Maine Coon cats sweat, making them non-hypoallergenic. Maine Coons shed hair differently. Maine Coons shed less than short-haired cats despite their lengthy hair. Learn about Maine Coon cats’ shedding habits and how to manage the hair while enjoying life with your loving giant cat!

Do Maine Coon cats shed? You can fur-get stress with the right hacks!

Regardless of their breed, all felines have a similar shedding situation: they all have fur and will shed.

Maine Coons, unfortunately, have a reputation for being big shedders due to their slightly fluffier appearance compared to other cats.

Do Maine Coon cats shed? Yes, they certainly do! You should specifically focus on the amount.

It may be surprising, but a healthy cat should shed very little regardless of its fur length.

However, it is quite common to hear cat owners expressing frustration when they discover large clumps of Maine Coon hair on their clothes and furniture. Why is that? Let’s collaborate in order to find a solution.

The shedding pattern of Maine Coon cats is explained.

Similar to Norwegian Forest and Siberian cats, Maine Coons also originate from cold climates.

This large-sized breed originates from Maine, the easternmost state in the U.S., which experiences cold weather throughout the year.

Maine Coons have developed a thick double coat to help them cope with winter conditions. The animals have an inner layer of dense fur that effectively traps air, providing insulation.

Additionally, their outer coat, which is waxy and of medium length, acts as a protective blanket, repelling water and snow.

It is completely normal for adult Maine Coons living in cold climates to naturally shed their dead fur twice a year, typically in the spring and autumn seasons.

In addition to their large-scale seasonal coat change, these easy-going cats do not shed excessively due to their thick coat. The kittens of this breed do not start shedding until they have reached adulthood.

Shedding factors for Maine Coon cats

If your Maine Coon is shedding large amounts of hair throughout your living space, it is clear that the situation has become unmanageable. Based on the observations of veterinarians over the years, chronic shedding in this particular breed is associated with five factors:

• Temperature and humidity
• Underlying medical conditions
• Stress
• Poor hygiene
• A poor diet.

Let us examine each of these factors and determine proactive solutions for managing shedding.

How much do ill Maine Coons shed?

The quality of a cat’s coat is a reliable indicator of its overall health. A dull coat, excessive shedding, and patchy skin are common signs that a pet may be experiencing one or multiple health issues.

Let’s explore some common conditions that can cause Maine Coons to experience periods of shedding.

• Food allergies are typically triggered by dairy, grains, or beef.
• Food poisoning and stomach infections can occur when consuming toxic food. Any infection can disrupt immune function and cause cats to shed.
• Liver and kidney diseases are medical conditions that affect the liver and kidneys, respectively.
• There is a flea or parasite infestation.
• Fungal and bacterial diseases
• Cancer
• Diabetes and hyperthyroidism are endocrine diseases.
• Sunburn
• The potential side effects of medication.

In addition to these issues, cats may experience temporary shedding due to hormone imbalances caused by pregnancy or sterilization surgery.

Suppose you are concerned about your Maine Coon shedding excessively and suspect it may be due to a health issue.

In that case, taking them to a veterinarian for a comprehensive medical assessment is advisable.

Is stress the cause of your cat’s shedding?

Maine Coons can experience off-season shedding in rare cases when they are constantly living in a state of anxiety. Other symptoms of feline stress include:

• IBS and indigestion
• Chewing on household items and plants
• Refusing to eat their usual wet or dry food
• Consuming larger servings
• Hissing and pouting
• Being rude to other people, dogs, or other animals
• Urinating outside of the litter box

If you suspect that your cat is shedding due to discomfort, it is important to identify the underlying cause of stress and take appropriate measures to address the issue.

Additionally, you have the option to seek guidance from an animal behaviorist in order to gain a better understanding of what may be troubling your pet.

Top cleaning tips to stop shedding in Maine Coons

Excessive shedding can occasionally be a clear indicator of poor hygiene. You can maintain the condition of your Maine Coon’s coat by following this grooming advice:

Regular brushing

Regularly brushing your Maine Coon every two to three days serves multiple purposes. Not only does it effectively remove dead fur and skin, but it also helps distribute healthy oils throughout their coat. To effectively remove the undercoat of a cat that sheds seasonally, it is recommended to use de-shedding tools.

