Your Complete Guide to Maine Coon Kitten Care

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Creating a Safe Space

Before your Maine Street Coons' kitten arrives, it's important to prepare your home to keep your pet safe and comfortable as they adjust to their new environment.Your newbaby will need a small, quiet, and secure room to acclimate for the first few days. A spare bedroom or bathroom works well. This space should contain everything your kitten needs:

• A comfortable bed
• Food and water fountain (placed away from the litter box)
• A litter box
• A stable scratching post
• A few toys

Hint: For specific recommendations on what to buy to prepare, please visit our curated shopping list.

This room should not have:

• Exposed outlets or electrical cords or wires
• Long cords on drapes or window blinds
• An open garbage can, bags of snack foods, or plastic/disposable food containers
• Yarn, strings, twine, or hair ties (these may sound silly, but these are the most common items found during exploratory abdominal surgery due to bowel obstruction)
• Open windows or doors that exit directly outdoors

To prevent accidents when your kitten is free to run the entirety of your home, ensure you kitten-proof your living areas:

• Secure toxins: Store cleaning supplies, medications, antifreeze, and pesticides in locked cabinets
• Remove dangerous plants: Many common houseplants, like lilies, tulips, and daffodils, are toxic to cats. Remove them or place them in rooms your Maine Coon kitten cannot access
• Hide electrical cords: Tuck away or cover all electrical and drapery cords to prevent chewing and hanging
• Check small spaces: Maine Coon kittens can squeeze into surprising spots. Block access to areas behind appliances, in wall units, or under recliners
• Prevent drowning hazards: Always keep toilet lids down and ensure bathtubs and buckets are empty or out of reach, as these can be dangerous for curious kittens

Our Maine Coon kittens leave us with excellent litter box habits—they've been trained to recognize and use both traditional litter boxes and the Litter-Robot. However, despite their size, 14-week-old Maine Coon kittens are still very much babies and need easy access to litter boxes to maintain their good habits. Always have more than one box in convenient locations: at least one box per floor of your home, and in multi-cat households, one box per cat per floor.

• Choose the right box: Maine Coons will become large adults, so select a roomy, easy-to-enter box or the Litter-Robot 4 for maximum convenience
• Find a good location: Place boxes in quiet, low-traffic areas, away from food and water
• Keep it clean: Scoop at least daily and change litter weekly, or empty the Litter-Robot waste drawer as needed

We prefer the Litter-Robot 4 for its odor control and low-maintenance convenience. If you choose this box, there’s no need to purchase the stair accessory; your kitten is already comfortable hopping in. We are not paid to endorse these boxes but are happy to recommend them for their effectiveness.

ninHYour Maine Coon kitten is sent home with a combination of dry and canned food to make the transition smoother. Dry food should be available at all times so your kitten can graze throughout the day. To gradually switch them to their permanent Maine Coon kitten diet, add 10% of Royal Canin Maine Coon Kitten dry food to their bowl daily for ten days, increasing the proportion until the transition is complete.

Offer one can of wet food each morning and evening. We have provided a variety of flavors so you can see what your kitten enjoys most. Please note which brands and flavors you are feeding and what your kitten prefers, so you can purchase those varieties going forward. For a complete list of foods we use and recommend, visit our Food & Nutrition page.

For additional digestive support during this adjustment period, open one of the provided Proviable Forte (probiotic) capsules each day for the first seven days and sprinkle it over your kitten’s evening meal. This helps maintain healthy gut flora and supports normal stools during the stress of coming to a new home.

Certain foods are dangerous and should never be given to your Maine Coon kitten. Avoid: 

• Onions and garlic (including powders and cooked dishes)
• Chocolate
• Grapes and raisins
• Alcohol
• Caffeinated drinks (coffee, tea, soda)
• Xylitol (a sweetener found in gum and some foods)
• Raw dough
• Avocado
• Macadamia nuts
• Cooked bones
• Fat trimmings

If you think your kitten may have ingested a toxic food, contact your veterinarian or an emergency veterinarian immediately. In addition, avoid cow’s milk, as most cats—including Maine Coons—are lactose intolerant and it can cause digestive upset.

Your Maine Street Coons kitten comes with 30 days of free health coverage through Trupanion. We’ve emailed you a brochure with details about the coverage and instructions to activate it. T

• Please call the toll-free number in the brochure the day before pick-up to activate your kitten’s policy. Be sure to provide the Breeder Activation code included in the brochure.

Our purchase agreement requires you to maintain this policy for your cat’s lifetime.  While we’ve taken every precaution to minimize genetic health risks, life is unpredictable. Maintaining this policy ensures no cat from our cattery is ever euthanized for financial reasons. For questions about coverage, Trupanion’s customer service team is happy to help.

  If you don’t have a veterinarian, we suggest searching for a feline-friendly practice online. Ideally,  we would recommend choosing a vet that is registered with the American Association of Feline Practitioners at https://catfriendly.com/find-a-veterinary-professional/, but that is not an option in many areas.  

You may also want to cross-check this list with the list of veterinarians that directly bill Trupanion health insurance, as a matter of convenience. This is very convenient as it (1) reduces the amount of money you must pay at the time of service, and (2) eliminates the need for you to file a claim for reimbursement.

Helpful Hint: Vet practices are very busy, so you may have to wait two or more weeks to get a new patient appointment. Go ahead and make your kitten’s appointment now!

