Maine Coon kittens are usually born weighing between 3.5 and 4.5 ounces (100 to 130 grams), and they typically grow quickly in their first few months of life. By the time they are six months old, Maine Coon kittens can weigh between 7 and 9 pounds (3.2 to 4.1 kg) and may have reached about half of their adult size. However, Maine Coons are a slow-maturing breed and can continue to grow until they are around 3-4 years old.
Growth of Maine Coon Kittens
0-2 Weeks
During the first 0-2 weeks of their lives, Maine Coon kittens completely depend on their mother for everything, including nourishment and warmth. They are born blind, deaf, and unable to regulate their body temperature, so they rely on their mother to provide them with everything they need to survive.
During this time, they spend most of their time sleeping and nursing, and their mother spends most of her time caring for and cleaning them. Maine Coon kittens will double their birth weight within the first week, and their eyes will open around 7-10 days after birth. By the end of the second week, they will start to become more active and will begin to explore their immediate surroundings.
2-4 Weeks
During the 2-4 week stage of their lives, Maine Coon kittens become more mobile and develop their senses and coordination. They will begin to explore their surroundings, taking their first wobbly steps and trying to climb. They will also develop their hearing and sight, and their eyes will be fully open by the end of the second week.
At this stage, they will start to play and interact more with their littermates and develop their unique personalities. They will still rely on their mother’s milk for nutrition but will show interest in solid food and nibble on it.
By the end of the fourth week, they will have started the weaning process and will rely less on their mother’s milk. They will also start grooming themselves and each other, learning to keep themselves clean.
4-8 Weeks
During the 4-8 week stage of their lives, Maine Coon kittens become much more active and playful. They will spend most of their waking hours playing with their littermates and exploring their environment. They will continue to develop their coordination and physical abilities, such as jumping and climbing.
At this stage, they will also become more independent and interact more with humans. They will be more curious and seek attention and affection from their human caregivers. They will also continue the weaning process, gradually transitioning to solid food and drinking water. Their baby teeth will start to come in, and they will start to chew on things to help alleviate the discomfort of teething.
By the end of the eighth week, Maine Coon kittens should be fully weaned and be eating solid food exclusively. They will have started to develop their unique personalities and characteristics, and their fur will become longer and plusher. This stage is a critical time for socialization, and it’s important to expose Maine Coon kittens to different experiences, people, and animals to help them become well-adjusted and social adult cats.
8-12 Weeks
During the 8-12 week stage of their lives, Maine Coon kittens become more independent and self-sufficient. They will continue to play and explore, but they will also start to develop their adult sleeping patterns and will sleep for longer periods. They will become more coordinated and skilled at jumping and climbing, and their personalities will become more pronounced, exhibiting their individual preferences and quirks.
At this stage, Maine Coon kittens should be fully weaned and eat solid food exclusively. They will have all their baby teeth and may start exploring their environment by chewing on things. This is a good time to introduce them to scratching posts to help prevent them from damaging furniture.
3-4 Months
During the 3-4 month stage of their lives, Maine Coon kittens will continue to grow rapidly and develop their adult physical and behavioral characteristics. They will become more coordinated and agile, and their personalities will become more defined. They will be fully weaned and eating solid food exclusively.
Maine Coon will also have received their initial vaccinations and will be ready to receive their booster shots. This is also a good time to start litter box training and continue their scratching post-training.
Maine Coon kittens, at this stage, will also start to develop their adult coat, which will be longer and thicker than their kitten coat. Regular grooming is important to prevent matting and to help them get accustomed to being groomed. They will also become more vocal and communicate with humans and other cats through various sounds.
1 Year
By the time Maine Coon kittens reach their first year, they are considered fully grown and have reached their adult size and weight. They will have developed their full adult coat, which will be thick and luscious and will also have developed their adult personality and behavioral traits.
Maine Coons are known for being friendly, pleasant, and intelligent nature, and at this stage, they should have developed these traits.. They are curious cats and love to explore their environment, so providing them with plenty of stimulation and opportunities to play is important.
It’s recommended to continue providing Maine Coon cats with regular veterinary checkups and vaccinations to ensure their ongoing health and well-being. They should also continue to receive regular grooming, including brushing their coat and trimming their nails.
Factors Affecting Maine Coon Kitten’s Growth
- Genetics: Genetics plays a major role in determining the size and growth rate of Maine Coon kittens. The size and growth rate of a Maine Coon kitten are largely determined by its parents, so kittens from larger parents will tend to be larger and grow more quickly than kittens from smaller parents.
- Nutrition: Proper nutrition is essential for the healthy growth and development of Maine Coon kittens. Kittens require a diet high in protein, fat, and other essential nutrients to support their growth and development. Feeding them balanced and high-quality kitten food is important for their growth.
- Environment: The environment in which a Maine Coon kitten is raised can also affect its growth. Kittens raised in a safe and stress-free environment with plenty of opportunities for play and exercise are more likely to grow and develop at a healthy rate.
- Health: Health issues can also affect the growth and development of Maine Coon kittens, confirming to the National Library of Medicine. Kittens that are sick or have underlying health conditions may experience slower growth rates or developmental delays.
- Activity level: The activity level of Maine Coon kittens can also affect their growth. Kittens who are more active and engaged in play are likely to burn more calories and grow faster than those who are less active.
