Thread: Weight

I don't think anyone can make a comment on what the "average"maincoon stature should be versus weight as with so many different breeding lines now there are many variations,I have always fed my cats the "crap food"felix,hills,RC & have never had any health or weight problems with them.As to being overweight as I posted in another thread I have two litter mates that were the same weight until 10mths old now at 2.5yrs one weighs in at 7.10kg & is small, stocky & eats for England the other is tall & long weighing in at 9.65kg & hardly eats at all so no way do I think you can generalise on this.I have worked at a vets for a lot of years & can't think of one time when I have seen a overweight kitten of any breed,they are too active....

Would have to agree with jckerrison, there are weight variations in every breed of animal as there are in humans too. Harry eats the "crappy foods", ie Royal Canin and Felix but hasn't got an ounce of fat on him, he is big. i.e big boned, long etc and when he's had a bath you realise how long and thin he actually is, although at 9 months he weighs 14lbs. It will be interesting to see how they boys (Larry and Monty) end up, I suspect Larry and Monty will continue to have growth sperts but not necessarily at the same time.

they are supposed to a long lean bread (Tall, long and narrow)

Why on earth do you think that? That is not what any of the MC breed standards say. The CFA standard, for example includes statements such as: "solid, rugged" and "BODY SHAPE: muscular, broad-chested." and "legs substantial, wide set, of medium length, and in proportion to the body." The TICA standard includes: "Torso: Large, long, substantial" and "Boning: Substantial. Musculature: Substantial, powerful" and "The Maine Coon is a large breed with big ears, broad chest, substantial boning, a long, hard muscled, rectangular body...Good muscle tone and density give the cat the appearance of power."

Seems pretty much the opposite of "tall, long and narrow," actually. In fact the TICA standard says to penalize a MC for having a narrow torso. I cannot recall ever seeing a fully mature MC that I would describe as you have. Certainly they would not score at all well in the show ring so no breeder is aiming for that shape.

Obviously one doesn't want one's cat to be fat, but simply being heavy (for a cat) does not imply that a MC is overweight. Fully grown male MCs can absolutely be over 20 lbs and not have a speck of fat on them.