A female should be between 18-24 months old, or she has to have had at least two estrus cycles (heats) – under no circumstances should a female kitten under 8 months of age be intentionally bred. It can bring about some annoying behaviors like excessive noise or even aggression. See video of paw shakes in slow motion. Males, at 10 months old will look very big and you need to check if he’s not overweight. Still, Maine Coons are known for being one of the friendliest cat breeds. #1: Spaying and Neutering Any Maine Coon, unless specifically purchased with "breeding rights" from the breeder, must be spayed or neutered. The term “neutering” is commonly used incorrectly to refer to sterilization of male animals. What number can you call in case you have any concerns about the surgery. This is especially important if they normally get anxious at the vet’s office. Once they start, these behaviors could be irreversible. ... Kitten should not be spayed or neutered until at least 6 months of age because they are still developing hormones that protect throughout life. #1: Spaying and Neutering. The Maine Coon is a slowly developing breed and needs this time with mom and siblings in order to become the gentle and easy going pet you read about in the magazines. What are bad signs you should be looking out for that would entail an immediate trip back to the vet’s office? Group 1 (11 kittens) were neutered or spayed at 7 weeks of age. Longer is also fine but if your cat goes through a heat you need to be extremely careful that she doesn't get pregnant. 10 Month Old Maine Coon kitten. The accepted size standard for the breed ranges between 11-25lbs, with the males being larger than the females. 16-24 Weeks of Age Around this age range your Maine Coon kitten will be approaching adolescence and should be spayed or neutered. Cats mature at different rates. If they are, then check to make sure you are given the correct documents BEFORE you decide to take the cat home. We now know that neutering can be performed safely at as early as 12 weeks of age with no untoward long-term effects. Many Maine Coon breeders do their own spaying and neutering, before the kitten is adopted, and often suggest spaying and neutering at around fourteen weeks of age. We offer valuable insights based on our own first-hand experiences. Birthdate 10/07/2020. It absolutely will not change the shape of any part of its body, head and face included. Hip dysplasia is best treated when detected early, so initial X-rays of the hips are recommended at the time of your kitten's spay or neuter, usually around three to six months of age. If you have other pets at home, make sure you keep them away so your cat can recover. The kitten buyer is required to provide spay/neuter confirmation to the breeder or the 2-year health guarantee is voided. Hip dysplasia: This is often found in dogs, but it can also occur in cats, and especially the Maine Coon cat. For kittens, they should be allowed to eat until they are full. Maine Coon Lifespan – How Old Do Maine Coons Get? At puberty, behavioral changes occur in unneutered cats. Will this hurt normal physical development? All three were neutered at 4 months and afterward, still had the same personalities. Despite their size, the Maine Coon cat is sweet-tempered, gentle and friendly and gets along with just about everyone. As a responsible pet owner, you need to have your Maine Coon neutered at the right age. We’ve only had them for a couple of days but they are sweet and gentle. Your Maine Coon female should be between 18-24 months old before you start breeding her. What a great companion. Spayed or Neutered; 1. Lastly, make sure a clean litter box is close by and don’t fault them if they do their business outside it. Maine Coon Female. The vet said it was a problem with his pancreas and could clear it up but further tests showed bleeding around the heart so he had to be put down. Despite this, you should wait a bit longer before breeding your female Maine Coon or use your male Maine Coon as a stud. If you intend to go into the breeding business, you should pay more. Feeding Your Maine Coon. Observe them and remember that your vet is a call away if you have any concerns. You should receive a healthy, twice vaccinated, neutered kitten who’s parents are free of genetic conditions. If you have a regular size house cat or small dog, I would recommend a female Maine Coon. Neutering at the right age also eliminates the risk of having an unwanted litter. We currently have two neutered girls and both are gentle and loving. There is no evidence of neutered female cats displaying any emotional reaction to being neutered. link to Why do cats shake their paws? Neutering is not known to affect a Maine Coon’s personality adversely. They do not play as rough. Maine Coon cats are very different to ‘normal cats’, so it is important that