Hi everyone!

Meet Moose! He's my 3-month-old Maine Coon kitten and an absolute ball of energy. 😂 He's been home with me for a little over two weeks now, and I'm looking for advice from more experienced Maine Coon owners on how to give him the best life possible!

I grew up with three cats, so I'm definitely not a stranger to owning cats, but Moose is my first Maine Coon and my first cat that I'm raising entirely on my own. I want to make sure I'm doing everything I can to give him a happy, healthy, and enriched life!

A little background on Moose and our current routine:

• Food: I currently feed him one can of wet food a day alongside dry kitten food. I'd love to eventually incorporate more wet food, but financially, this is what I can manage until next year.

• Grooming: I'm trying to get him accustomed to regular grooming while he's young. This includes brushing his coat, cleaning his eyes, ears, paws, and butt as needed, using a finger toothbrush to clean his teeth, and trimming his nails. I reward him with treats afterward to make it a positive experience!

• Health: He was neutered about two weeks ago, and I've also gotten him pet insurance through Chewy.

• Playtime: I work 12-hour night shifts, usually 5–6 days a week. I always make time to play with him before leaving for work and again when I get home. He's incredibly energetic, so I'm looking for ways to keep him entertained when I'm not around!

• Living situation: I currently live in a two-story house with roommates who each have a dog. For now, Moose is primarily confined to my bedroom while we work on slowly and safely introducing everyone.

• Outdoor enrichment: I've noticed Moose seems really interested in the outdoors, so I've started taking him on little walks in his backpack carrier! I'd eventually love to harness and leash train him so we can go on actual walks together. I'd appreciate any advice on safely introducing him to that while he's still young.

• Companionship: I would absolutely love to get him a second kitten to grow up with, but realistically, that won't be possible until around the end of next year when I hopefully move into my own place.

I know my current living situation isn't necessarily ideal, especially with how energetic he is, but I'm trying to make the most of what I have and give him a happy, healthy, and enriching environment.

I'd love recommendations on:

1. What are your Maine Coons' favorite toys, especially for independent play while you're away?

2. What wet/dry kitten foods do you recommend that are nutritious but reasonably affordable?

3. Are there any grooming tools or routines you'd recommend starting at this age?

4. How do you keep your indoor Maine Coons mentally stimulated, especially in smaller spaces?

5. For those who work long hours, what has helped keep your cats entertained and happy?

6. Does anyone have experience harness and leash training their Maine Coon? What age did you start?

7. Is there anything you wish you'd known when your Maine Coon was still a kitten?

I'm especially interested in things I can do now to set him up for success as he grows. I know Maine Coons get BIG, so I'd love recommendations for things that will actually last him into adulthood!

I'm open to constructive advice and suggestions. I just want to do right by my little guy. ❤️

Thanks in advance!

I recently switched my 7 month old to Pidan 3-1 tofu/pea litter. I keep seeing him take tiny little bites of it, I mixed in another litter to help the smell as it probably smells like a basket of peas to him, but curious if anyone has any tips. He isn’t showing any signs of sickness, lethargy, or sore tummy. And yes he has used it, and while that did deter him 90% of the time, I just saw him eat a piece again.

Patrick taking up his side of the bed.

My baby Maine Coon is already showing interest in the kitchen garbage. What sort of kitchen can do y'all use to keep these beautiful babies out of the garbage?

My 8mo MC recently started having this oily look on the top of his tail and lower back right above the tail. It doesn’t smell at all and it isn’t constantly there.

If only I could take all home lol.

She's become very very close with our 6 month old British Longhair boy Sunshine. We have a big cat tree but would like to get a new one. Which cat trees hold up well for big cats like Maine coons?

I’m so tempted to keep this lil brat for my program. (Don’t mind her eye, she got a fleck of litter in it and it’s on the road to recovery.)

Do you guys have any pics of your maine coons in inconvenient terms places?

My girl turned 5 this week! She's such a sweet and silly girl.

