What size cat tree do Maine Coons need?

Maine Coons need extra large, heavy-duty cat trees — standard cat trees are often too small and too flimsy for their size and energy. Look for cat trees that are at least 5 to 6 feet tall, with wide platforms of at least 12 by 12 inches, and a solid base that won't tip when they launch themselves at full speed. Weight capacity matters too — aim for at least 25 to 30 pounds to accommodate a fully grown Maine Coon.

What should I buy before bringing home a Maine Coon kitten?

Before your Maine Coon kitten arrives you should have: a stainless steel wide-tooth comb for grooming, an extra large litter box, high-quality kitten food, interactive toys for mental stimulation, a sturdy cat tree or climbing structure, and a comfortable oversized bed. Having everything set up before arrival helps your kitten settle in quickly and with less stress.

Do Maine Coons need special food bowls?

Yes — Maine Coons benefit from wide, shallow food bowls that don't press against their prominent whiskers. Whisker fatigue is a real issue for cats with long, sensitive whiskers like Maine Coons, and a cramped bowl can make eating uncomfortable and stressful. Stainless steel or ceramic wide bowls are ideal as they are easy to clean and don't harbor bacteria the way plastic does.

Do Maine Coons need a scratching post?

Absolutely — Maine Coons are powerful scratchers and will destroy furniture if they don't have a proper outlet. They need tall, heavy-duty scratching posts that allow them to fully extend their body while scratching — at least 30 to 32 inches tall. Sisal rope posts are the most durable. A scratcher lounger is also useful as it doubles as a resting spot and satisfies their horizontal scratching instinct.

How do you manage Maine Coon shedding around the house?

Maine Coons shed year-round with two heavier shedding seasons in spring and autumn. A good lint roller is non-negotiable. Washable furniture covers, a high-quality vacuum with a pet hair attachment, and a litter mat outside the litter box all help manage the fur and mess. Regular brushing — at least 2 to 3 times per week — is the single most effective way to reduce how much fur ends up around your home.

Maine Coon Kitten Essentials: Recommended Products

Q: What bedding do Maine Coons prefer?

Maine Coons prefer large, plush beds with raised edges or bolsters they can lean against — they love to feel enclosed and supported while they sleep. Given their size, look for beds at least 20 by 24 inches. Heated cat beds are particularly popular with Maine Coons in cooler climates. Many also love donut-style or cave beds, though their size can limit the options available.

Introduction to a Maine Coon Cat’s Needs

Your cute little Maine Coon kitten will grow quickly. It arrives at home weighing around 4 – 5 pounds. It will soon become a giant cat. He will start pouring over the sides of the cat bed and become too tall for the small scratching post.

Over the past 9 years, I’ve bought my share of products for my Maine Coons. Some I hated, and some I’m a big advocate for. On this page, I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite items and included a personal review for each one. I hope this helps you with your shopping list. And of course,I’m always open to hear recommendations of amazing new products.

Below is an interactive checklist that you can use to prepare for your Maine Coon coming home. As long as you’re using the same browser, your checklist (as you complete the items) will be remembered when you return.

Maine Coon New Kitten Checklist | Sassy Koonz

Frequently Asked Questions about Kitten Products

Maine Coons need extra large, heavy-duty cat trees. Standard cat trees are often too small. They are too flimsy for their size and energy. Look for cat trees that are at least 5 to 6 feet tall. Ensure they have wide platforms of at least 12 by 12 inches. Choose a solid base that won’t tip when they launch themselves at full speed. Weight capacity matters too — aim for at least 25 to 30 pounds to accommodate a fully grown Maine Coon.

Maine Coons need an oversized litter box — standard sizes leave them cramped and more likely to miss the box. Look for boxes that are at least 24 inches long and 18 inches wide. Many Maine Coon owners use large under-bed storage containers as DIY litter boxes. These containers offer the ideal dimensions at a low cost. A high-sided box also helps contain litter scatter from their powerful digging.

Before your Maine Coon kitten arrives, you should have several important items. First, get a stainless steel wide-tooth comb for grooming. An extra large litter box and high-quality kitten food are essential. Provide interactive toys for mental stimulation. Ensure you have a sturdy cat tree or climbing structure. A comfortable oversized bed is also important. Having everything set up before arrival helps your kitten settle in quickly and with less stress.

