RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOUR PET CATS
*Each photo has a link attached if you click on the photo*
DENTAL TREATS
Up to 90% of cats have some form of dental disease by the age of four years old. Prevention is KEY to ensure a long, happy, painless life for your family member. Dental treats help, but a cat toothbrush and toothpaste is the most effective form of prevention.
QUALITY WET CAT FOOD
Wet food is CRUCIAL for a pet cat's health. Most cats experience chronic dehydration due to eating mostly dry kibble. A 100% wet or nutritionally balanced raw diet is best, but at the very least two cans of wet a day should be given. My favorite cat food is Tiki Cat, and is what my cats eat with Simply Nourish wet food mixed in. If possible, avoid low end brands like Friskies, Fancy Feast, Meow Mix Etc.
WATER FOUNTAIN
In addition to wet cat food, water fountains are a great help for cat hydration. Fountains encourage more drinking because it is filtered and MOVING water vs a stagnant water dish. Plastic harbors a lot of bacteria so a stainless steel or ceramic fountain is recommended. Be sure to wash the fountains a few times a week.
WIDE TOOTH METAL COMB
Grooming is essential for long haired cats, and specifically Maine Coons. I recommend acclimating your kittens to grooming tools as soon as you get home. Don't let them play with the tools, as that will make grooming a difficult task when they get bigger. Slicker brushes and wide tooth combs are the two tools I recommend. Slicker brushes are good for making the coat look nice and smooth, and wide tooth metal combs make sure to get down to the skin to prevent matting and get out tangles. Matting can be extremely painful to cats, and once they hit a certain point the only option is to shave the cat. Prevention is key, as these cats really need regular grooming to stop matting.
CAT TOOTHBRUSH AND ENZYMATIC TOOTHPASTE
As stated above, preventative dental care in cats is just as important as it is in human beings. Dental disease (as well as improper hydration) is one of the main causes of FKD, so it's nothing to joke around with. Make sure to slowly acclimate your kitten to the toothbrush. You don't want to accidentally make them hate it by rushing things, take your time to do it right. You can learn the proper and most effective method of toothbrush training here.
CAT TREE
Cats love having lots of vertical space to explore. Cat climbing shelves and tall cat trees are a great addition to any home with cats. Petco and Chewy cat trees are usually awesome quality and your cats will thank you!
RAW OR FREEZE DRIED RAW CAT FOOD
My favorite thing to feed cats is definitely a raw diet. I notice that they get so much more excited about their food, their poop and pee smell almost completely goes away, and they are much more alert and active on raw. I work with two cat nutritionists to be able to make my own nutritionally balanced meals at home, but there are premade options as well that make it easy! I use to strictly feed Darwin's Raw Cat Food before making my own. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO MAKE YOUR OWN AT HOME WITHOUT HELP FROM A NUTRITIONIST. You WILL cause vitamin deficiencies by doing it without making sure it is complete and balanced. Raw Fed & Nerdy is a great facebook group to join if you want to learn about raw diets (pre-made or homemade), and their website provides recipe's formulated by licensed cat nutritionists. I know not everyone wants to do raw, but if it is something you are interested in I would 100% recommend looking into it!
TUNNELS
Cats love to hang out in, sleep in, and ZOOM through cat tunnels.
LARGE LITTER BOX
Cats do not like to go into a dirty litter box, and with large cats like Maine Coons comes large waste. Be sure to get a litter box that is appropriately sized for your cat to prevent unwanted accidents and poor litter habits. The bigger the better.
JOINT SUPPLEMENTS
Similarly to large dog breeds, Maine Coons can be more prone to joint disorders such as hip dysplasia. Prevention and management are always great steps to take with large breed animals. Glucosamine supplements can be started as soon as you take your kitten home.
