Maine Coon cats are the big, handsome fluffballs of the cat world. They have great personalities; however, the Maine Coon’s coat is thick and requires upkeep. These cats are naturally large, but that doesn’t mean they should be overweight or obese.

Coat problems and weight issues can lead to illness and discomfort for your cat, and the wrong diet can also lead to other health problems. Meanwhile, there’s no “one-size-fits-all” diet for cats. Some breeds have specific needs. The basis for every healthy Maine Coon is a healthy diet that supports its large body and healthy coat.

We sorted through all the brands and found the best products on the market. These reviews of the best foods for Maine Coon cats are a guide for finding the perfect food to support your Maine Coon’s health, energy, and happiness.

A Quick Glance at Our Favorites in 2024

The 9 Best Foods for Maine Coon Cats

1. Smalls Human-Grade Fresh Cat Food Subscription Service – Best Overall

Chicken is one of the most popular cat proteins for a good reason. It provides cats with everything they need to thrive and is very accessible. In the United States, chicken isn’t very hard to find. Smalls Ground Bird is mostly chicken. Based on the ingredient list, it appears that nearly the whole chicken is used, including the chicken heart.

Based on this information, Smalls seems to be the perfect choice for your Maine Coon. It provides a high amount of protein essential for supporting your cat’s higher energy levels.

If your Maine Coon is overweight, this high-protein formula may also help them shed some pounds. It does not include any of the fillers that are common in cat food, so it contains fewer empty calories that may contribute to your cat’s obesity.

Overall, we think this is the best food for Maine Coons this year.

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2. Diamond Naturals Premium Real Meat Indoor Cat Food – Budget Buy

The best food for Maine Coon cats for the money is the Diamond Naturals Premium Real Meat Indoor Cat food. This dry food supports a healthy weight for indoor cats and has chicken meal and cage-free chicken as the first two ingredients. It has 32% protein, 14% fat, and 8% fiber.

It contains ingredients like dried kelp, pumpkin, carrots, and live prebiotic and probiotic strains from healthy bacteria like lactobacillus plantarum, bacillus subtilis, and lactobacillus acidophilus. The probiotics and high fiber support hairball prevention and gastrointestinal health.

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3. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Indoor Hairball & Weight Control

Another top choice for your Maine Coon is Blue Buffalo’s Wilderness Indoor Hairball & Weight Control. This dry food will help support your cat’s coat and help them stay at a healthy weight. It features deboned chicken as the first ingredient and has 36% protein, 12% fat, and 7.2% fiber.

Blue Buffalo includes omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids sourced from Menhaden fish meal and flaxseed to support healthy skin and fur. The fiber in this food, which comes from powdered cellulose and psyllium seed husks, will help prevent hairballs and constipation, both of which can be a big problem for Maine Coons because of their thick, long coats.

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4. Stella and Chewy Dinner Morsels Freeze-Dried Raw

For a premium cat food for your Maine Coon, try the Stella and Chewy Dinner Morsels Freeze-Dried Raw food. It contains 98% ground meat, organs, and bone, and the first six ingredients are meats or organs. It is shaped into small, freeze-dried morsels that should be rehydrated before feeding. For cat owners who prefer to feed it raw, Stella and Chewy provides a safer alternative to fresh, raw meat.

It has 40% protein, 30% fat, and 5% fiber, so it is much higher in protein and fat than many other foods. It supports cats’ natural need for whole protein sources, including organs and bone. Stella and Chewy’s Dinner Morsells are grain-free, have high levels of taurine to support heart health, and contain probiotics to support GI health, which is all that you need in a Maine coon diet.

Related Read: Stella and Chewy’s Cat Food Reviews: Recalls, Pros & Cons

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5. Tiki Cat Aloha Friends Variety Pack

The Tiki Cat Aloha Friends Variety Pack is a great wet formula for Maine Coons that prefer a little variety in their food. This pack contains tuna with tilapia and pumpkin, tuna with ocean whitefish and pumpkin, tuna with shrimp and pumpkin, and tuna with calamari and pumpkin.

Flaked tuna and tuna broth are the first two ingredients in each formulation, and they all contain 11% protein, 1.8% fat, and 0.5% fiber. Each recipe includes pumpkin, which helps with hairball prevention and GI health. One benefit of feeding wet food is that it helps ensure your cat gets enough water, which supports their urinary and GI health.

Tiki Cat contains nutritious ingredients, like whole pieces of shrimp and calamari. The variety pack is not very expensive, but if you feed wet food as a primary food source, it will get very expensive since many Maine Coons require four to six cans or more daily.

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6. Solid Gold Fit as a Fiddle with Alaskan Pollock

Solid Gold’s Fit as a Fiddle with Alaskan Pollock is an excellent formula for overweight or less energetic Maine Coons, but it also works well to prevent inappropriate weight gain and obesity. The first two ingredients are pollock and turkey meal, and the formula contains 31% protein, 9% fat, and 9% fiber, making it lower in fat and higher in fiber than many dry foods.

This improves satiety without leading to weight gain. Pollock, olive, and salmon oils support healthy skin and fur, while prebiotics and probiotics help maintain GI health. It is moderately priced, and while kitties seem to find the smell appealing, some pet parents may find the fishy smell of the food off-putting. Due to its low protein and calorie content, Solid Gold is not a great option for young, active cats.

