When you happily buy a cute Maine Coon cat and bring it home, it will quickly win your heart and become an essential member of your family that you can't live without. However, the sad truth is that our pets often don't live as long as we do, so we wonder how long do Maine Coon cats live? Below we'll help you keep your Maine Coon cat healthy and potentially extend their life, even just a few more years. The average lifespan of a Maine Coon cat is 12.5 years, although some Maine Coon cats may live longer than 15 years! Their lifespan depends on their specific lifestyle, general health, genetics, diet and exercise levels.

Average lifespan of a Maine Coon cat

Maine Coons are a healthy cat breed with only a few genetics that can cause health problems. Studies conducted between 2003 and 2006 determined that the median lifespan of Maine Coon cats was approximately 12.5 years. The study was conducted by a pet insurance company in Sweden and found that 74% of Maine Coon cats lived to be over 10 years old, and 54% of Maine Coon cats lived to be over 12.5 years old. However, the following factors can affect the lifespan of a Maine Coon cat:

1. Diet

If you want to extend your Maine Coon cat's life, make sure your Maine Coon cat has a healthy and balanced diet plan. Ensure it's fat-free, high quality, and contains high levels of protein and nutrients. High-quality dry food diets are better for Maine Coon cats because they help reduce tartar buildup in Maine Coon cats.

Feeding: Do not overfeed your Maine Coon cat, as overfeeding poses the greatest health risk to your Maine Coon cat as it often leads to obesity in the cat and may shorten the lifespan of your Maine Coon cat. If your cat isn't getting enough exercise and seems to be gaining weight, consult a professional veterinarian to determine if your Maine Coon needs a low-calorie diet plan.

2. Weight

What is a healthy weight for a Maine Coon cat? The Maine Coon may be one of the largest domestic cat breeds in the world, yet it grows surprisingly slowly compared to other cat qualities. But Maine Coon cats are very large.

3. Common diseases

What diseases are Maine Coon cats prone to? Maine Coon cats are a healthy breed of cat, but that doesn't mean they never get sick. As with many animals, genetic defects are the most likely cause of a shortened lifespan in Maine Coon cats. These are common diseases that Maine Coon cats are prone to:

Obesity: While most cat breeds reach full physical maturity within 2 years, Maine Coon cats take 4-5 years to reach full maturity! Therefore, cat owners may worry that their Maine Coon cats are underweight. In this case, the bestThe solution is to seek professional veterinary advice rather than feeding your Maine Coon cats more food and letting them gain weight! Overfeeding must be avoided as it may lead to obesity, which may predispose your Maine Coon cat to certain diseases. Obesity can be avoided through intervention, so take action now!

Hip Dysplasia: Maine Coon cats are known for their large bodies. However, it is their large body structure that makes them more susceptible to hip dysplasia. This particular disease can lead to arthritis, although the condition is generally not considered a huge problem. But be aware of its symptoms, because if left untreated, it can lead to paralysis.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: This condition is uncommon in Maine Coon cats, but it is serious and the symptoms should not be ignored.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy: Maine Coon cats’ lifespan may be shortened by a genetic disorder called spinal muscular atrophy. The disease is characterized by "progressive instability due to loss of lower spinal cord motor neurons and hindlimb muscle atrophy, resulting in unsteady gait and abnormal posture." Symptoms usually appear when your kitten is 3-4 months old. Maine Coon cats can still live comfortably indoors after suffering from this disease.

4. Exercise

Maine Coon cats need daily exercise to stay healthy and maximize their Maine Coon lifespan. The pet owner should play with the Maine Coon cat every day to improve the cat's exercise level. Maine Coon cats are known to be particularly playful, while adult Maine Coon cats require more exercise, especially if kept as an indoor cat.

Buy a cat climbing frame for your Maine Coon cat! Due to the large size of the Maine Coon cat, a standard size cat climbing frame will not be suitable for his exercise needs. An oversized cat climbing frame is needed to ensure that your Maine Coon cat gets regular exercise to keep it healthy.

5. Heredity

Heredity is one of the most likely causes of a shortened lifespan for Maine Coon cats. Unfortunately, there’s nothing that can be done about this influence. So, start by choosing a reputable breed, and reputable breeders test their cats for a range of different diseases before breeding. This helps ensure that the kitten is not born with a genetic defect. So when buying a Maine Coon cat, be sure to buy from a reputable breeder.

6. Veterinary health examination

Maximize your Maine Coon cat's lifespan by taking it for regular health checkups. Such examinations can ensure that health problems are resolved more quickly and can then be treated accordingly. You should also keep your Maine Coon cat up to date on vaccinations, and general health requirements such as deworming.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many factors to consider when asking how long a Maine Coon cat will live. Most of the items listed are within the cat's control, such as making sure your Maine Coon cat has a healthy diet and gets regular exercise. Unfortunately, you will not be able to influence the genetic causes of your cat's birth. However, regular veterinary checkups may help you detect potential health problems more quickly, and you can then treat the identified problems accordingly.