My Maine Coon is always hungry, why is that so? You may be wondering why your Maine Coon cat is always asking for more. A Maine Coon who is constantly hungry is very likely not fed the proper amount of food.
Pet owners frequently underfeed this large cat breed, which needs a lot more calories than the typical housecat. There are numerous other potential causes, such as an unidentified health issue or the food you are giving them being of poor quality.
Because their cat is frequently asking for more food than usual, many cat owners worry that their hungry cat has an underlying illness. Gladly, we found 19 reasons why your Maine Coon is always begging for food.
While inadequate food is the most frequent cause of a Maine Coon's constant hunger, there are still a lot of other reasons why your cat might be constantly peckish. To learn the precise reason why your cat is constantly pleading for food without first running for a vet check-up, keep reading!
My Maine Coon Is Always Hungry – 17 Reasons
The largest breed of domestic cat in the world, the Maine Coon, is well known. This implies that maintaining their size and health depends greatly on the food they consume.
The ideal diet for Maine Coons should include high protein and moderate carbohydrate intake with very few grains present. The majority of owners prefer to give their Maine Coons a daily mixture of wet and dry food.
However, some pet parents prefer to feed their cats raw meat, just like a wild cat would.
Cat owners that feed their Maine Coons raw food like chicken, beef, and fish along with supplemental oils and needed vitamins are taking great care of their cat’s health.
Even if you give your Maine Coon everything nutrient possible, you might still notice that it seems to be more hungry than it should be, let us check why.
👉 Related Reading: Maine Coon Vs Normal Cat: How Are They Different?
1. Do You Give Enough Food To Your Maine Coon?
The most obvious reason you say my Maine Coon is always hungry could be that you’re not giving him enough food. Maine Coons need more calories and feeding amounts because they are bigger than the typical house cat.
Approximately three ounces of dry food or nine ounces of wet food should be given to your Maine Coon each day. The majority of owners discover that a mix of wet and dry food works perfectly well. Try increasing your cat's serving size to ensure that it is completely satisfied after mealtime.
You need to learn what amount of food you need to provide for your feline friend.
2. Have You Considered Your Maine Coon Digestion?
Maine Coons already consume a lot more food than the majority of domestic cats because of their large size. Of course, each cat is unique, and your Maine Coon might have a metabolism that is even higher than those of the majority of cats in its breed.
If your cat is more active than other cats or spends a lot of time running around outside, it may also burn more calories.
Before making any significant dietary changes, be sure to speak with your veterinarian, but if you think your Maine Coon has a high metabolism, you might want to up its caloric intake a little to compensate for all the energy it expends.
👉 Related Reading: Maine Coon Growth Chart – What To Know So Maine Coon Could Grow
3. Your Maine Coon Cat Throws Up After Eating
A lot of cats have a bad habit of eating too quickly. However, cats' sensitive digestive systems can make them throw up if they eat too quickly. This implies that a significant portion of the calories and fluids your cat just ingested are being lost by your cat.
You can buy automatic wet food feeders or put obstructions in your cat's food bowl to slow down its eating to stop it from eating too quickly. This will reduce vomiting and give their digestive systems more time to digest the recent meal.
4. Your Maine Coon Cats Is Bored
Because of their intelligence and playful nature, Maine Coons need a lot of mental and physical stimulation to keep them occupied.
Your cat may spend the majority of its time eating if it doesn't have enough play space or toys to keep it entertained. Make sure your Maine Coon has a ton of toys, and switch them up every few weeks to keep your cat interested.
A daily playtime with your cat should also be implemented for additional enrichment! Give your large cat a cat tree as a gift so they can play and exercise throughout the day.
👉 Related Reading: 6 Fun Traits Of The Maine Coon Temperament
5. Your Maine Coon Cat Is Alone
Maine Coon is no different than me. I eat a lot when I feel lonely and alone in the world so why shouldn’t Maine Coon eat due to loneliness? Maine Coons are extremely sociable animals that struggle if they don't receive enough care and love.
Your Maine Coon may eat more frequently if you or your family are always gone and there are no other cats around to keep them company.
If you think your Maine Coon cat might be lonely, make sure to spend more one-on-one time with it. If you have the resources, time, and energy for one more cat, you might even consider this.
