When you’re considering adding a Maine Coon kitten to your family, please consider the size of some essential items. You need to consider larger sizes. They all need to be bigger.
Most products made for cats are typically designed with an average 5 to 10-pound cat in mind. That’s the size of a 4 month old Maine Coon kitten in some cases! You’ll be shocked when your kitten grows into a 3-foot-long, 25-pound panther and no longer fits in “regular” cat stuff.
This blog post will help you prepare your mind. It will also help you prepare your wallet for those extra-large items that your Maine Coon will eventually need.
1. XL Cat Tree or Tower
When I got my first Maine Coon, I bought a cool cat tree from Amazon. Within 9 months, my male kitten ran and dove on the tree frequently. It wobbled and knocked against the wall. Eventually, it crumbled to the ground.
That’s when I started looking for manufacturers of cat trees for big cats. Maine Coons need wide perches—aim for platforms at least 18″ x 18″. Bonus points if it has ramps instead of small ladders!
Here’s a blog post I did with reviews on the Top 3 Cat trees for Maine Coons.
2. Jumbo Litter Box
Will a Maine Coon fit in an ordinary litter box? Well, yes, but only for a few months. Then it will be time to upgrade to a bigger one. When choosing one, aim for one that is at least 24″ long.
There are so many options available now for litter boxes. From Stainless Steel pans to automatic litter robots, there’s one that your cat will certainly love to poop in.
3. Oversized Carrier
When a Sassy Koonz Maine Coon kitten goes home, it weighs in around 4 – 5 pounds. It fits nicely in a normal-sized travel carrier with a little extra space for stretching its legs. If an adult Maine Coon travels, however, you may run into challenges.
TSA states that the travel carrier must fit under the seat in front of you. That’s not happening with a 20-pound adult. You may have to make plans to drive a vehicle if your big kitties are going.
For vet visits and travel,a dog-sized hard-shell crate works well. Look for one made for 25–30 lb dogs with front and top-loading options. There’s also an XXL cat carrier made by Sturdi that fits my 32 pound male Maine Coon. My husband carries it for me, but at least the cat fits.
5. Extra-Large Cat Beds/ Loungers
I took a wicker basket intended to go at the end of the bed for throwing pillows. I converted it into an extra-large bed for my cats. It’s about 48 inches long and they absolutely love it. I just filled the basket with a big comfy fluffy blanket. I also put a pillow in there for them to rest their head.
Most cat beds are 15-16″ in circumference. A Maine Coon adult looks ridiculous trying to curl up and sleep in one of those. As with other products made for average cats, it’ll suffice while they’re kittens but they will soon outgrow it.
6. Sturdy Scratching Posts
I’m a huge advocate about offering multiple scratching posts for your cats. Not only you do need scratching posts in multiple spots throughout your home, you also need vertical and horizontal scratchers.
Part of your cats instinct and natural habit is to scratch their claws on things. It reduces stress and allows them to shed their nails in a natural way. So if you’re not offering them a dedicated place to do that, they’ll most certainly use your furniture as an outlet.
Choose a tall (36”+) sisal-covered post with a wide, heavy base for your vertical. A cardboard lounger is also a crowd favorite with my kitties. In fact, I’ve never met a cat that didn’t love them!
7. Elevated Feeding and Watering Station
Maine Coons grow and amture to be much larger than the “normal” cat. This means that they might have to stretch their nicks way down to get to their food and water bowls. This could cause digestion issues or even a “scarf and barf” episode.
I use elevated bowls made for large dogs for my Maine Coons. It puts their food and water at perfect heights. They can just approach the bowls. They do not have to lean way down.
8. Durable Grooming Tools
Maine Coons have thick, long coats. A slicker brush, wide-tooth metal comb, and de-shedding tool (like the XL FURminator) are essential.
10. Heavy-Duty Toys
I can’t begin to tell you the number of cat toy I’ve been through with my Maine Coons. Some of them are long-lasting and durable. Most get destroyed within seconds.
Maine Coons are strong! Avoid cheap toys that tear apart. Go for dog-grade plush toys, heavy-duty wand toys, and sturdy puzzle feeders.
11. Larger Window Perch or Hammock
My spirit animal, Chichi, loves to lounge and lay in the window. She has window hammocks and chairs all over the house in front of windows. She’s a pretty hefty female, weighing in at 15.5 pounds. I need to make sure that anything attached to a window frame is sturdy. It must be strong enough to hold her when she gets in it.
I have one in the window upstairs and it creaks when she’s getting in it. It’s funny to watch her creep real slow into the window seat. She doesn’t trust it either. but so far, so good.
I did purchase a cat bed that goes on my desk. She also likes to hang out there while I’m working. Even though she gets in it, they’re NOT suitable for a Maine Coon. She barely fits in it, and when she does it’s sagging so far. It looks like it could snap off at any moment.
12. Maine Coon-Sized Cat Door
My male Maine Coons live in their own bachelor pad. If you’re wondering why, try adding a couple of intact males into your home. They will spray in your home for a week or so. Anyway, they also have an outdoor enclosure. An extra large cat door allows them to go from the inside (where its heated and cooled).
While they were kittens, the “regular” sized cat flap was fine. But as they matured and became large,they couldn’t fit through the door anymore! I had to replace it with one that’s made for an extra large cat or even a dog. Now they can come and go as they wish without squeezing through a tiny hole.
If you have a pet door, double-check the measurements. You might need a dog door instead of a traditional cat one!