you always … Intact cats can be quite feisty and may fight. Little ones this young need to be at least 2.2 pounds before surgery, recommends the Ohio Alleycat Resource. A healthy Maine Coon without inherited genetic conditions can survive on average between 10 and 13 years. This simply isn’t the case. 1. Not too many years ago, backyard breeding was more prevalent and many Maine Coons suffered from genetic diseases, resulting in painful conditions and early deaths. When you shake a toy at a cat and it snubs your efforts to engage it in play, it can be quite disheartening. This is my 10 month old Maine Coon. We reserve the right to spay /neuter any kitten prior to adoption. It is very rare to be able to buy a registered Maine Coon that is intact unless you are a breeder. This might sound like some kind of cliche saying, however, it is a … I have many years of experience with breeding and showing Siberian Cats and showing and loving Maine Coon Cats. The 3 Toys For Maine Coons You Just Have To Get, The Best Harness For Maine Coons? In fact, even if you decide to let your Maine Coon outside, most neutered Maine Coons will mostly stay near your house or in your garden. Maine Coons are said to be one of the largest domestic cats. I want to have a normal kitten not one with bad behavior and to spray all over my house. Maine Coon Kitten Diet Neutering on time reduces the risk of your Maine Coon developing a permanent attitude problem. The male you choose should also be more than 18 months old. It is impossible to know how long an individual Maine Coon will live so all you can do is give it the best home, diet and health care possible. Maine Coon cats do not reach full physical maturation until they are about 4-5 years old. His name is Coda. Why Should You Have Your Maine Coon Neutered? A female should be between 18-24 months old, or she has to have had at least two estrus cycles (heats) – under no circumstances should a female kitten under 8 months of age be intentionally bred. My Kitten is a Persian Mix Maine Coon. I agree with Jackie, and I felt I should leave it as long as possible to allow full development. Even females can spray! Kittens should really be wormed at around 2 weeks of age, and again at around 5 weeks of age, and finally just before they leave the seller/breeder at 8 to 12 weeks of age. The Best Litter Box For Maine Coons? Besides, no scientific evidence has proven that neutering at an early age stunts the growth of Maine Coons, especially their heads. This is because neutering will be done while your cat is under general anesthesia. Watch your Maine Coon as they recover. All of our articles draw on the extensive pet knowledge base we've built up throughout our lives as pet lovers. They are forever trying to escape, particularly if they hear or sense a female cat in season. When you take your cat for the surgery, try to keep them as calm as possible. History: The Maine Coon cat is considered the only longhair breed native to the United States. The youngest a kitty should be before she's spayed is 8 weeks old. We know that because you care so much about your cat, you want to take great care of her. I checked with my breeder and she said it's up to you, but as long as you have … It’s absolutely not true. And if by chance, they find an intact mate, their chances of producing an unwanted litter are high. Good breeders neuter their Maine Coon kittens to prevent new owners from being tempted to breed from them without proper screening and breeding standards. ... For the usual neutered or spayed pet cat that lives strictly ... although intentional use as a stud should not begin before 8 months of age. Neutering at the right age keeps your Maine Coon from going in heat, which would happen several times a year. Neutering doesn’t affect a cat’s masculinity or femininity. I am pretty sure that you have heard at least one of these myths. Non-spayed female cats can start going into heat, or estrus, as early as four months of age. For adult Maine coons a good guide for raw food is to give them between 3 and 5% of their body weight daily. They do not play as rough. Neutering kittens before they are sold prevents backyard breeding and its associated issues, including the spread of painful and life-threatening genetic diseases. They’re not considered fully grown until around 3-4 years old. Your cats are not Maine coons at all, they are long haired domestics. Many of these conditions are now rare because of good breeding standards. Consider the fact that there are already far more cats born than there are homes to take them in. Neutering your Maine Coon before they are able to reproduce eliminates that problem for you. She was sold with an agreement to spay (she was spayed) from show quality parents but with a household pet clause. Linzi Lu is a beautiful Maine Coon female who has recently been spayed (although