Occasionally trim your fur and nails.

The extra-long fur on your cat’s paws and neck can become matted when it gets wet from the litter, urine, and other debris in your home. When trimming your pet’s fur yourself, make sure to hold the hair strands with a fine-tooth comb to prevent accidentally cutting the skin.

Bathe your cat once every week.

Remember to use lukewarm water and gentle cleansing products when cleaning up. Domestic cats of the Maine Coon breed originated in the United States. Males are renowned for their massive bulk.

A lack of nutrients causes your Maine Coon to shed?

According to experts in feline nutrition, low-quality cat food is often responsible for poor-quality coats in cats. This is because dietary flaws may not be immediately apparent, but they can result in various health issues for cats, including:

• Hairballs and excessive shedding (caused by weak fur roots)
• Unhealthy weight (obesity or anorexia)
• Dental diseases and early tooth loss
• Recurring stomach problems like regurgitation and gagging
• Unhealthy eating patterns include bingeing and overeating.

For optimal coat and overall health, the ideal diet for cats should consist of more than 50% proteins and up to 20% fats.

It is crucial that these nutrients are obtained from meat since cats are naturally carnivorous animals. These organisms possess digestive enzymes that aid in the absorption of nutrients from flesh and organs.

Feeding them proteins from plants or dairy products can potentially strain their system and lead to stomach sensitivity.

How to determine if your Maine Coon’s diet is ruining its coat?

If your Maine Coon cat sheds a lot, it is advisable to reconsider the food you are currently feeding them. Here are some ideas:

Are my cat’s protein sources appropriate?

It is important for your cat to obtain proteins from whole meat sources rather than processed animal derivatives such as chicken and bone meals.

In order to meet the nutrient requirements recommended by the PFMA (Pet Food Manufacturers Association), certain manufacturers may incorporate vegan and dairy proteins into their products.

Over time, these low-quality proteins can have a detrimental impact on your cat’s coat.

Are the things I’m buying filled with fillers?

Feeding a product that contains a lot of fillers can result in your cat not receiving enough meat in its diet. This can have a negative impact on their coat and overall health over time.

Cat food commonly contains fillers such as sweetcorn, rice, vegetables (such as potatoes and peas), cellulose, and soya.

These ingredients may be promoted for their perceived health benefits, but they provide little nutritional value to cats, who are primarily meat eaters.

Is a specific product causing food allergies to be triggered?

Some products, mainly biscuits, undergo extensive processing and may contain numerous preservatives, artificial colors, and taste enhancers.

These additives have the potential to cause allergic reactions in cats. If your cat is allergic to a product, it may experience shedding and other symptoms such as:

• Hyperventilation
• Experiencing symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea.
• The eyes appear red and inflamed.
• A lack of appetite

Excessive shedding not only compromises a cat’s health but also has other negative effects. Cat owners often struggle with the task of removing fur from the most unexpected and hard-to-reach areas of their homes.

Maine Coons are not hypoallergenic, which means that their airborne fur can worsen allergies in individuals living in the same household who are allergic to cats.

To enhance the quality of your pet’s coat, we are advisable to transition from dry or mixed diets to high-protein, grain-free wet food that contains whole meat.

Consistently feeding your cat high-quality wet food can naturally reduce shedding over the course of a few months.

Conclusion

Shedding and pet hair are inevitable realities for most pet lovers. Although linting our clothes before leaving the house can be a hassle, the happiness we experience from sharing our lives with pets makes it a worthwhile trade-off. Owners of Maine Coon cats are no exception.

Indeed, Maine Coon cats do shed their fur. However, it is worth noting that there are effective methods available to manage this shedding.

Despite the shedding, many owners are not deterred from bringing a Maine Coon cat into their families, as evidenced by their popularity. These beautiful felines are highly sought after.