Okay, so I’ve got this Maine Coon, a big fluffy guy named Leo. I swear, he’s always hungry. I was totally winging it with his food at first, just dumping some kibble in a bowl and hoping for the best. But then I started thinking, “Am I feeding him enough? Too much?” It’s a Maine Coon, they’re HUGE, so they gotta eat a lot, right?
Figuring Out the Right Amount
First, I checked the food bag. It had guidelines, but they were pretty broad, like “feed 1-2 cups per day” for a cat his size. Helpful, but not super specific. Leo was definitely on the upper end of the size chart, so I figured he needed more, but how much more?
Then, I did some serious Googling. I looked at a bunch of different websites, and most of them said basically the same thing, adult Maine Coons generally should eat between about 250-400 calories per day, depending on their size and activity level. Okay, calories… that’s something I can work with.
So, I grabbed the food bag again and checked the calorie info. Turns out, one cup of his kibble has around 350 calories. Then it was math time. If Leo needs, say, 350 calories, that’s one cup. But he’s pretty active, always chasing toys and climbing his cat tree, so I figured he probably needs a bit more.
The Experiment Begins!
I decided to start with 1 and 1/4 cups per day, split into two meals. I got a measuring cup – no more eyeballing it! – and stuck to the plan. I also weighed Leo to get a baseline.
I watched him closely over the next few weeks. Was he still begging for food all the time? Was he gaining weight? Losing weight? Here’s what I looked for:
- Energy levels: Was he still his usual playful self?
- Body condition: Could I feel his ribs without pressing too hard, but they weren’t super visible? (That’s what the vet said to check for!)
- Poop patrol: Yeah, I checked his litter box. Too much, too little, or just right? (Gross, I know, but important!)
The Results (and Adjustments)
After a few weeks, Leo seemed to be doing great on the 1 and 1/4 cups. He wasn’t begging as much, his energy levels were good, and his body condition felt right. I weighed him again, and he’d maintained his weight, which was perfect.
But, I know things can change. He might get less active as he gets older, or maybe the food formula will change. So, I’m going to keep monitoring him and adjusting as needed. It’s not a “set it and forget it” kind of thing. It’s an ongoing experiment, really.
In conclusion, It is not easy to feed a Maine Coon, I tried and recorded every step, and finally find out the right amount of food for my lovely cat.