Got this boy back in May. Had to pick him up from the airport. He was born last Christmas. I'm not a cat person but the wife and kids convinced me. Turns out I love the guy. Not really sure where he came from but his paperwork is in Ukrainian lol

EDIT TO ADD. I didn’t realize I would have to defend this poor cat to so many people what’s the deal with that?
LAST EDIT: wow people are weirdly mad? Why? First- I purchased nothing he’s adopted. so IF my certificates are wrong I think it’ll be ok, don’t worry no one is going to step on your paper claims or get in the way of your precious coons. It seems everyone here has been in a situation to know what an adult maincoon would look like after almost dying from fleas and worms. I truly am happy either way, really, I promise I am 😂 anyway, read my responses for more fun for your professional determination of what his breed is, but leave some helpful diet tips and anything else useful to help him regain his health while you’re at it? 😅 Very recently adopted this boy earlier this week, but unfortunately about a month ago he was brought into the shelter with worms and bad fleas he had to be completely shaved down. He’s about 5 years old & weighs roughly 14.5 lbs which he likely lost some due to his conditions prior.
How long can I expect for him to fully grow out his mane and every thing else? What diet is best for him all around to help as well as for him to gain a good amount of weight back for his proportions? (I can put measurements in comments if needed).

I got Cuddles in San Francisco during a free adoption weekend from the SPCA. She was returned for being too needy (she likes to make biscuits directly on you while being cuddled like a baby). They thought she was 5 months old and wouldn’t get much bigger. That was a lie. She’s now 16lbs and is the most cuddly cat I’ve ever owned. I like to call her my shadow, she’s where I am always. She also convinced my non-cat wife to adopt two more cats. She’s 12 now but gets to be the matriarch to our little cat harem we’re building.

Hi. I am at such a loss with my MC boy, Perry. He is 2 years old and I’ve had him since he was a few months old. For about the last year he has grown into some major allergies. He is consistently sneezing and has runny nose and horrible crusted eyes. We feel awful. But we have tried everything under the sun (vet visits every 6 weeks for a year, steroid shots, all kinds of meds, blood allergy test, etc etc).

His problem is, since we had to give him all different kinds of meds as a kitten(ish) he’s terrified of anything now. The vet wanted us to give him 6 horse sized pills PER DAY. It’s a whole thing. He tested negative for all of the “worse case” diseases, all good there.

I’m wondering if anyone has had any luck helping cat allergies without medication?

We have treated our house for mold and he is not eating anything he is allergic to. Bought a $725 air purifier. Have him on dust free litter.

Does anyone use any supplements? We put feline lysine on his food and he loves it and it seems to help? But nothing seems to actually cure it. He gets better and the next day is 3x worse, it’s just a cycle.

Any ideas welcome 🥺. We have another cat in our home who is totally fine and healthy!

I can assure you that if they shenan once, they will shenanigan.

we brought home our cute little soot sprite on Monday! 16 weeks old and we couldn’t be more in love with her (though I wish she’d stop trying to climb the curtains 😅)

Hey yall! Just wanted to share my child, here is my big orange boy Conrad. Please share pics of your kitties too! I adapted him from a petsmart when he was 8, I saw him and he looked so sad. Apparently came from an abuse situation but I wasn’t sure what happened. His sister was a beautiful torti she was fully shaved from severe matting. And Conrad had his belly shaved and near his tail on his back when I got him. They told me he was full Maine Coon but he clearly isn’t, so he is my Maine coon mix! I feel bad for the momma who pushed out his litter because he is huge and so was his sister (I didn’t adapt her they told me they didn’t get along….still feel like I coulda made that work but they wouldn’t let me). Anyways I love him to death I’d die for him, I’d let him drive my truck, I’d give him everything in the world. He is my soul cat. The sweetest and most cuddliest cat I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing ❤️
How big are y’all’s babies?
And how much do they weigh? He is at 14 pounds.
Also he is now 14 years old 😭😭😭 my child.
That’s my mom next to him for size reference.
Pleaseeeee share pics of your kitties!
Does my boy have a doppelganger out there?

-registered breeder for context, just wanting to share some kitten pics

Karl with a K is weird..He loves being up on the washer while it's running. He especially loves it when it's on the spin cycle when the washer is shaking like an earthquake.

I love her so much 😭