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7. Instinct Ultimate Protein Grain Free Cage Free Duck Recipe

The Instinct Ultimate Grain-Free Cage-Free Duck Recipe is a nice alternative to feeding a wholly raw diet. It contains bite-sized freeze-dried raw pieces that do not require rehydration, so it is the best of both worlds. The first four ingredients are duck, chicken, chicken eggs, and tapioca.

Instinct is a good formula for active young cats since it’s high in protein. It is grain-free and contains probiotics to support healthy digestion and help prevent hairballs. It also supports healthy skin and coat and contains multiple protein sources. However, for a 4-pound bag, it’s pretty expensive.

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8. Royal Canin Feline Breed Maine Coon Canned Cat Food

The Royal Canin Feline Breed Maine Coon Canned Cat Food is a healthy wet food that is made specifically with Maine Coons in mind. The first two ingredients are water and chicken, and it has 8.5% protein, 2.8% fat, and 2.2% fiber. Royal Canin includes glucosamine and chondroitin for joint support, which is especially important for Maine Coons.

This Maine Coon cat food also supports healthy skin and fur with omega fatty acids and contains l-carnitine to help your cat metabolize fat. Royal Canin will quickly get expensive if you feed it as the primary food for your Maine Coon because most Maine Coon cats will need three to five cans a day.

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9. Nutro Wholesome Essentials Indoor Recipe Chicken and Brown Rice

The Nutro Wholesome Essentials Indoor Recipe Chicken and Brown Rice is a dry food with chicken and chicken meal as the first two ingredients. It has 33% protein, 16% fat, and 7% fiber, making it a lower protein option than other dry food picks.

It contains a natural fiber blend that helps prevent constipation and hairballs, and it has flaxseed for omega-6 fatty acids to support skin and coat health, but it lacks a solid source of omega-3 fatty acids. Nutro is free of corn, soy, and wheat. It’s also more affordable than some of the premium products.

Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Food for Maine Coon Cats

What Purpose Does This Ingredient Have in Your Maine Coon’s Food?

Meat: If you are looking at an ingredient that is a single recognizable protein, like “chicken” or “duck”, the ingredient was processed directly from its meat form into the food. This isn’t a by-product of another process, and it isn’t organ meat or bone.

Meat Meal: If you see “chicken meal” or other specific meal listed on your ingredient list, it is a protein powder that has been manufactured from meat but can also contain skin and bone. This powder is highly concentrated and can contain significantly more protein than meat. However, avoid “animal meals” or other nonspecific meals since they may not be a nutritionally sound product.

Meat By-Product: These ingredients are often byproducts of other processes, like meat processing for human food. It is listed in an ingredient list as a “chicken by-product” or “lamb by-product.” These products can contain organ meats and meat but not hooves, teeth, skin, or horns. There isn’t anything inherently bad about meat by-products, but they can have varying nutrient levels based on what was added to a batch, so they aren’t always a reliable source of healthy protein.

Meat By-Product Meal: This is a concentrated powder made from the products contained in a meat by-product.

If you’re curious about what’s safe for cats to eat, are interested in supplements or have general questions about your feline’s nutrition and diet, it is recommended you speak to your vet.

Organs and Bones: Many organs, like the heart and liver, are incredibly nutrient-dense, making them great additions to your cat’s diet. Bones provide high calcium levels, and the marrow from within the bones is also nutrient-dense. These can be great additions to your Maine Coon’s diet, but they should not be the only protein source your cat receives.

Cellulose Powder: This ingredient is added as a source of fiber. However, it may be an additive that is unfit for human consumption, which is why it’s in pet food. Therefore, avoid this ingredient in low-quality foods.

Flaxseed: Flaxseeds provide a healthy source of omega-3 fatty acids and can help raise the protein content.

Prebiotics and Probiotics: Probiotics and prebiotics are beneficial bacteria that help to ensure the GI tract is functioning at tip-top shape. They can also help support skin and coat health and immunity.

Beet Pulp: This is added to food as a source of fiber to maintain GI health. Beet pulp is a very healthy fiber additive for cats and is unlikely to cause GI distress or discomfort.

Montmorillonite Clay: Although it’s added to food as an anti-caking agent, montmorillonite clay also carries several health benefits, including supporting GI health and adding calcium, iron, magnesium, and other vitamins and minerals.

Kelp: Kelp, a type of seaweed, packs a nutritional punch by adding vitamins and minerals into your cat’s food. It has also been shown to aid in dental health, reduce allergy symptoms, and reduce inflammation.

Final Verdict

The best overall food for your Maine Coon is the Smalls Ground Bird Fresh Cat Food, which is a high-quality formula that provides plenty of stable nutrition to your cat. For a high-value product, Diamond Naturals Premium Real Meat Indoor Cat Food will help support your Maine Coon’s health without breaking the bank.

These reviews are intended to make it less confusing when it comes to choosing the right food for your Maine Coon. It’s important to talk to your veterinarian before making any dietary changes. Your vet knows your cat’s health status and history and can make educated recommendations for foods that will work best for your kitty.

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Featured Image Credit: Lita Keire, Shutterstock