Maine Coon Growth – When Is Maine Coon Full Size

As this is a unique cat breed, owners need to know the stages of Maine Coon growth to avoid health issues such as them becoming overweight.

Maine Coon Size

The impressive Maine Coon growth is one of the main things that attracts people to them. This cat breed can grow up to 25 pounds in weight. However, most owners can’t wait for their Maine Coon to reach full size.

If you own a Maine Coon or planning to, it’s important to familiarize yourself with what is the average size of a Maine Coon. One of the reason for that is – if your Maine Coon becomes too big, it can be unhealthy and dangerous.

For what to expect when it comes to Maine Coon growth for male and female, check out the table below.

 Male Maine CoonFemale Maine Coon
Weight15-25 pounds/ 6.8 – 11.3kg8-12 pounds/ 3.6 – 5.4kg
Body Length19-30 inches/ 48.2 – 76.2cm19 – 30inches/ 48.2 – 76.2cm
Tail Length12-18 inches/ 30.4 – 45.7cm12 – 18 inches/ 30.4 – 45.7cm
Height10-16 inches/ 25 – 40cm10 – 14inches/ 25.4 – 35.5cm

Not only is the Maine Coon significantly bigger than a regular cat, they are also the largest domesticated cat breed in the world and hold a Guinness record.

The table above should act as a guide for the average size your Maine Coon can reach. However, in some cases Maine Coons can grow even bigger. For instance, the longest Maine Coon on record was 48.5 inches long from tip of the nose to base of the tail.

It’s important that you don’t overfeed your Maine Coon in a rush for it to grow as that will only lead to health problems further down the line.

When Does Maine Coon Stop Growing

Maine Coon growth is not the same as other domesticated cats. For your pet to be healthy and happy, it’s your responsibility to research what is Maine Coon’s normal growth rate.

A popular question owners have is when does Maine Coon stop growing. Usually, Maine Coons reach their full size by the age of 3 to 4 years old. Whilst Maine Coons grow to be the largest domesticated cat in the world, they do it very slowly.

By the age of 1 year old, most normal house cats would have matured. However, Maine Coons will still look relatively small compared to their final size.

Maine Coon Growth Stages

All Maine Coons are different and you can’t predict how big each individual cat can get. However, by knowing the average Maine Coon growth stages, it will help you get a better idea where your cat is in the growing process.

Maine Coon Growth 1 – 12 months

Between the ages of 3 to 7 months, you should expect your Maine Coon to gain 2 pounds per month. Although, Maine Coon growth might not be consistent each month, once they are 9 months old, their growth should be more consistent.

Normally, Maine Coons experience a growth spurt at around 8 months old and then another one when they reach 1 year old.

Maine Coon Kittens Early Appearance

maine coon growth

At 6 months old, your Maine Coon will still be a baby. However, that shouldn’t worry you. Maine Coons start to fill out more at around the age of 9-15 months. The growth process will continue until they reach age 3 to 4 years old.

By the age of 3 to 4 months, your Maine Coon kitten should have a little belly pouch. However, the legs and ribs wouldn’t have developed yet. At this age, a female Maine Coon kitten should weigh only 2 – 3 pounds. Whereas, a male Maine Coon kitten can reach up to 8 pounds.

Another important thing to remember is that not all Maine Coons get as big.

Factors That Affects Your Maine Coon Growth

maine coon growth

Although, it’s mostly down to genetics, your Maine Coon growth depends on a variety of factors such as:

  • Diet
  • Neutering
  • Breeder

Diet

The most important factor that will affect your Maine Coon growth is their diet. Nutritious diet and correct portioning will help your Maine Coon grow at right rate and be healthy.

When it comes to Maine Coon diet, it’s important to take into consideration at what life stage your Maine Coon is.

As the Maine Coon grows at a much slower rate than other cats, their diet should accommodate this. Therefore, you should continue feeding them a kitten diet until they reach 1 year old.

The Maine Coon diet for a kitten should consist of a high quality dry kibble food that has the right formula.

Learn more about what to feed Maine Coon here Maine Coon Diet: Guide On How To Pick The Best

A good option for your Maine Coon diet is raw meat diet. By feeding your Maine Coon raw meat, you’d be providing them with a natural source of protein and minimizing the chance of developing dental disease or obesity due to the lack of carbs.

Another important thing to remember is that unlike regular house cats, Maine Coons don’t reach full size until 3 to 4 years old.