👉 Related Reading: 10 Maine Coon Cat Behavior Problems To Be Aware Of
6. Your Maine Coon Doesn’t Like Its Food Bowl
Due to their extreme sensitivity, cats can be greatly affected by even the smallest elements in their environment. Because of the bowl they use to eat, many cats find themselves eating less. The bowl shape is one of the most typical offenders.
Cats' whiskers are extremely delicate, and deep bowls frequently cause them to strain or bend. Try to purchase a shallow food bowl so your Maine Coon cat won’t have problems while enjoying the food.
7. New Schedule Is Bothering Your Cat
All cats, including Maine Coons, are creatures of habit.
Even minor adjustments to their environment or schedule can have a much greater impact on them than on a human. Your Maine Coon was probably accustomed to a different feeding schedule if you just recently brought one home.
If your cat is accustomed to eating at specific times, it may start whining that it is hungry. To avoid upsetting your cat with a sudden change in feeding time, try to implement a more gradual transition.
8. Low-Quality Cat Food
Even if you are giving your Maine Coon enough calories, the type of food you are giving him may not be sufficient to satisfy his hunger. High-quality cat food with the best nutritional values is necessary for Maine Coons.
The likelihood is that feeding your cat the cheapest food on the market will have a negative effect. More “filler” ingredients, like grains, are used in cheaper cat foods, which add little nutritional value to your cat's diet.
Instead, invest in more expensive cat food that has a higher proportion of proteins and fewer carbohydrates.
👉 Related Reading: Best Cat Foods Without Fillers
9. Something In Cat’s Food Was Changed
As we already said, cats are very sensitive creatures, especially to change. The brand of cat food you purchase may have altered its recipe without you even being aware of it.
It's possible that a dish your cat used to love has been slightly altered so that it no longer appeals to it. If you believe this to be the case, research the brand you've been purchasing from for years online to see if its recipe has recently changed.
If so, you might need to introduce your cat to a new brand of cat food (gradually).
10. Your Maine Coon Cat Is Not A Fan Of The Food You Provide
Unfortunately, some cats have a picky appetite. You might be dealing with a picky eater if your Maine Coon appears to be always hungry but only consumes a small portion of the food you offer.
If you think that your Maine Coon is a bit picky when it comes to food, it's probably time to start experimenting with various food brands and flavors until you find something your gentle giant will like. You should also check 9 Best Tasting Cat Foods for Picky Eaters.
11. Your Maine Coon Cat Is Stressed
Stress and depression can alter your cat's eating patterns in the same way that boredom and loneliness can. The emotional state of your cat should be closely monitored, especially since it frequently affects its physical health.
When the cat is stressed or depressed, it may start to cope with it by eating more or less. The source of stress might be a new baby, a new cat in the household, or any minor change in the routine.
Observe for more signs of stress like hiding, avoiding playtime, snapping, and such.
12. Your Maine Coon Cat Is Pregnant
If a female Maine Coon who hasn't been spayed starts eating a lot more than usual, she might be pregnant or have recently given birth. A cat ends up needing a lot more food when it has a lot of tiny kittens to look after.
A pregnant or nursing cat will typically exhibit a marked increase in appetite. You must feed a pregnant or nursing cat plenty of food so she can maintain her strength because she is much more vulnerable than usual.
👉 Related Reading: Best Maine Coon Breeders: Top 21 Choices
13. Your Maine Coon Has A Problem With Hairballs
Cats swallow a lot of fur because they groom themselves with their tongues. Because they groom themselves quite often, the hair in the cat’s digestive system can be stuck and therefore stopping them from eating the right amount of food.
Because Maine Coons have pretty much long fur, they are prone to hairballs. That’s why it is crucial you brush them once or twice a week, and more frequently during the shedding season, to reduce hairballs.
They will consume less hair as a result, decreasing their risk of developing hairballs. It is crucial that you regularly groom your Maine Coon cat if they are prone to developing hairballs
14. Another Stimulus Is In The Game
Cats are habitual animals, as I've already mentioned, and they frequently pick up on routines. You might unintentionally be teaching your cat to anticipate something different every time you give it food.
Your cat might avoid feeding time since they are used to having treats or some trips outside after it. If your Maine Coon is always pleading with you for food, it's possible that it's actually seeking the external stimulation that frequently comes with feeding time.
You should stop the treats for some time in order for your Maine Coon to stop associating feeding time with treats.
15. Food Aggression
Do you notice that your Maine Coon eats a lot of food quickly and scarfs or acts aggressively if you approach it while it is doing so?