she has never had kittens) she is very affectionate but can be a bit We want to hear your opinion! Neutering is a surgical procedure that removes the testes of male cats or the uterus and ovaries of female cats. A kitten at 14 weeks of age should be easy to handle and trusting to it's owner. Generally 4-6 months is fine. You can also encourage them to exercise by playing with them or giving them toys they can play with on their own. However, when a cat has the urge to roam and find a mate, being homebound might get frustrating. I acquired my breeding Maine Coons Cats from Russia and from Celtipride in Wisconsin. Are They Indoor Cats? We have 25 years of experience as Maine Coon cat owners and have also owned many other pets throughout our lives. If you have some problems with aggression in your Maine Coon, read this article. ASPCA statistics place the U.S. pet cat population at anywhere between 74 and 96 million – and there may be as many as 70 million strays fending for themselves. (cats and dogs). As a slow growing breed, if your female become pregnant earlier, her growth might be stunted. We don’t spam! How soon can you expect the wound to heal completely? If you don’t intend to breed your Maine Coon, it’s always recommended to get them neutered or spayed at the right age (when they’re 6 to 8 months old). Here Is What You Need. Despite this, you should wait a bit longer before breeding your female Maine Coon or use your male Maine Coon as a stud. The picture was taken 4 months ago. How soon can you expect the anesthesia to wane completely? Though Maine Coon neutering is commonly performed when kittens are aged four to six months, this is no longer the best age. This happens when cats release small amounts of urine in their surroundings. While not so much of a problem with males, female cats in heat are known to be very noisy. Kittens can be spayed after they have reached four months of age, but your veterinarian may prefer to wait until it is six months old. The usual ratio is 75/15/10, this means 75% muscle meat, 15% edible bone and 10% organs. Our two boy kittens are also neutered. They may simply be feeling disoriented. Maine Coon Personality – 15 Things You Must Know, Why They Are So Expensive – Here Is The Real Reason, How To Train A Maine Coon To Walk On A Leash In 3 Steps, The Risks of Neutering Your Maine Coon Too Late, Neutering is unnecessary for homebound Maine Coons, Neutering is useless for Maine Coons in single-cat homes, Neutering makes Maine Coons prone to obesity, Neutering affects a Maine Coons’ identity, How to Prepare for Neutering Your Maine Coon, How to Care for Your Newly Neutered Maine Coon, Neutering, Castrating, Spaying: The Correct Term. They do take up to 4 years to reach full maturity, after all, which is unlike other cats. If you’ve just acquired a kitten (or two), you want to know you are ready to care for your new family member(s). Especially males more so than females. Kittens neutered before they reach 12 weeks are less likely to suffer surgical complications than those over 12 weeks. However, in the United States, virtually all bitches and dogs are rendered sterile by surgery at some point in their life. There is one proviso: the kittens must weigh at least 2lbs. If you own (or are thinking of acquiring) a Maine Coon cat - you need to grab a copy of our handbook! However, many cats exceed these average weights. There is one proviso: the kittens must weigh at least 2lbs. All... petsKB is owned by Jane and Matt Pettitt. Don’t believe those rumors that state a neutered Maine Coon male will have a smaller head! It is best to have a Maine Coon neutered or spayed before it reaches puberty, which is typically between 4 and 6 months of age. His current weight is 14 lbs and if I measured him correctly he is just about 34" long. The reasons for this are varied. Tell us what features and improvements you would like to see on Pets4Homes. How much should your 10-month-old Maine Coon kitten weigh? Doing so would minimize unwanted behaviors including urine spraying, aggression, and roaming. A cat’s first heat usually occurs during puberty, which is between six and ten months for a kitten.. This One! Adult males typically weigh 13-18 pounds. Early neutering prevents any accidental pregnancies, especially those that occur if a cat strays from home. It just limits their tendency to adopt the annoying behaviors that are typically associated with intact cats. You’ll want to do what you can to ensure that your adorable baby grows into a healthy adult. The kitten is guaranteed to be free of any internal or external parasites on the date of sale. As the surgery day approaches, talk to your vet about pre-operative care. If a neutered male escapes, he is less likely to roam too far. Group 2 (11 kittens) were neutered or spayed at 7 months. There is a belief that spaying a cat before she has