As many novice Maine Coon owners don’t know this, they just think that their Maine Coon is too small. To “fix” this, they begin feeding the Maine Coon more food which normally results in Obesity.

Neutering

maine coon growth

Another factor that affects Maine Coon growth is neutering.

When your Maine Coon reaches sexual maturity, their natural instincts will kick in and they will start using up additional energy to look for a partner. During this time, your Maine Coon won’t grow as much.

This is because the energy that would usually go towards growing, it now goes towards marking their territory, meowing and attracting a mate.

However, once you neuter your Maine Coon, you’d notice a growth spurt. They will grow larger and become noticeably heavier.

Breeder

As mentioned earlier, not all Maine Coons get as big. Maine Coon growth is largely affected by the breeder you choose.

Many breeders sell kittens as Maine Coons when in reality they are not the genuine breed. In other cases, the Maine Coon kittens are not purebred. If you purchase a mixed breed Maine Coon, it’s very likely that the cat won’t grow as big as purebred Maine Coon would.

All of those factors can result in your Maine Coon not growing as big as expected or even worse not being a genuine Maine Coon.

Sometimes, you’d be able to tell that the kitten is not a Maine Coon. Whereas, other time, it won’t be as obvious.

That is why it’s so important to do your research before buying a Maine Coon kitten.

Finding a reputable breeder is essential. A genuine breeder should be:

  • Able to discuss the medical history of the kitten’s parents
  • Show you the Maine Coon’s parents in person

How To Keep Track Of Maine Coon Kitten Growth

Usually, Maine Coon growth is not consistent. They can grow fast one week and slower the next week. That’s why if you want to record your Maine Coon growth process, you should do so on monthly basis.

By tracking Maine Coon growth, you’d be able to see if your cat is going through the correct stages.

In addition, by monitoring their weight, you’d be ensuring they don’t become overweight or underweight.

When tracking your Maine Coon’s growth, you should record monthly the following:

  • Weight
  • Length
  • Height

Final Thoughts

Although, Maine Coons are famous for being the largest domesticated cat in the world, it’s important all owners know what the growth process is and what affects it.

Many times, novice owners would get disappointed that their Maine Coon growth is not reaching its potential quickly enough. However, Maine Coons don’t reach their full size until they are 3 – 4 years old. Unlike regular cats, Maine Coon growth process is much slower.

It’s essential for you to be patient and feed your Maine Coon the correct diet to support their growth and health.

When it comes to Maine Coon growth, you should be well informed and research the following:

  • Breeder – Before purchasing your kitten, you must ensure you go to a reputable breeder. The reason for that is, there is a risk you won’t end up with a genuine Maine Coon kitten
  • Diet – feeding your Maine Coon a high-quality diet is imperative to your Maine Coon growth and overall health
  • Don’t overfeed – Be patient and never overfeed your Maine Coon to speed up the process as you’d only end up with an overweight cat that is unhealthy

Maine Coons are beautiful and unique cat breed and size shouldn’t be the only focus. Having a healthy and happy Maine Coon should be on top of your list.

Related Topics

Is My Maine Coon Too Big

Although, Maine Coons are known for their impressive size, a responsible owner needs to watch out in case their cat becomes overweight.

Obesity is very common amongst Maine Coon cats and if they are anywhere near 30 pounds, you should take them to the vet for a consultation.

As Maine Coon is the largest domesticated cat, owners can’t wait for their kitten to reach full size. However, Maine Coon doesn’t reach their full length and weight until they are 3 – 4 years old, unlike other cats at 2 years old.

As many novice Maine Coon owners don’t know this, they just think that their Maine Coon is too small. To “fix” this, they begin feeding the Maine Coon more food which normally results in Obesity.

An overweight Maine Coon will exhibit the following:

  • If there is no indent between the ribs and hips when your cat is standing up normally and you look down on them
  • If the cat appears to have a pot belly that moves side to side when they walk

Having an overweight Maine Coon can be dangerous for their health. Moreover, obesity can lead to other health problems down the line affecting organs such as the heart, lungs and joints.

Learn more about Maine Coon health problems here Maine Coon Health Issues: How To Treat Or Prevent

In order to treat obesity in Maine Coon, you should switch them to a low fat, low carb diet. Raw meat diet is also highly recommended.

However, if your Maine Coon is a senior, you should always get an advise from your vet first.

unusualpetsguide

My name is Iliyana and I'm a passionate animal lover and pet owner. As there is significantly less information online about unusual and exotic pets, I decided to found this website and recruit expert writers to help pet owners.

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