The Lifetime Cost Of A Maine Coon Cat

The Lifetime Cost Of A Maine Coon Cat

Maine Coon cats have a high financial outlay in the initial acquisition stage.

A good quality cat can range anywhere from $400 to over $1500.

Other one time purchases such as litter boxes, food, and water dishes, cat beds etc, can also inflate the initial outlay. After covering the costs of acquisition, the lifetime cost of a Maine Coon cat can vary depending on some core factors.

Still, there should be a rough figure to allow you to calculate how much you could end up spending.

So, what is the lifetime cost of a Maine Coon cat?

A Maine Coon should cost you between $5250 and $21250 during its life. A Maine Coon lives to around 15 years if treated well so the annual cost is between $525 and $1700. Indoor Maine Coons will cost more throughout their lives as they live longer.

By total cost this is to include all the food and items associated with owning and caring for your Maine Coon.

Pet food is obvious as a cost but what items, that you as an owner, will expend to keep your Maine Coon?

The items to consider in terms of lifetime cost are

• protein rich pet food
• litter (in early stages or if an indoor Maine Coon)
• grooming kit (combs and brushes)
• flea control
• deworming tablets
• collars and identity tags
• vaccinations
• veternary services
• neutering / spaying
• toys, treats, litter box, food bowls, poop scoops
• cat beds
• scratching post
• insurance

Largely the biggest cost for a lifetime will be the food.

As an individual expense the veternary costs would be expensive depending upon whether you choose insurance.

Cost Of Maine Coon Food

Maine Coon cats are highly energetic and need a rich quality diet full of protein to provide adequate sustenance.

When picking cat food, there are a few things to look out for.

Some characteristics of a proper cat food are;

i. Wholesomeness

An ideal Maine Coon cat food should provide a balanced diet.

The latest cat foods use high-quality ingredients such as whole grains, brown rice, chicken, venison, lamb, bison, buffalo, taurine, flax seeds, salmon, duck, green peas, sweet potatoes, garbanzo beans, menhaden, salmon oils and natural preservatives.

These ingredients provide carbohydrates, fiber, potassium, magnesium, selenium, phosphorous, amino acids, omega 3 fatty acids and more.

Maine Coon cats grow to impressive weights and have luxuriant, thick coats.

They have a vital need for these nutrients to attain maximum fitness.

However, a Maine Coon requires a protein rich diet.

A Maine Coon can grow for 3 to 5 years after birth and will need the protein from its food to sustain the growth.

A lot of foods can be grain based like rice and barley, but a Maine Coon will need a chicken, turkey, duck, tuna, fish, or beef diet.

ii. Type And Costs

Maine Coon cat food comes in dry, wet and freeze-dried options.

• Dry foods are the cheapest option. They last longer and give additional value for money.

Prices per pound for budget brands are under a $1, mid-price brands cost $1 to $2 and higher end brands cost anything over $2.

A Maine Coon cat can use dry foods to exercise gums and teeth. They can also be left out for the cat to eat at their own discretion.

As a responsible Maine Coon owner you will have to try and make sure the dry food is protein rich, which typically are more expensive than the grain based varities.

• Wet foods are more expensive than dry and tend to go off faster.

They can cost anything between $5 to over $30 for less than a half a kg.

• Freeze-dried cat foods are made of raw meat that can be rehydrated and served to Maine Coons cats.

They are highly nutritious because they match a Maine Coon cat’s natural diet very closely. They also enable owners who believe in raw feeding to stick to their beliefs.

100 grams of freeze-dried cat food costs under $1 on the lower end to over $65 on the higher end.

Total daily cost of food depends on the Maine Coon cat’s age, activity, sensitivities and genetic predispositions.

Kittens require higher calories, fats and proteins.

Adults require just enough food to stay healthy and seniors require lower calorie content with easy to digest ingredients. The key is keeping a healthy balance.

Playthings And Toys

Maine Coon cats have a lot of energy that has to be expended or they may develop destructive habits.

A wide array of toys is available online and offline. These include balls, chasers, teasers, interactive toys, plush and mice toys, cat trees, and electronic toys.

They cost anything from $1 to over $150 depending on tastes and preferences.

There is the economic option of making a cat toy at home. Maine Coon cats are triggered by movement and are highly curious.

This means they will chase and play with anything that can capture their interest.

Making your own cat playthings can save on money but will take up some time depending on the project you have in mind.

Health Insurance

Due to their popularity, stature and cost, there is a wide variety of insurance options available for Maine Coon cats.

Basic packages start at about $300 per annum. This is an optional expense but can affect the lifetime cost of a Maine Coon cat in the case of emergencies.

Veterinary Services

Kittens and more senior Maine Coons will need the most veterinary attention. The services they may require include;

• Initial & Regular Vaccinations

These are priced anywhere from $50 to upwards of $100. Vaccines should be administered to all Maine Coon cats over 12 weeks old.

Other vaccines required by law are for the Feline Panleukopenia-Virus (FPV), Feline-Herpes Virus-1 (FPV-1) and Feline Calicivirus (FCV). After the initial vaccinations, they are to be renewed every 3 years.

Booster prices range from $10 to $50 and an additional Consultation Fee may be charged where applicable.

• Defleaing which costs $20 on average.
• Deworming which costs $20 on average.

• Medical check-ups which cost $150 on average.
• Neutering or spaying which costs $150 on average.

The total annual cost of these services is a random variable that depends on the real-time state of the Maine Coon cat.

It also varies between facilities and can be adapted to fit your budget.

Conclusion

Ignoring initial costs and making annual assumptions, these are some estimated baseline figures;
– Food can cost anywhere from $250 to $500.
– Medical expenditure can cost anywhere from $75 to $500.

– Toys or treats average at about $50.
– Litter can cost from $100 to $300.

– Optional Health Insurance starts at about $300.
– Miscellaneous costs on average at about $50
–
These add up to anything from $525 to $1700 per annum.

Factoring in the lifespan of a Maine Coon cat as the widely accepted average of 10 to 12.5 years, this gives a lifetime cost ranging from $5,250 to $21,250.

This is a wildly varied range that means a Maine Coon cat can be adapted to a large number of financial brackets.

Adequate preparation and financial planning should be done before acquiring a Maine Coon cat.

They are a long-term investment and may not be suitable for the more carefree amongst us.