Your Maine Coon kitten's health is a top priority. Before coming to you, our Maine Coon kittens are seen by our veterinarian at both 8 and 12 weeks of age. During these visits, they receive essential preventive care:

• Physical Examination: The veterinarian performs a thorough physical exam, evaluating your kitten for hernias, a cleft palate, heart murmur, angular limb defects, cryptorchidism (undescended testicles in males), infections, parasites, and overall age-appropriate development.
• Microchipping: At the 12-week visit, your Maine Coon kitten will be microchipped for their safety. You’ll need to register the microchip in your name online, using the information provided in your go-home folder at pickup.
• Vaccinations: Your Maine Coon kitten will receive two FVRCP vaccines, which protect against Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia. They also receive a one-year Purevax rabies vaccine.
• Deworming and Parasite Prevention: All Maine Coon kittens are treated for common intestinal parasites, fleas, and ear mites.

Schedule a check-up with your own veterinarian during the first 72 hours at home. This allows your vet to perform a baseline health assessment and locks in your generous health guarantee.

• Feline Leukemia Vaccine: It is important to discuss the pros and cons of the feline leukemia vaccine with your veterinarian. While the vaccine can provide protection against the feline leukemia virus, it has been linked to injection site sarcomas (tumors) in some cases. For Maine Coon kittens that will be kept strictly indoors, the risks associated with the vaccine may outweigh the benefits. Your veterinarian can help you make an informed decision based on your kitten's lifestyle and potential exposure risk.
• Remember that your health guarantee will reimburse you for out-of-pocket treatment costs incurred up to $200, should your vet find a minor health condition requiring treatment at this first visit, per the terms outlined in your adoption contract. 
• Should your vet suspect your kitten has a genetic or life-threatening health condition, contact us immediately. We will work with your vet to get to the bottom of what is going on, and should it be necessary, help you take advantage of the refund or exchange policy in your purchase agreement. 

Spaying (for females) or neutering (for males) is required by our contract and must be completed between six and nine months of age. This procedure offers important health and behavioral benefits for your Maine Coon kitten, including preventing unwanted litters, reducing the risk of certain cancers, and minimizing issues like spraying or roaming. Please ensure you schedule the spay/neuter procedure within this timeframe as part of your commitment to responsible pet ownership. 

We highly recommend pre-anesthesia bloodwork for any procedure requiring sedation. This simple test helps to ensure your Maine Coon kitten is in optimal health and can safely undergo the spay or neuter surgery. Pre-anesthesia bloodwork provides valuable insights into your kitten's organ function, allowing the veterinarian to identify any potential risks or underlying conditions that might otherwise go unnoticed. Taking this precaution helps ensure the procedure is as safe as possible for your beloved pet.

During the first two to three days, you need to spend as much quiet and down time as possible in your kitten’s safe space, building the bonds that will last their lifetime. Your new kitten is still very much a baby, despite its size. They will quickly come to see you as their loving parent and look to you for cues as to who and what is safe (and what is not). They will also depend on you staying close by until they build some confidence in their new home. As the first week progresses, you can gradually increase the amount of time the kitten spends alone.

Play is essential for a Maine Coon kitten's mental and physical development. Maine Coons are active and enjoy interactive games.

• Interactive Toys: Wand toys, laser pointers, and puzzle feeders are excellent for tiring out your playful Maine Coon kitten.
• Solo Play: Provide balls, toy mice, and scratching posts to keep your Maine Coon kitten entertained.
• Avoid Using Hands: Always use toys rather than hands or feet for play. Redirect any nipping or scratching to appropriate toys to instill good habits.

Maine Coon kittens have been bathed multiple times with us and will see bathing as a regular part of life if you continue the routine at home. We’ll send you home with kitten shampoo and recommend giving your kitten a bath once a week for the first few months. This helps establish the habit early. As your cat matures, bathing every 4–6 weeks is ideal to keep their coat healthy and clean.

Daily combing with a stainless steel comb is also important, and is most effective during calm cuddle times when your kitten is relaxed. Not only does this prevent tangles as their thick adult coat grows in, but it also feels comforting—much like being groomed by their mother. Consistent combing and bathing are essential for maintaining a beautiful, mat-free coat.

If your kitten ever has a litter box accident and gets something on their feet, backside, or tail, simply cover the soiled area with cornstarch and wait for it to dry. Then, gently comb it out—there’s no need to wipe, as that will only smear the mess. This method keeps your Maine Coon kitten clean and makes grooming a positive, stress-free part of your routine.

If you have other pets, introduce your Maine Coon kitten slowly and under supervision. Start by letting them sniff each other through a closed door. Progress to short, supervised nose-to-nose meetings using a crate or carrier, and finally true face-to-face meetings using treats and praise to foster positive associations. Never rush or force interactions.

Scent-swapping is a crucial step when introducing your Maine Coon kitten to other pets, especially dogs. Before any face-to-face meeting, try exchanging bedding, toys, or blankets between your pets to allow them to become familiar with each other's scent. This process helps reduce anxiety and builds a sense of recognition, making future interactions smoother.

If you have a dog, it's essential to establish strong recall control before introducing the kitten. Your dog should reliably respond to commands like "come" or "stay" even in exciting situations. This ensures you can manage their behavior effectively and keep both your kitten and dog safe during introductions. Training sessions with positive reinforcement can help strengthen your dog’s focus and responsiveness, setting the stage for a positive relationship between your pets.

We believe that adopting a Maine Coon kitten is just the beginning of a lifelong partnership between you and your new furry friend. That’s why we are proud to offer Lifetime Breeder Support. Whether you have questions about nutrition, behavior, grooming, or health needs, we are here to help with anything big or small. Our goal is to ensure that your Maine Coon enjoys a long, healthy, and happy life, and that you continue to experience the joy and companionship these incredible cats bring. Never hesitate to reach out to us—we are always just a call or message away!