Maine Coon Guidelines

This beauty is difficult to confuse with any other breed - long hair, slanting eyes and elongated ears do not allow Maine Coon to be considered an ordinary cat. Such obvious differences of some cat-catchers lead to a dead end - you never know, suddenly such a miracle of nature requires a slightly different care than ordinary domestic mustachioed tetrapods. In order to dispel all doubts, we briefly go through all the features of caring for such an animal.

Such a pet has not in vain become very popular in recent decades around the world - it is not only beautiful, but also has a pleasant character. Obedience and kindness - these are the main characteristics that any Maine Coon meets, and such a cat is also very calm and reasonable. An animal, unlike most of its relatives, is unlikely to spoil the household furniture, will not make noise in the middle of the night, and will not crawl into a place from which it will not be able to descend on its own. Consequently, Maine Coon does not give reasons to be offended, and therefore the owner will not offend him.

Any hostility is completely uncharacteristic for this breed, its representatives are kind, like dogs. This, incidentally, applies not only to humans, but also to other animals. These animals love the owner, and therefore often try to be closer to him, although they don’t really get into the soul. A loyal predator also lends itself well to training, which additionally resembles dogs.

Proper nutrition of the pet is the main guarantee of its good health.At the same time, Maine Coons have some features that are only incidentally related to feeding, which also need to be taken into account.

For example, in the wild, the ancestors of the Maine Coon always cleaned the surface of the water from debris before drinking. It is unlikely that there will be fallen leaves and branches in the drinker, but the reflex has not disappeared - the beast will still carry a paw in it. So that an eternal puddle does not take shape around the drinker, listen to the advice: either choose a heavy model, or securely fasten the drinker. And also do not place the drinker near the food - water splashing can sometimes ruin the food.

Of the dry foods for Maine Coons, only the premium class is suitable - it has everything you need for your pet, but canned foods can only act as a bonus. If you decide to feed the cat with natural products, the emphasis should be on meat and sour-milk products, as well as cereal cereals and vegetables, while vitamins must be separately added to the diet.

In general, a pet can be fed almost all of the above products, but there are some undesirable types of food. To begin with, sugar, salt and any other spices are completely unnecessary things on the cat's menu. In addition, even the bird bones cannot overpower the beast, or they simply will not do him any good. Fatty meat like pork, goose and ducklings are not given to Maine Coons, as are most processed meat products - smoked meats, sausages and so on. Chocolate will also be harmful (due to the presence of sugar), as well as legumes and even potatoes.

A cat needs greenery, but dusty vegetation from the street can do more harm than good. Plant some wheat and oats at home, and let the cat feast on the seedlings at will.

Individual cats also have an allergy to certain products, if this is noted, remove the allergen from the diet. Do not feed the animal cold or hot food - it should be at average room temperature. For babies, pre-grind food.

In general, representatives of this breed are not too demanding to care at home, but if you want the pet to always remain as healthy and beautiful as possible, you will have to keep it at least in the least order. The necessary procedures are not so complicated, but you need to get used to the fact that the correct maintenance of the animal requires their strict regularity.

Maine coons are good in that they have practically no problems with plaque, but all the same, the babies' oral cavity must be examined at least twice a month. Any violation of the correct shape of the teeth is an occasion to contact a veterinary clinic so that specialists correct the bite. To prevent such problems, feed the kitten with dry food and buy him special toys so that he can nibble them. The pet is unlikely to appreciate, but for its benefit it is necessary to brush his teeth daily with a soft brush with a specially manufactured paste.

The cat cannot rub its eyes on its own, so dirt and mucus can accumulate in their corners. This is not a sign of illness yet, but such accumulations can become their cause, therefore you should periodically remove them - for this, use a cotton swab that is dipped in weak tea

Like a person, maine coon can accumulate sulfur in their ears, so the auricle must be periodically examined and cleaned with cotton pads - this is less unpleasant for a cat than sticks. The accessory is pre-moistened with special drops, which are sold in veterinary pharmacies - they are also useful for combating ear mites.

Too long claws cause the animal inconvenience, because you either take care and look for a solution, or you will encounter problems with the integrity of the furniture. A scabby claw or a special claw pillow are useful things, but they do not eliminate the need to shorten excessively long claws. Removal is done with special rounded scissors, while the pigmented claws are removed carefully, cutting only the edges.

The long hairline of cats of this breed requires constant care. Some owners use two to three different combs with different tooth lengths and densities for better combing. The wool removal is first carried out with a less dense device, this allows you to collect the bulk of the hair without getting stuck in the total mass, after which the procedure is repeated with a comb with more frequent teeth to collect the remains. If the strands are too thick, you can separate them with partings, while it is not recommended to touch the areas of the tail, neck and hind legs.

You should try to unravel the lumps of wool and comb out all the excess, if this does not work out - just carefully cut the knot. At the same time, one should not be too fond of combing out - they will give a useful effect only if they are carried out no more than once every four to five days.

In addition, the predator is very clean, but just licking it will not be enough. In order not to severely injure the animal with an unpleasant procedure, bathing is carried out no more than once every two to three weeks - it is good not only in terms of hygiene, but also has a beneficial effect on the growth of wool. In veterinary pharmacies you can buy special cat shampoos and bath gels.

They bathe the beast 4 hours after eating. You do not need to rub your pet - just confuse the thick coat in vain. The optimal washing scheme is to put in shallow water and rinse with a shower.

