Maine Coon Grooming Ultimate Guide

Maine Coon grooming can be a lot of work, but it’s worth it to keep your kitty looking their best. In this guide, we’ll go over the basics of Maine Coon grooming, including what tools you’ll need and how often you should groom your cat.

We’ll also touch on some of the more specific aspects of Maine Coon grooming, such as coat care and nail trimming.

So whether you’re a first-time cat owner or a Maine Coon veteran, read on for tips on keeping your kitty looking sharp!

To keep your Maine Coon’s fur neat and tangle-free, you should brush them 2 – 3 times per week. Bathing really helps with preventing matting too. Their teeth need regular cleaning with a toothbrush to avoid any buildup of plaque or tartar which can lead to dental issues later in life for this breed as well! Claws should also be kept trimmed to prevent them from doing damage to furniture. 

Maine Coon Grooming Tips

So it’s time to get into the tips. We have listed 11 of the best tips to follow when grooming your Maine Coon cat.

Following and practicing these steps regularly will make sure your Maine Coon keeps a beautiful and thick coat.

Start When They’re Kittens

If you start grooming your Maine Coon when they are young, they will get used to it and likely come to enjoy it.

A lot of cats simply don’t like being groomed and will roll around and try to run away. By starting as early as possible your Maine Coon will get used to it gradually and eventually enjoy it.

Be Patient

Grooming a cat slowly allows you to inspect their coat for any fleas, ticks, or lice. It also allows you to check for any wounds, abrasions, or bald patches.

Sometimes dirt on the skin can actually be acne in Maine Coon cats so it’s better to take your time and observe carefully.

By grooming your cat slowly, you’re also able to better assess their overall health and well-being.

Moreover, it’s important not to force your cat if they are refusing to let you groom them. Forcing them could lead to a negative association with grooming.

This could lead to them hating it altogether. Instead, take your time and ease your way into it.

Groom Often

Maine Coon cats are infamous for their thick and lavish fur coats. But with all beauty comes tons of maintenance time.

Grooming a Maine Coons coat should be done at least 2 to 3 times a week, but ideally, it should be done every day. A weekly combing will help to detect any fleas, ticks, or lice.

Brushing a cat daily is best as it removes loose hair giving the coat a good shine and free from tangles.

In addition, brushing your cat stimulates blood flow encouraging healthy skin and coat.

With regular brushing, you can reduce the amount of shedding by up to 90%.

Animals Of Routine

One of the best things about having a grooming routine for your cat is that it will help them stay clean and healthy.

Grooming helps remove any dirt or debris from their coat, which can help reduce the chances of them getting sick.

It also allows you to inspect their skin and coat for any potential problems.

Establishing a regular grooming routine for your Maine Coon is also a great way to normalize being groomed.

You can even give them a treat after every grooming session to reinforce a positive association with being groomed.

Clip Those Claws

Your cat’s nails should be trimmed at least once a month in order to prevent scratching and in extreme cases – damage caused by overgrown claws.

Getting your cat used to having their paws handled when they’re young helps immensely in preparation for nail trimming sessions when they’re older.

PRO TIP: If your Maine Coon doesn’t like you trimming their claws, do it while they are in a deep sleep…they’ll never notice…shh.

Cat Nail Clippers

Clipping your Maine Coons nails can be done routinely. There are many types of nail clippers to use and all are fine.

I use my own nail clippers on the cat’s claws and it works fine. When clipping the cat’s nails make sure to only clip the very tips. Clipping too far down the nail can damage or hurt the cat.

Cat Nail Grinders

Cat nail grinders are used to keep a cat’s nails trimmed and smooth. The grinders help to avoid sharp edges on the nails that can cause pain and discomfort to the cat.

They’re a great alternative for people who are worried about taking too much of the nail off using a clippers.

There’s loads of brands you should check out on Amazon or at your local pet store.

Cat Nail File

Cat nail files are for filing down your Maine Coons nails. They are a safe and easy way to trim your furbaby’s nails without having to use clippers.

Cat nails files are good to use because they help remove the dead layer of skin on the nails. This file leaves the nails with a smooth and healthy finish.

Cat Towers

There are a number of benefits to owning a cat tower. They provide cats with a place to climb and play.

This helps keep cats healthy and happy. Overall, they are also a great way to keep cats entertained.

On top of that, they are also a great place for your cat to scratch because many cat towers have built-in scratching posts.

