How Long Does A Maine Coon Live?

One of the most distinct, as well as one of the most popular, cat breeds that you can find today is the Maine Coon. Despite their large and commanding stature, Maine Coons are very gentle, sweet cats that make fantastic pets.

Being one of the most popular cat breeds, many people wonder how long does a Maine Coon live? In this article, we will discuss the general lifespan of one of these beautiful furry felines and whether they are a generally healthy breed.

» You might like Can Cats Eat Steak? and 7 Smells That Deter Your Cat From Peeing on Your Stuff

 

We’ll also go over the basics of this breed, its colors, its temperament, as well as its average lifespan. If you’re considering adding a Maine Coon to your family, you’ll see below why so many people love this gentle giant.

How Long Does A Maine Coon Live?

Generally speaking, the average lifespan of most Maine coon cats is around 13 to 14 years old, which sits comfortably in the middle of many other cat breeds.

However, records have shown that this cat breed can live as long as 20 years when well cared for.

There are even documented cases of Maine coons living well past their 25th birthday, which is incredible, especially for domestic cats!

Interestingly enough, Maine Coons can often take a noticeably long time to grow to their full size, especially when compared to other cat breeds.

Whereas your normal cat breeds, your Russian Blues, and your Siamese, will only take around a year to grow to their full size, Maine Coons can sometimes take up to 5 years to fully grow up!

There are a few factors that go into helping a cat’s lifespan. 

Should I Keep My Cat Indoors?

One of the things that you can do is try and keep your cat indoors. Indoor cats tend to live noticeably longer than their roaming outdoor counterparts, due to them being exposed to less harmful infections and sources they can catch illnesses from, as well as them being less likely to be killed by other factors, such as a road/traffic accidents, or being attacked by an aggressive dog or other cats.

Basics Of The Maine Coon

The more you know about the breed, the more healthy you can keep your curious kitten, and help it live longer too.

Size

As we mentioned before, the first thing that most people tend to notice about Maine Coons is just how big they can get.

When they are fully grown, an adult Maine coon is the largest domestic cat breed in the world, clocking in at up to 16 inches tall, and measuring potentially 40 inches from nose to tail.

Considering that most cat breeds only measure around 10 inches tall and 30 inches long, it is a very noticeable difference, one that is only made to look even bigger thanks to their poofy fur.

One Maine Coon, a purebred called Stewie, was measured in 2010 to be as large as 48.5 inches long! Whilst this is an outlier for sure, it just shows how big this breed can be.

Temperament

Despite what their large size and typically grumpy cat expression might suggest, Maine Coons are some of the most gentle and affectionate cat breeds out there.

They love to be petted and brushed (a very handy trait, considering how much maintenance their long coats need!), and are great around adults and children, making them a popular cat breed to get for young families who have babies and want a cat that will be patient with their newborns and children.

Not only are they great with children, but Maine Coons, when socialized properly, also tend to be very good cats to have and live with dogs, which is something of an oddity when it comes to other temperamental tabbies.

Like many dogs, they are also shown to be very curious and entertained by water, yet another thing that sets them apart from other cat breeds.

This may be because Maine Coons are considered a very intelligent breed of cat, and are naturally curious about many things similar to dogs.

This also means that chase cats need plenty of stimulation to make sure that they don’t become bored and develop more destructive habits. 

Fur

Maine Coon’s fur coats come in a variety of colors and patterns, which means that virtually every Maine Coon you find can have a patterned coat that is unique to them.

Their fur is also quite long, as it is believed that these cats were bred to be adapted to the cold. At least some of their ancestry can be traced bag to large Norwegian domestic cats that were likely brought to America by the Vikings and Norsemen in the First millennium.

Of course, with such long fur, most Maine Coons will need a lot of attention to keep their fur nice and not knotted. Make sure you have a good long-hair cat brush handy!

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it! Maine Coons tend to live pretty decent long lives, so they will be a companion to you for years to come!

 

Like this? We’d love to hear from you on our Facebook page! If you’re hungry for more, follow us on Pinterest so you never miss a thing.