Maine Coon care: grooming, play, feeding and cat sitting
Care for your Maine Coon with regular combing, daily play, individual food portions and clear arrangements with your cat sitter.
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Breed at a glance
Our editors rate each trait from 1 (low) to 5 (high). These are general breed characteristics, not reviews, and every pet is different.
- Build
- Large and sturdy
- Coat
- Semi-long, with a full tail
Exercise needs
Often calm by nature, but daily opportunities to play are still needed. Provide places to move and rest that suit your cat.
Grooming
According to LICG, weekly combing is usually a good starting point. Pay particular attention to tangles, for example under the armpits.
Playfulness
LICG describes a playful cat; some Maine Coons enjoy fetching. Follow what your own cat enjoys.
Feeding & daily routine
Provide complete cat food for the appropriate life stage. A large cat still needs measured portions: use the packaging as a starting point and consider body condition and needs. Write down food quantities and treats for the sitter, provide fresh drinking water and ask your vet if unsure.
This breed on Petbnb
Petbnb bookings and sitters in the Netherlands.
- Paid bookings
- 89
- Sitters with breed experience
- 49
Last updated
The booking total includes paid bookings, as well as completed and reviewed stays or visits. It doesn’t mean every stay or visit has already taken place. Sitter counts and city rankings are based on the breeds sitters list on their profiles, rather than their booking history. This experience is self-reported; check availability for your dates.
Find a sitter who knows the breed
See which cities have the most sitters who list this breed on their profile. Arrange a meet and greet to talk about their experience and your pet’s needs.
- Maine Coon sitters in Amsterdam6 sitters with breed experience
- Maine Coon sitters in Rotterdam5 sitters with breed experience
- Maine Coon sitters in 's-Gravenhage3 sitters with breed experience
- Maine Coon sitters in Nijmegen3 sitters with breed experience
- Maine Coon sitters in Almere2 sitters with breed experience
- Maine Coon sitters in Breda2 sitters with breed experience
The Maine Coon stands out for its sturdy build, semi-long coat and full tail. Despite their impressive size, Maine Coons are often described as calm, sociable cats who enjoy play. Daily care starts with what your cat enjoys, from combing to meeting an unfamiliar sitter.
Did you know?
A Maine Coon called Cosey won Best Cat at an American cat show in 1895. According to the CFA, her silver collar and medal can still be seen in its historical museum. Your cat does not need a show coat, of course: comfortable, manageable grooming is the aim. Source: Cat Fanciers’ Association: Maine Coon Cat.
Make combing a familiar habit
The CFA recommends regular combing, suggesting two to three times a week as a general guide; LICG gives weekly grooming as a starting point. Do not choose a schedule based on that number alone. Look at your cat’s coat, check areas where tangles can develop and discuss manageable options with a cat groomer if grooming is difficult.
Use tools your cat knows and keep grooming comfortable. Show a sitter what you check and stop if combing hurts. A tangle that will not come out easily without pulling needs help, rather than increasing force.
Make space for play and rest
Being calm does not mean a Maine Coon needs nothing to do. Provide opportunities to play every day and resting and scratching places your cat can use. With a large cat, check that beds, the litter tray and scratching furniture offer enough room and support.
Show the sitter your cat’s favourite games. Some Maine Coons enjoy fetching, but that may not suit your cat. Stick to familiar activities. Find more ideas in our tips for a happy indoor cat.
Match food portions to your cat
Choose complete cat food for the appropriate life stage. Start with the feeding guide on the packaging, then consider your cat’s body condition and needs. A large build does not mean unlimited food is appropriate. Ask your vet if you are unsure about quantities.
Give the sitter the same feeding instructions: food type, quantity, mealtimes and any treats. Provide fresh drinking water and show them where the bowls are. If you have several cats, explain who eats where and how the sitter can check that each cat gets their own food.
Help the sitter get to know your cat
During your Petbnb meet and greet, show the sitter the litter tray, scratching furniture, feeding areas and favourite resting spot. Show where your large cat can comfortably turn, lie down and scratch. If you have several cats, demonstrate a normal mealtime: who gets which bowl, and how do you stop another cat emptying it? This helps the sitter understand your cat’s daily needs.
Questions you could ask:
- Can you carry out the agreed coat check calmly and stop if my cat wants to leave?
- With several cats, how will you check that each has eaten their own portion?
- Do you know where the carrier is and how my cat usually gets into it?
Our guide to cat sitting at home while you are on holiday helps you organise visits.
Sources
- Cat Fanciers’ Association: Maine Coon Cat — Cosey won Best Cat at the American cat show in 1895; her medal and collar are in the CFA museum. Semi-long coat with longer hair on the belly and hind legs, and a plumed tail.
- LICG: Maine Coon — build, grooming, temperament and play.
- LICG: feeding your cat — general guidance — suitable food and individual portions.
- LICG: feeding your cat — guidelines and quantities — complete food and life stage.
- LICG: holidays when your pet stays at home — preparation and care arrangements.