Coon Cat weighs between 8-25 pounds, meaning it needs to eat between 190-875 calories per day.

Besides size and weight, the above has a lot of other variance based on:

• Type of food
• Level of activity
• Their age

Remember that less energetic and older cats will require less food as they don’t have many calories to burn. On the other hand, growing or much younger Maine Coon cats will need more food.

How Many Times A Day Should You Feed a Maine Coon Cat?

If there’s anything I have learned, it’s that the dietary needs will change as it grows. Thus, the primary question here is, how much should I feed my Maine Coon cat during different growth stages.

Adult

Normal cats take one to two years to become fully grown. My Maine Coon cat, on the other hand, can take three to five years to attain adulthood.

You’ll need to lower her daily intake at this stage as she no longer needs the extra calories. An adult Maine Coon cat will need around 3 ounces of dry food and 9 ounces of wet food.

Senior

A Maine Coon cat becomes a senior after attaining eight years. At this point, you should consider consulting with your vet to determine whether to switch to senior cat food.

My Maine Coon cat will need less food as she has become less active due to aging. Please note that this age also makes her more prone to being overweight.

Are Maine Coon Cats Picky Eaters?

So are Maine Coon picky or finicky with food? The answer is yes, just like all cats can be. But why are cat picky eaters? After all, they eat pests, vermin, insects, and yet refuse to eat a canned food we lovingly bought that has a cute label?

Recent studies have shown that cats are able to tell the macronutrient breakdown of foods (carb, proteins, fats) by eating or smelling it.

Cats are also obligate carnivores, meaning they must get get at like 50% or more of their calories from protein. Is the cat food you’re feeding full of quality protein?

And remember that your Maine Coon does not view food the way we do. They do not need variety. Cats, and especially Maine Coons, love routine and stability. So once you find a brand or flavor they love, stick to it until they turn their nose up at it.

You may need to try a few different cat foods for your Maine Coon before you discover one your cat loves since they can be choosy about smell, taste, even texture of foods.

Another thing to keep in mind is that in the wild, cats do not follow a breakfast, lunch, dinner schedule. They will hunt and eat randomly, or whenever the opportunity comes.

So your 7PM dinner may have no meaning to Fluffy.

Why is My Maine Coon Always Hungry?

You may find that your Maine Coon buddy is always hungry. It can be endearing to feed them, but can be frustrating for parents trying to keep their cats at a healthy weight.

The good news is that there are several common reasons why your feline friend may constantly be trying to eat.

Low-Quality Filler Food

Low-quality filler food can make your Maine Coon cat feel hungry because it doesn’t keep them satisfied for long. If you give your cat only carbohydrate filled dry kibble, and no high quality wet food, try adding a high protein wet food or a bit of nutrient-rich raw diet.

Growing Kitten

Kittens grow very quickly, so they need to eat more frequently than adult cats. It is normal for kittens to eat up to five times a day and often start doing this as early as three weeks old.

As they get bigger, they will start eating less often, but they will continue to eat more than an adult cat.

However, health issues like diabetes, pancreatic disease, bowel problems and parasites could also be to blame. If your cat seems abnormally hungry constantly, a trip to the vet is in order!

What Do Maine Coons Eat?

I alluded above that if you make sure that your pet is receiving the right amount of the correct nutrients, feeding a Maine Coon is not much different than feeding other cats. They all require the same essentials:

Protein

Unfortunately, they cannot produce this amino acid on their own, and so require meat in their diet to fill this need. A high protein diet is key for your Maine Coon, and their meals should contain at least 25-40% of protein daily.

Kittens need even more to help keep up with their rapid growth, with the targets being elevated to 30-50% of daily meals consisting of protein. Make sure the first ingredient listed is an animal protein.

Fat

Fatty acids will help to keep your Maine Coon’s coat shiny and healthy, so look for fatty acids like omega-3, taurine, and arginine on the ingredient list. However, other fats should be served in moderation, so keep the fat content to less than 20% of your cats’ meals.

Carbohydrates

Low carb isn’t just a catch phrase for human diets, it is also a valid consideration for the Maine Coon eating habits. Many cat owners have seen a high carbohydrate diet result in gastrointestinal issues, obesity or allergies for their pets.

For a Maine Coon, the lack of nutrients in a high-carb diet could result in them overeating or gorging, since their bodies will still be telling them that they need to eat more to get the nutrients they need to survive.

Poor quality food will often contain a high ratio of carbohydrates to act as cheap filler. Try to keep your cat consuming just 10% of their caloric intake from carbohydrates.