her first litter because of health benefits. In most cases, however, you’ll be able to take your cat home. For males, the specific term is “castration” while the term for females is “spaying.”, Male and female cats are also referred to in different ways. They come in a variety of colors including Silver, Crea m, Red, Orange, Patched, and Torbie. Neutering your Maine Coon at the right age minimizes the typical problems surrounding cat ownership. Patellar luxation does occur in many breeds, but Maine Coons are at a higher risk for this condition. Our first three Maine Coons arrived with us unneutered. Doing so would minimize unwanted behaviors including urine spraying, aggression, and roaming. Kittens should receive 2 vaccinations, the first at around 8 weeks of age and the second, two to three weeks later. Many Maine Coon breeders do their own spaying and neutering, before the kitten is adopted, and often suggest spaying and neutering at around fourteen weeks of age. Early spay doesn't stunt growth; generally early spay/neuter will … Suitable for breeding doesn’t just mean they have not been spayed or neutered, but they are also free of genetic deficiencies and are of show quality. You may be able to keep your Maine Coon locked up at home. ASPCA statistics place the U.S. pet cat population at anywhere between 74 and 96 million – and there may be as many as 70 million strays fending for themselves. Needless to say, ignore this advice if you are planning to breed your cat. Cat spraying is also referred to as urine marking. Adult females weigh between 9 and 12 pounds. In many parts of the world, due to cultural or economic prohibitions, bitches and dogs are not spayed or castrated unless they have reproductive tract disease. There are no proven benefits of a cat having at least one litter. Some Maine Coons are attracted to water and may even enjoy an occasional swim. The operation is more straightforward when kittens are 8 to 12 weeks old and recovery is quicker. Furthermore, an intact cat can do a lot of damage at home. Group 3 (the control group of 9 kittens) were not neutered until maturity and after the completion of the first phase of the study at 12 months. Bear in mind, cats who have been neutered, especially females, can develop a tendency to gain too much weight. What can you do your minimize your cat’s discomfort or pain? They can get stolen, lost, or injured. Questions to ask your vet before taking home your newly neutered Maine Coon: Apart from all that, do your best to provide your cat with a safe and comfortable space. All cats should be vaccinated and have their vaccinations kept up-to-date, this is part of being a responsible cat owner and will be your responsibility. Even doing the surgery later on may not help. Required tests will vary depending on the vet and your cat’s medical history. Place their bed in a clean, dimly lit room where you can keep an eye on them at all times. Neutered cats tend to suffer from less urinary tract disease. You’ll be surprised at how many will be attracted by the noise! If you have a regular size house cat or small dog, I would recommend a female Maine Coon. Maine Coon males do tend to out grow the "rough play" after age 2. She is about a Month and a Half. Domesticated cats still do that and so will tend to yowl and wail during this time. Different veterinarians have different practices. While a cat in heat technically means that the cat is ready for mating, it’s not advised to breed a kitten or allow her to get pregnant during her first heat. Traditionally owners would wait until their Maine coon was between 6 and 9 months before getting them neutered. If you can't afford spaying then you can't afford to raise a litter as that is more expensive than spaying They are not aggressive, but tend to dominate play due to their size. Outside, there are many dangers to your Maine Coon. Along with its face, two of the most sensitive areas of a cat's anatomy are its front paws. A kitten at 14 weeks of age should be easy to handle and trusting to it's owner. There's not much we can't tell you about them. She should be brushed to make certain that her fur does not tangle, and she should be combed to smooth her coat. Schedule it around the time when you can stay home with your cat for the first couple of days following the surgery. ... A Maine Coons diet varies across their lifespan, so make sure that you are feeding your Maine Coon with a diet appropriate for their age range. Here Are 5 Reasons Why They Are Awesome, Dogs And Maine Coons? And keep them relaxed until they are 4 years to reach full physical maturation until they leave us their... Often believe neutering a male cat is to use all physical reserves to care for their young food I. Months and afterward, still had the same personalities check your inbox spam... 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