Scratching Post

Cats need scratching posts to help them keep their nails trimmed. If cats don’t have a scratching post to scratch, they will likely scratch furniture or carpets, which can damage them.

Scratching posts also provide cats with a place to scratch and sharpen their nails, which is important for their claw health.

Each cat should have their own scratching posts. If there are two cats sharing a scratching post, one or both of them may not use it.

Declawing

Unless you’ve been advised by your vet, you should never declaw your Maine Coon cat.

Declawing a cat is bad because it is an inhumane and unnecessary surgery that can cause a lot of pain and suffering for the cat.

It also decreases the cat’s quality of life, because it can’t defend itself or climb trees if it’s declawed.

The majority of veterinarians in the United States will not perform declawing surgery. They are following the lead of the leading veterinary associations, including the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

Although veterinarians may offer it as an option, they do not recommend it unless all else has failed.

Bathe Your Furbaby

The benefits of bathing a cat are that it will help keep them clean, and it will help get rid of any loose hair.

Bathing a cat can also help reduce the amount of dander in the air, which can be helpful for people who are allergic to cats.

Wet your cat with lukewarm water. Because Maine Coon are longhaired cats, it’s best to use a spray hose so the fur on the body doesn’t mat down from being wet for too long.

Gently wash their face and neck with a damp cloth or face washer. Never pour water directly into a cat’s ears; instead, use a damp cloth to wipe the area around the cat’s ear.

When you are finished washing your cat, wrap them in a towel and gently pat them dry. When bathing your cat outside, be sure to dry their feet off with the towel as well to keep dirt from getting stuck between their toes.

Plus, Maine Coons cats are famous for loving water so this should be a fun activity for your gentle giant.

Trimming Time

It is important to trim a cat’s fur for two major reasons: first and foremost, long hair can drag around on the floor, causing it to become dirty.

Secondly, it can get caught and tangled in itself(matting), severely limiting your cat’s range of motion.

Trimming Benefits:

• Your cat will be less likely to get hairballs.
• You’ll have a cleaner home.
• Enjoy cuddling into your cat more because they won’t shed all over the furniture.
• Spend less time grooming and brushing them every day.
• Your cat will have a healthier coat.

Diet Is Everything

Fish is a great source of protein for a cat’s fur coat. Other good sources of protein include beef, chicken, and eggs.

Salmon oil is great for your Maine Coon because it contains high levels of Omega-3 fatty acids, which have many health benefits for cats.

These fatty acids can help improve skin and coat health, joint function, heart health, and more.

If you’re interested in whether you can give your Maine Coon salmon, check out this article.

Keep Those Teeth Brushed

Brushing a Maine Coons teeth is important because it helps keep their teeth clean and healthy. It also helps prevent dental problems, such as gum disease and tooth decay.

You should try brushing your cat’s teeth at least once a week.

Brushing a cat’s teeth is actually pretty simple. Just use a soft-bristled toothbrush and a tiny amount of pet toothpaste.

Gently brush the teeth in a circular motion, making sure to get all the way to the gums.

Whether your cat likes it or not is another story.

Time To De-mat

Maine Coons cats fur is very susceptible to matting because of its length and thickness. If you’re not sure what a mat is, check it out below.

A hair mat is a tangle of hair in a cat’s fur. It can be caused by a number of factors, such as being dirty, having a poor diet, or being stressed.

Mats can cause skin problems and make it difficult for cats to groom themselves properly.

There are a few ways to remove a mat from cat hair, but the most common is to use a comb or brush.

Start by gently parting the hair around the mat and then use a comb or brush to slowly work your way through the tangle.

Be careful not to pull too hard, as this can cause pain and damage to the cat’s skin. If the mat is particularly stubborn, you may need to cut it out with scissors.

Maine Coon Shedding

Maine Coons are prone to shedding because of their long coats. The amount of shedding can vary from cat to cat, but all Maine Coons will shed at some point.

Regular brushing can help to minimize the amount of shedding, and a good diet will also help to keep your cat’s coat healthy and shiny.

Conclusion

So, there you have it – our top Maine Coon grooming tips!

We hope that this article has helped you to understand your cat’s coat a little better and given you some ideas about how to keep them looking their best.

Grooming is an important part of keeping your feline friend healthy and happy, so be sure to make time for it regularly.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We’re always happy to help!