How long to feed a Maine Coon kitten food?

I have an almost 6 month old Maine Coon kitten. Currently he gets about half a can of wet a day and free feeds Wellness Kitten dry as he pleases. He weighs 11 pounds, HUGE, I know! Took him to the vet last week and vet says he is at a healthy weight for his size, he's just going to be a huge cat.

I've read on this site that since Maine Coons don't mature as fast as other cats that they should be kept on their kitten food longer. But at what point do I make the switch from kitten to adult food? I am concerned that he will become overweight on his kitten dry food if I keep him on it for too long. I am really hesitant to give him controlled portions of the dry as I've also read that kittens should free fed while they are kittens because they are still developing and growing. I know Maine Coons get BIG as I've had Maine Coons before, but this is the first Maine Coon that I've had in my adult life (in the past my parents always took care of the kitty diets as I was only a kid). And my little guy is so big already, growing like a weed. Just want whats best for him.

I know he's only 6 months old and I have no plans to take him off kitten food for now. Just thinking ahead in to the future.

With small or medium breeds I never feed kitten food past 4 or 5 months. With large breeds like Maine Coons or Ragdolls, they should be on kitten food for about 9 months because they will need it.

If he's 6 months now, then at least keep him on kitten food for 2 more months before you start switching to adult food. I also would be feeding him twice a day - no reason to let him free feed at his age. Is he neutered yet?

Yep, he's neutered.

My Rascal is a pure Maine Coon and he is threeyears old. Yes they get big, Rascal is now 19lbs. Maine Coons continue to grow between the ages of 3 and 5 years old and reach their full growth by 5. Rascal grew an inch longer since last year!


Before you take yours off the kitten food, double check with your vet first. The one thing that I would do, is increase the amount of wet food you give yours and decrease the amount of dry. By increasing the wet, you will be feeding him healthier proteins which he needs.


Dry food tends to make them gain weight quite a bit as they have more carbs then proteins.



Just remember he may seen "huge" to you, but he is still a only a growing kitten. Unless your vet says otherwise I would keep him on the kitten food for a year. That's what I did with Rascal and he is very healthy overall.


Hope this helps!

I feel my Maine Coon a grain-free food which is for both kittens and adults, so I didn't have to switch.

I would say ask the vet...

reason is yes this breed continues to grow well past 12 months and IMHO would need a kitten or a higher protein /fat all stage for likely the first 3 yrs

It doesn't hurt to keep them on kitten food for LIFE, actually. Unless the vet contraindicates it. Kitten food's only main difference, generally, is higher protein. This helps prevent your cat getting fat as long as he's not fed too much. It's the quantity you want to watch once he approaches maturity. If you feel he's getting fat, you cut back a little. At 6 months generally that's not an issue yet. But as he is neutered, it easily could be once he gets over a year old. Just take it day by day.

It would be a good idea to talk to his breeder. All responsible breeders should give care instructions with their kittens

In response to one of the responders suggestions to only feed your kitten twice a day and that there is no reason to keep food down, my vet and other vets I have asked all say different.

Advice from vets I have spoken to say that Kittens should always have access to dry food as they need to eat more that just once or twice a day.
Once they become an adult then you can put them on a feeding schedule.
However, I would consult with your vet about when 'adult' time is for your cat. Different breeds mature and grow at different rates.