Maine Coon - the animal is quite "correct", but not all important responsibilities will be taken up by him immediately. It is not only and not so much about going to the toilet in the right place, but about the general rules of behavior in the apartment and the habit of not the most pleasant sanitary-hygienic ones like bathing or combing. All this is included in the concept of raising a pet.

The meaning of the above procedures for the cat is incomprehensible, and they themselves are unpleasant, so do not be surprised if a good-natured animal suddenly gives up resistance and even bites. The kid should be accustomed to procedures from childhood, ideally - when he is tired after the game, then he is more relaxed. Start with a short imitation of an unpleasant activity - for example, at first just turn on the hair dryer in the presence of the baby when he eats, so that he gets used to the sound, then bring it closer without aiming at the pet, even later direct a stream of air at the cat for literally seconds, and only at the end, gradually increase the duration.

It’s very easy to train Maine Coons, but you need to understand the behavior of these animals, since they naturally do not understand verbal commands. First of all, forget about any physical punishments such as hitting or even poking your nose - the beast will not understand why you are doing this, and just considers you not a very good person. Experts advise each time to punish the baby for misconduct, but using the “remote punishment” method, for example, by spraying him with a stream of water from a spray gun. This should be done immediately after the misconduct, then the pet will develop a negative association with the action for which he is punished, but he will not perceive you as the executor of the punishment.

Any training involves not only a whip, but also a carrot, and the emphasis should be placed on the latter. Each correct action performed by a cat should be rewarded with a favorite treat of the animal - this will help develop positive habits. With a competent approach, a representative of this breed can not only be accustomed to the tray, but also trained in many different tricks.

Accustoming to the tray, by the way, is quite simple, and does not take much time - the beast will quickly understand what's what. Typically, a kitten wants to go to the toilet immediately after eating - watch it and catch the moment when it starts to show concern, then immediately grab it and put it in the tray. Perhaps Maine-coon will not immediately understand what is happening and will want to run away, because the task of the trainer is not to let the beast go until he has completed all his work.

If the female mated and became pregnant, this can be determined after about 3 weeks, since cat's nipples noticeably increase and acquire a clearly noticeable pink hue. During pregnancy, the cat is contraindicated in contact with other animals, as they can pass it to a weakened body any dangerous infection. Various vaccinations, as well as deworming, are also prohibited.

In general, pregnancy lasts about 65 days, but, as in the case of a person, deviations from the norm are possible. Specialists note that kittens usually do not survive with gestation for less than 60 days. A typical complication of pregnancy is toxicosis.

If you are really worried about the health of your pet, about 15 days before giving birth, equip a convenient nest for her, lining it with clean rags. After two months, that is, a few days before giving birth, conduct continuous monitoring of the animal.

Ready to give birth to a cat begins to rush or looking for a secluded corner. Carefully lay the animal in the equipped nest and accept the birth. Please note that kittens are born in a bubble from a film that needs to be torn near the baby's mouth. Cut the umbilical cord at a distance of 2 cm from the calf, but do not tie it; instead, gently wipe the muzzle with a clean cloth and make sure that the animal breathes normally, and then leave it in the care of the mother.

Maine Coon female is ready for breeding at a fairly early age - sometimes starting from 8 months. Unsatisfied instinct makes the animal suffer, it can even get sick, in general, in this breed, the desire to reproduce is expressed by rolling on the floor and loud screams. With cats a little easier - they just mark the territory, which, however, is also unlikely to please the owners. If keeping a pet in your home does not involve any incidents, it is best to immediately take measures to allow the animal to forget about instinct.

With cats, the situation is a little simpler, since castration, that is, removal of testes, takes only 5-7 minutes, and does not even involve suturing. For a cat, the procedure can take various scales - it can be removed either by the uterus, or ovaries, or both at once, because of this, the duration of the operation can noticeably vary from 10 to 20 minutes. Since such an intervention is a priori more complicated, suturing is mandatory, after one and a half to two weeks you will need to look again at the veterinarian to remove them.

Maine Coons do not belong to the most painful breeds, and yet they are waited by a huge number of various dangers and ailments. They can hit almost any system of the cat's body - and the heart, and joints, and muscles, and the urinary system. Well-visible problems include bleeding gums and loose teeth, as well as disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.

As often happens, it is much easier to prevent the occurrence of disturbing symptoms than to eliminate them later. The last three reasons from the above mentioned are among the most common, they can be prevented both through the selection of the right, carefully balanced food, and regular brushing of cat's teeth. Worms that enter the cat’s body from outside are often to blame for digestive disorders, therefore, if such a problem is suspected, the animal should be offered anthelmintic from a veterinary pharmacy.

A common, but no less erroneous opinion is that in Maine Coon's apartment there is no risk of any infections - they can easily enter the room on the same sole of shoes. WITHTherefore, it is advisable to vaccinate any cat if you want it to be healthy. However, there are some situations where vaccination is not just very desirable, but a prerequisite - for example, without it the animal will not be allowed to participate in the exhibition and will not be allowed to live in a cat hotel. In addition, conscious owners usually refuse to bind their animals with an unvaccinated partner, and transporting such an individual is a very risky enterprise.

Unfortunately, according to the results of vaccination, Maine Coon does not gain eternal immunity, therefore, the procedure will have to be repeated many times in the future. The first episode happens with a kitten at the age of two months, the next - after only a month, then you need to be shown to the veterinarian every year to update the protection. Moreover, the whole process is not so fast - one and a half weeks before vaccination, the animal must undergo deworming.

The story of Maine Coon - in the next video.