Fiber

Fiber is often an important consideration for a human diet but is less necessary for your Maine Coon. It is more important that your Maine Coon eat higher levels of protein than fiber to keep their systems running smoothly.

If your cat is experiencing chronic hairballs, you should discuss possibly increasing fiber with your veterinarian. Otherwise, strive to keep the fiber content of your pets’ cat food at a maximum of 3.5%.

Do Maine Coons Need Special Food?

They do not need any special food types, just more food! Since Maine Coons are just big cats, their bodies can require a little more energy than normal cats. The foods they eat should follow the general guidelines below:

As Obligate Carnivores, High Protein is Required

As obligate carnivores, their food should be rich in protein. Ensure it is rich in animal proteins such as chicken, fish, and duck.

Some grain-based foods are also a rich supply of much-needed proteins. This helps them in both their growth and development and in maintaining good health.

An ideal ratio should comprise above 50% proteins, less than 20% fats, and not more than 3% low carbs.

Both Wet and Dry Food

The best cat food for Maine Coons is a varied diet, planned well. Feed them approximately 24 to 35 calories per pound of body weight daily.

They can weigh anywhere between 8 to 25 pounds; hence, they require approximately 190 to 875 calories daily. Give your average Maine Coon an average of 8 to 9 ounces of wet food every day plus an average of three ounces of dry food daily. (I gotta admit, I just free feed kibble!)

Treats

Of course treats are not required, but why wouldn’t you include some in moderation? 🙂 Just make sure that these are treats high in crucial protein.

Keep in mind that your cat should not be receiving more than 10% of their daily food from treats. Just like their main food, seek out healthy, quality treats for your cat that have an animal protein listed as the first ingredient.

Homemade and Human Food

You can also feed your Maine Coon cat homemade food such as cooked chicken. This, for instance, serves as a well-thought-out treat every so often.

Homemade cooked chicken is pure protein, a vital nutrient for the big cat. Maine Coons also can eat other “human” foods like salmon, eggs, liver, and the occasional fibrous vegetable!

Water

Above all, make sure that your cat has easy access to fresh water. Cats can easily become dehydrated, whether they have been playing all morning or just lounging in the hot sunshine.

Male cats in particular can be susceptible to painful urine crystals and urinary tract infections. Wet food can help provide additional moisture, but cannot be relied upon to provide your cat with the amount of water they need to survive and thrive.

Try to have several water sources readily available to your pet, so if something happens to one, they can still access another.

One of the special and unique traits of Maine Coons is that many of them are not averse to water, so consider incorporating running water or a water feature into their usual habitat.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Types of Food Should You Feed a Maine Coon?

Maine Coons are very energetic animals and need high-quality food with a lot of protein to maintain this activity level.

Dietitians advise feeding your Maine Coon a diet high in protein (at least 50% protein), low in fat (20% maximum fat content), and low in carbohydrates (between 0% – 3%).

Maine Coon cats should eat a portion of dry food to keep their teeth and jaws in tip-top shape. Wet cat food is also important. Wet food contains a high level of moisture, which is great as Maine Coons do not have a strong thirst drive.

Maine Coons also love to eat the occasional “human” food like salmon, eggs, cooked chicken, and even pumpkin.

How Much Should a Maine Coon Cat Eat?

Generally, Maine coon cats eat more than the average cat due to the large size of this breed. That often works out to be between 3 ounces of wet food/9 ounces of dry food daily.

The general guideline is that a cat needs between 24 to 35 calories a day per pound to maintain a healthy weight.

How much a cat should eat depends on their ideal weight. Determine this with help from a vet. They can tell you how many calories are needed daily to maintain a healthy weight. Don’t forget that kittens generally need more calories than adult cats.

Is Your Maine Coon is Not Eating Enough?

Your cat may not be eating enough for a variety of reasons that are not related to health. They could be:

• bored and uninterested
• not getting enough physical activity and thus not hungry
• fighting a hairball
• dealing with a sensitive stomach or other allergy
• anxious or affected by something environemental

And make sure you know what kind of food you’re giving your Maine Coon by reading labels. It could be that fantastic cat food with the cute branding is actually full of carbs and fillers!

But if you’re concerned about your cat’s appetite, it’s important to consult your veterinarian for an exam. Your vet can check for any underlying health issues or ensure your cat is eating enough of the right food for their age and activity level.

Gary H.

I’m Gary Hu, a proud cat dad to a 15 lb Maine Coon. Have taken care of outdoor and indoor cats for over 10 years, and learned tons on behavior, habits, health, and products. I help new Maine Coon (or any other cat) parents with common questions and issues based on real, practical experience.