This is an obvious sign that your cat is aggressive toward food. If your Maine Coon was ever a stray or had to struggle for survival at any point in its life, this behavior is especially typical.
Feral and stray cats who have sporadic access to food quickly pick up eating. Sadly, it will take some time for your cat to realize that it does not need to finish all of its food right away!
If you are the owner of many cats in the household, you need to provide a calm place for your Maine Coon so it can eat without worrying if it will lose the food.
👉 Related Reading: What To Feed Stray Cats – What To Feed And What Not To Feed
16. Your Maine Coon Cat Is Infected With Parasites
Your Maine Coon may have parasites if you've noticed that it's eating more frequently than usual while either losing weight or maintaining it.
It is possible for cats to acquire intestinal worms and other parasites from the outside, frequently through contact with other cats. Your Maine Coons may become more ravenous than usual if these nasty parasites leech off of their food.
Make sure to see your veterinarian right away if you think your cat has worms or other internal parasites. Despite the fact that these parasites rarely cause death, they should be treated right away.
👉 Read Also: How Long After Deworming A Cat Are The Worms Gone?
17. Your Maine Coon Cat Might Be Curious
You might assume your indoor cat isn't getting enough to eat if your Maine Coon is persistently pleading for table scraps. But most of the time, your cat is just curious.
In extreme situations, a cat might become so accustomed to consuming human food that it rejects its own cat food! But your cat's diet shouldn't include any human food, particularly grains, fruits, or other non-meat items.
Although it may be alluring, you should not make a habit of giving your cat treats from the table.
18. Your Maine Coon Cat Is Aging
If your cat is aging, it is expected that you pay more attention to its eating habits. Cats frequently exhibit an alteration in their diet as they age. Older cats tend to eat more and exercise less, which frequently results in obesity.
It's acceptable to start giving your cat a few more treats or a little bit more food than usual as it ages, but not too much. Obesity will only make a big cat's health problems even worse, so it's crucial to still control their food intake to a healthy amount.
👉 Related Reading: How Much Does A Maine Coon Cat Cost – Price And Expenses
19. Your Maine Coon Cat Has A Health Issue
A Maine Coon that appears to be constantly hungry may have been dealing with a problem that is quite simple to fix. Sadly, there's still a chance that your Maine Coon’s hunger is brought on by a hidden health condition.
You should take your Maine Coon to the vet right away if its hunger is accompanied by lethargy, a change in bowel habits, or any other concerning symptoms.
A cat's appetite may become more intense due to a variety of medical conditions, including diabetes, cancer, and hyperthyroidism which is in fact an overactive thyroid. To find out, take him to the veterinarian for a blood test.
What Is The Best Food For Maine Coons?
Every cat owner finds it difficult to choose the best option because there are so many available choices.
Asking your veterinarian for advice is always a good idea, but keep in mind that while many of them will advise you that the food they sell is the best choice, it might not be the best choice for your cat. We have covered a lot of important topics, but it won't hurt to go over them again.
When wondering what your Maine Coon diet should consist of, check out this:
• Food that is low in carbohydrates
• Food high in protein
• Supplements.
• Healthy fats
• High-quality dry food
The Maine Coon feeding chart and these feeding recommendations are a great way to help you organize the diet of your Maine Coon Cat, but keep in mind that not all cats are the same, and consequently, not all cats like the same things.
Potatoes, lentils, legume seeds, and peas are all ingredients you should stay away from in canned food. We can suggest a Royal Canin Maine Coon brand that you can find online, perhaps on Amazon given that almost everything is available there.
Are Maine Coons More Needy?
The Maine Coon is a sociable and curious creature that loves to be around people, but it can amuse itself and is not considered to be a clingy cat breed.
Even though they aren't thought of as lap cats, they like to play and receive physical affection. The bustle and noise of a busy household won't easily faze the hardy Maine Coon.
Wrapping It Up
Why is my Maine Coon always hungry is probably a question you've been asking yourself if your cat has started pleading for food more frequently or acts ravenous whenever it approaches the food bowl.
Maine Coons frequently receive inadequate calorie intake or inadequate amounts of food with poor nutritional value. The constant need for food in a Maine Coon can also be a sign of boredom, loneliness, or even underlying health issues.
Before serious health problems arise, it's critical to determine the cause of your Maine Coon's constant hunger and treat it. The vet visit could be very beneficial.
