Recommended Supplies for your Maine Coon kitten or adult:
Orijen Original (previously Cat & Kitten) is a top-quality food with no fillers and no meat meals and their associated chemicals. The best deal is to go to an independent pet store (brick and mortar) that participates in the rewards program which will let you get the 13th bag free (you have to get them all from the same store). If you need it online you can get it through Chewy. https://www.chewy.com/orijen-original-grain-free-dry-cat/dp/128821
Nulo wet food is good and has large cans which work well for me. Orijen came out with wet food too that I hear is excellent.
Food & water bowls – Use ceramic or metal bowls and avoid plastic. Metal is the best in terms of bacteria but I’ve found large ceramic bowls are useful for kitties that like to move bowls. We use a mix of ceramic and metal bowls.
Dental care is important for kitties. They may not be fans of it but it’s important to clean their teeth. With the variety of shapes and sizes of teeth and the fact they’ll be somewhat resistant to oral hygiene it’s a process and you’ll need to adjust to what works for you and your kitty.
Dental finger wipes with some Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Toothpaste is a good start but it’s not sufficient on it’s own for the long term.
Jayu Pet makes a slim toothbrush that’s really good for getting the teeth and gums on the sides where’s there not a lot of room to work with and where gingivitis is most likely to occur.
JGocot Small Breed Toothbrush works well for cleaning the rest of the teeth.
Vetri-Science Lysine chews – boosts the immune system when given 1-2 times a day. They can be found on Chewy or a stronger and larger chew sold as Vetri-Science Pro can be obtained through your vet’s online pharmacy.
Feather wands are a huge favorite. Just use some duct tape to secure the two rods together. Put away when not playing with your cat as cats tend to eat string which can cause the need for surgery. https://www.chewy.com/pet-fit-life-2-feather-wand-cat-toy/dp/136702
Plastic spring toys – my cats go bonkers over them. https://www.chewy.com/frisco-colorful-springs-cat-toy/dp/188522
Tunnels – my cats love this one even though it’s not the biggest tunnel. Incorporate it and some boxes into the play time with the wand and they will be in heaven as they jump and pounce. https://www.chewy.com/frisco-peek-boo-cat-chute-cat-toy/dp/193085
Ball tower – my cats prefer this one. Do not leave the butterfly on when not watching, the cats will eat it or at a minimum shred it. I stopped putting it on and they like it as is. https://www.chewy.com/frisco-butterfly-cat-tracks-cat-toy/dp/188520
Refillable catnip toys are popular but should be put out for no more than a half hour a few times a week as extended exposure will cause the kitty to cease responding to cat nip.
Other ideas & tips – Mouse toys, kicker toys, ping pong balls and the fabric spring toys are good too.
Rotate out toys every few days as they get bored with what they have out.
Please do not use items not intended for cats like bottle caps and paper clips as toys. That’s just asking for an expensive surgery and a lot of pain for your kitty if it ingests it. If you have a home office, be vigilant. I have to hide my paper clips to keep my girls out of them.
Medium Dog Bed makes a great cat bed for a big kitty. https://www.chewy.com/frisco-round-bolster-cat-dog-bed/dp/140597
Booster seat for car rides when not using a carrier. Cat needs to wear a harness to attach to the seat. . https://www.chewy.com/kurgo-heather-dog-booster-seat/dp/143082
Cat tree – I recommend a tree from Cat Tree King or making your own since many of my cats have giant lineage. This is where Cat tree King shines; the trees are an investment but they are sturdy and large for our big kitties. They sell out regularly so sign up for email notifications to get a tree. Their site is cattreeking.com. AVOID – Frisco and Kitty Mansions cat trees; I was quite happy with mine until the sisal rope wore through and I found out they are cardboard tubes and not wood as advertised! Rather dangerous for big kitties!
Litter box – I use top entry boxes with a thick lid which readily holds the weight of big kitties. Avoid hinge style lids as they become useless if the little plastic piece breaks. Avoid plastic storage totes as they are to hard to clean and the lids don’t hold up. My kitties like open top automatic litter boxes like the Neakasa M1. Safety of any automatic box is paramount and careful supervision is needed if you transition a kitty to an automatic box.
Litter – For young kittens I use wood bedding pellets that can be bought at a ranch supply store. The pellets turn to sawdust when wet and absorb all urine odor so absolutely no ammonia smell when cleaned regularly. Scoop poop daily. For older kittens and adults I use walnut clumping litter which is much better than clay which is tied to lung issues. Avoid clay for health reasons and scented litter that’s harsh on their sensitive noses.
Nail Clippers – There are a lot of styles available. Here’s a link to help you decide what works best for you and your kitties. https://cats.com/best-cat-nail-clippers
Metal Comb – A sturdy metal comb with two sizes of tines, one on each half. Rounded or flat tips of the tines so they don’t poke the kitty.
Note – Do NOT get a furminator or any other grooming tool with blades; it will cut the cat’s undercoat and ruin it! If there is any kind of cutting blade, do not buy it.
Bathing – It’s best to bath every 4-6 weeks so it is familiar and part of the kitten/cat’s routine. Some cats get much greasier than others and really need the baths. Some do well without them except for occasional dingle berries. Some cats need help as they age and it’s less stressful for them if bathing is already routine.
Basic shampoo can be purchased at most local pet stores (avoid citrus scented ones as citrus is toxic to cats). Basic shampoo will be initially but more products will be needed between six to twelve months depending on the kitty’s fur length, texture of the fur and how greasy the kitty gets.
Non show kitties.
Groomer’s Goop Glossy Coat Dog & Cat Shampoo https://www.chewy.com/groomers-goop-glossy-coat-dog-cat/dp/217120
Groomer’s GOOP Pet De-Greaser https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007CZ696?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
Show baths or baths for really greasy and easily matted kitties:
PinkPawPal or Groomers Goop Degreaser
F&T Degreaser
Chris Christensen (CC) Clean Start shampoo
Purple Chubs bar
CC White on White or CC After Bath depending on the coat color
Maine Coons are greasy so never use a conditioner.
Microfiber Towels to partially dry your kitty with.
Dryer – If a person in the house regularly uses a hair dryer, you can try that first as the kitty will be used to the sound of it. Otherwise, a quality pet dryer like The Flying Pig is recommended. It works very well for drying the kitty and has adjustable settings.