Yes — Maine Coons benefit from wide, shallow food bowls that don’t press against their prominent whiskers. Whisker fatigue is a real issue for cats with long, sensitive whiskers like Maine Coons. A cramped bowl can make eating uncomfortable and stressful for them. Stainless steel or ceramic wide bowls are ideal. They are easy to clean and don’t harbor bacteria like plastic does.

Maine Coons are highly intelligent and need toys that challenge them mentally as well as physically. Interactive wand toys, puzzle feeders, motorized laser toys, and crinkle balls are all excellent choices. They love to fetch, so lightweight ball toys work well too. Rotate toys regularly to keep things fresh. A bored Maine Coon will find their own entertainment. This usually happens at your furniture’s expense.

Absolutely — Maine Coons are powerful scratchers and will destroy furniture if they don’t have a proper outlet. They need tall, heavy-duty scratching posts. These posts should allow them to fully extend their body while scratching. The posts need to be at least 30 to 32 inches tall. Sisal rope posts are the most durable. A scratcher lounger is also useful as it doubles as a resting spot and satisfies their horizontal scratching instinct.

Maine Coons shed year-round with two heavier shedding seasons in spring and autumn. A good lint roller is non-negotiable. Use washable furniture covers to manage the fur. A high-quality vacuum with a pet hair attachment is also helpful. Place a litter mat outside the litter box to control the mess. Brush regularly. Aim for at least 2 to 3 times per week. This routine is the most effective way to reduce how much fur ends up around your home.

Maine Coons prefer large, plush beds with raised edges. They like bolsters they can lean against. They love to feel enclosed and supported while they sleep. Given their size, look for beds at least 20 by 24 inches. Heated cat beds are particularly popular with Maine Coons in cooler climates. Many also love donut-style or cave beds, though their size can limit the options available.

Discover more from Sassy Koonz Maine Coon Cattery

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

sassykoonz

My name is Tracy Caywood. I live in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, and I'm the Guardian of the Sassy Koonz Maine Coon kittens. My goal and passion is to provide you with education, inspiration, and healthy, well-socialized beautiful Maine Coon babies that you'll love forever. My breeding journey started in 2017, and the cattery has flourished into one of the most sought-after catteries in the United States.

See Full Bio

3 Comments

Jane A. Spencer says:

September 6, 2019 at 3:51 pm

My daughter’s Maine Coon sprays poop all over everything, walls, furniture, carpeting etc., while you are brushing her. What is that? Never heard of such a thing!

Reply
1. sassykoonz says:
  
  September 8, 2019 at 2:40 pm
  
  I’ve actually seen this happen to a timid kitty. Its like she got nervous, farted, and pooped liquid at the same time. it really stinks, too. LOL. Worse than regular poop. It’s a defensive mechanism thats built in to the cat! Maybe she doesn’t actually like being groomed…or she likes it so much she poops her pants.
  
  Reply
Anita Malchiodi Albedi says:

August 4, 2020 at 5:58 pm

Have you looked in to the Litter Robot? After owning cats for many decades and still hating the chore of cleaning the litter box, I finally got a Litter Robot after I got a Maine Coon. I have multiple cats, and my reluctance to clean the litter box was causing one of the cats to go outside the litter box. Now, with the Litter Robot, there’s no problem; it’s not such a stinky, onerous chore anymore. It’s wonderful. Yes. It was expensive but worth every penny these past six months. I have the Litter Robot 3 without the wifi app.

Reply

Maine Coon Essentials: Recommended Products

Introduction to a Maine Coon Cat’s Needs

Maine Coon Kitten Checklist

Home Prep & Kitten-Proofing

Essential Supplies

Grooming & Coat Care

Veterinary Care Setup

Nutrition & Feeding

Behavioral Prep & Training

Safety & Emergency Preparedness

First 24 Hours Essentials

Frequently Asked Questions about Kitten Products

Discover more from Sassy Koonz Maine Coon Cattery

3 Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply