Food for Maine Coon: how to regulate
Food for Maine Coon: how to regulate
Anonim

With proper diet, a Maine Coon can live healthy and happy for several years. But to keep him in these conditions it is necessary to follow the instructions made especially for him, without being too influenced by the size of this magnificent cat. In this article we will explain precisely how to regulate for feeding a Maine Coon, and why it is important to make such a distinction.

maine coon eats
maine coon eats

Like many breeds, the Maine Coon is predisposed to some genetic diseases; an inadequate diet could not only accelerate their onset but also worsen their symptoms. For example, a diet very rich in carbohydrates in a Maine Coon suffering from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can cause complications because it favors the sedimentation of fluids.

Furthermore, contrary to what happens for most cats, those of this breed employ 3 to 5 years to complete the growth and officially enter adulthood. Some owners, aware of this and of the fact that they are already large, think that the solution is to give them a lot of food.

But this is a mistake: very often this contributes to causing obesity in the animal and the many complications that it entails, including diabetes.

maine coon
maine coon

How to plan then the right diet for our Maine Coon in order to avoid all these problems? It must take into account several factors.

First of all the nutritional needs of each cat, which is based on animal proteins and fats; in the specific case of the Maine Coon, a puppy meal should be made up of 30-45% protein, and that for adults at 25-40%.

THE fat they are not automatically a bad idea: they are in fact an important source of energy and allow the absorption of some vitamins and other nutrients. Despite these benefits, however, we must avoid exceeding in order not to contribute to the onset of some disorders to which the Maine Coon is particularly exposed.

maine coon mouth wide open
maine coon mouth wide open

Another aspect concerns the chewing: Maine Coons are descended from generations of wild cats used to hunting; they have broad jaws that require exercise to keep themselves strong. A diet based on dry food it requires more vigorous chewing and helps strengthen the jaw and sharpen the teeth. Dry food also helps prevent residues from remaining between the teeth, which could be damaged in the long run.

These directions and related portions go anyway adapted according to specific characteristics of your pet. Maine Coons tend to be very active for most of their lives and engage in a lot of physical activity, especially outdoors. This is always good, but if yours really doesn't want to exercise, you should change the amount of food you give him to keep him from gaining weight.

The health state it is another decisive factor, and we are not just talking about any predispositions or diseases already underway. For example, the pregnancy of a cat requires a further modification to the standard diet.

maine coon sleeps near food
maine coon sleeps near food

To vary the diet, without unbalancing the nutritional intake of each meal too much, is also a good way to entice the cat to feed and avoid getting tired of eating the same things every day.

In any case, never underestimate the importance of consulting the veterinarian when making choices of this type, which affect the animal for its entire life. An expert can warn you of risks of allergies or infections that are risky for your cat and will surely be able to help you reduce the risk of health problems, keeping your Maine Coon happy and healthy.

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