Maine Coons are natural predators. Never forget that when you’re trying to decide what you should feed the Maine Coon. If you deviate from her natural diet, the Maine Coon may become a picky eater. By giving him non-meat based foods like fruits, vegetables, dairy, nuts, seeds, etc., you may have a hard time getting your Maine Coon to eat.
What foods to feed your new Maine Coon?
You must always remember Maine Coons share a recent common ancestor with the largest of felines — lions, tigers,and leopards, etc. — so keep that in mind when feeding the Maine Coon. You will not witness a mature panther on Animal Planet drinking milk, chewing grass, or eating an apple in his natural habitat. You also would never see a young cougar cub in the wild drinking milk from a cow, or any other animal. As absurd as these examples sound, that’s exactly how many people feed their Maine Coons. Don’t expect your Maine Coon at home to be ecstatic when that’s what you try to give get her to eat. Maine Coons don’t eat the same way humans or dogs do. With respect to their nutrition, they are very strict, and owners must always keep this in mind. Maine Coons take in almost exclusively proteins and fats as opposed to omnivores like humans who also get nutrition from fruits and vegetables. A person could end up with a lot of ailments if she ate the Maine Coon’s diet. Even Though they’re a member of the family, does not mean they should eat like you or the dogs. Quite often, you’ll find people who feed their Maine Coons the same way they feed themselves and their dog, although the Maine Coons diet is much more specific. In fact, dog food can be fatal to Maine Coons over time because it doesn’t meet their dietary requirements and it’s usually overloaded with too many carbs, which Maine Coons can’t process well. Often, when you see an oversized domestic Maine Coon it’s because she was given a diet heavy in carbohydrates. This also puts them at risk of diabetes. The Maine Coon’s system is not designed for carbohydrates. They are to be avoided.
things to know when caring for Maine Coons
Delighting Your Maine Coon’s Appetite
When choosing food for your Maine Coon, make sure the packaging says it meets the guidelines prescribed by the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). This ensures that the food satisfies at least the bare minimum dietary requirements of your Maine Coon. You can pay no attention to terms like “gourmet”, ” premium”, ” super-premium”, and “natural” which have no set definition. Always feel free to ask the vet what food he recommends. After you’ve decided, let your Maine Coon do a taste test. If your Maine Coon enjoys the food and doesn’t exhibit any digestive issues (such as diarrhea) later on, you’ve chosen well. In contrast, if your Maine Coon doesn’t like the food, you need to be ready to give other choices. Maine Coons would sometimes prefer to go on hunger strikes before they eat some food they don’t like, and such strikes are truly harmful. If he decides to stop eating, the Maine Coon runs an extreme risk of liver failure at a minimum and at worst death. If you do decide to switch from one food to another, bring in the new food a little bit at a time, in small amounts over a week. This makes it easier for your Maine Coon to accept and reduces the chances of somach discomfort.
Portion Size, Snacks, and Feeding Time for Maine Coons
How much food do you need to feed your Maine Coon? The answer might enlighten you. For instance, is the Maine Coon an indoor or outdoor cat? Has the Maine Coon been spayed or neutered? Both of these answers are crucial in determining your Maine Coon’s nutritional requirements. Your best bet is to consult your vet, who will determine your Maine Coons ideal weight and daily calorie count. Once you find out how much food your Maine Coon needs, stick to the plan. It may seem like too little to you, but it will keep your Maine Coon at a ideal weight. For Maine Coons, it’s hard to shed extra weight once they get overweight. The next step is to plan the Maine Coon’s meals. Maine Coons like to eat all throughout the day, so it’s just best to leave food out for them where it’s accessible all the time. You can put out half in the morning before leaving for work and the other half when you return. Keep treats to a minimum. The more snacks they get, the less room they’ll have for their core nutritional requirements.
Don’t forget to check out these other articles about Maine Coons
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