Preparing Your Home for a Maine Coon: The Ultimate Guide for New Owners

Did you just place a deposit on your kitten and want to be prepared for when it's time to go home? Maybe you're just browsing and want to know what you'd have to do to be prepared as a Maine Coon parent.

Bringing a new Maine Coon kitten into your life is an exciting and joyful experience! However, a well-prepared home can make all the difference in ensuring a smooth transition. Whether your home has never had pets or already includes children, other cats, or dogs, here are actionable tips to help you get ready.

General Advice for All Homes

Create a Safe Space: Dedicate a quiet area for your kitten to acclimate. This can be a small room or a cozy corner with their essentials.
- Essentials: A comfortable bed, a litter box, food and water dishes, scratching post, and toys.
Litter Box Setup: Place the litter box in a low-traffic area with easy access. Maine Coons prefer large litter boxes.
- Product Recommendation: This Large or Giant Sifting Litter is perfect for big cats like Maine Coons.
Food and Water Stations: Invest in sturdy bowls and consider a water fountain to encourage hydration.
- Product Recommendation: We have the PetLibro Wireless Fountain to avoid kittens chewing on cords.
Cat-Proofing: Secure electrical cords, remove toxic plants, and block off small spaces where a curious kitten could hide.

Preparing a Pet-Free Home

If your home has never had pets, there are additional considerations to ensure it’s kitten-friendly:

Scratch-Resistant Furniture: Invest in furniture covers or use double-sided sticky tape to deter scratching. Bored cats will scratch things they're not supposed to so daily play, redirecting, and stimulating toys are essential. Just like a bored puppy, a bored kitten will get into mischief.
Scratching Posts and Trees: Provide multiple options to satisfy your kitten’s natural instincts. Maine Coons are large cats so focus on a sturdy cat tree over cuteness factor. I have had good luck at Homegood and Rural King.
- Product Recommendation: This Amazon Basics Cat Tree is another good option.
Introduce Interactive Toys: Maine Coons are intelligent and require mental stimulation.
- Product Recommendation: This PetLibro Interactive Cat Toy is similar to the one we own that is no longer sold and we love Cat Wands such as this or this.

Preparing a Home with Children

Children and Maine Coons often form deep bonds, but preparation is key:

Teach Gentle Handling: Educate children about proper handling to prevent stress or injury.
Create Cat-Only Zones: Set up areas where the kitten can retreat if overwhelmed.
Supervise Initial Interactions: Always supervise playtime to ensure the safety of both the kitten and children.

Preparing a Home with Another Cat

Maine Coons are generally sociable, but careful introductions are necessary:

Separate Initial Spaces: Keep the new kitten in a separate room for a few days.
Scent Swapping: Exchange bedding between the cats to help them get accustomed to each other’s scent.
Supervised Meetings: Gradually introduce the cats under supervision, using treats to create positive associations.

Preparing a Home with Dogs

Introducing a Maine Coon to a home with dogs requires careful planning:

Choose a Calm Environment: Begin introductions in a quiet room with the dog on a leash.
Teach Commands: Ensure your dog knows basic commands like "sit" and "stay."
Provide Escape Routes: Set up high perches or gated areas where the kitten can escape if needed.

By following these tailored tips, your home will be ready for the newest, fluffiest member of your family. A little preparation goes a long way in making your Maine Coon feel welcome and loved from day one!

Preparing Your Home for a Maine Coon: The Ultimate Guide for New Owners