How much to feed Maine Coon kitten?

[ophiotaurus]

He's 15 weeks old today and weighs 1.7 kgs. He's currently on 2 tins of Hills Science plan kitten wet food which is what he was eating as at the breeders. He also has hills kitten dry down all the time but he has never once eaten it.
He's been shouting for food when I've been making lunch so I put another tin down for him to see how much he would eat and he ate the whole thing!
Any advice would be appreciated. The tin says between 1-3 tins a day divided into two meals a day up until 1 year old.

[cozietoesie]

Is that the recommendation for a standard kitten/cat though? (Maine Coons being a slightly different proposition.) How long is he?

I've always believed in feeding kittens when they yelled at me because they're really only eating, pooping and playing machines at that age but I know that MCs can be a little piggy and prone to overweight when older so the posters who own MCs will likely have comments for you.

Does he get plenty of water?

[ophiotaurus]

He is sleeping just now so will measure him once he's up!
He is drinking from his fountain throughout the day.
I did wonder if it's just that he needs more than a normal cat! He was smaller than his sisters so maybe he's making up for it now?

[ophiotaurus]

Also am I measuring head to tip of tail? Or just his body?

[cozietoesie]

As I understand it, there are two schools of measurement (the tip-to-tip lot and the paw-to-paw lot) but it's all real complicated, interacting with gender, breeding etc etc - and I guess that given your main concern is the amount of food, you're probably only thinking of comparisons with similar types and sizes of kittens.

Maine Coons are not my strong suit though so I reckon you'd better keep an eye on the thread for comments from the MC owners who post on this board.

[RubbishMantra]

I'd just give him as much as he wants, it's rare that a cat will overeat.

My kitten (not a Maine Coone though) at that age wouldn't touch dry food either, I found out it was because he was having a tough time with his teething.

[SmokingGun]

SmokingCat is a bengal and It was recommended that I feed him 4 times a day up to 6 months and then drop to 3 times a day between 6-12 months as they are a larger breed so have huge growth spurts.

[ophiotaurus]

Ok thanks very much. I hadn't thought about feeding! I'll just feed as much as he wants then. We have a vet check (the do free monthly kitten checks at my vet) and I'm sure they'll tell me if he's getting too chunky!

[JoanHickson]

I always fed mine what she wanted, there have never been any weight concerns.

[Fluffycloudland77]

I'd make my own mind up rather than rely on a vets opinion with weight with a large cat. Mines 6.1kg & I could see the vet working out in his mind if he was going to give me a lecture.

If he's got a waist & no flubber he's ok. He'll go through the gangly eating like a horse phase too.

[ophiotaurus]

Ok fed him a third tin for tea and he ate the lot!
I suppose when you think about it, we don't worry about over feeding DCs when they are babies!

[MedusaIsHavingaBadHairday]

He's a MC baby... he needs a lot of food, because believe me he will grow VERY rapidly They are fast growing large scale kittens .

Mine get fed wet meals three times a day, have free access to dried (Royal Canin MC kitten is good) and often the odd snack. At 8 month old now, my girl MC Ophie is about 9 pounds, my Boy Obie is 16 pounds!!! (To be fair he was 2.5 kg at 12 weeks ) Neither are remotely fat.. they are slim, active and fabulous.

My beloved previous MC boy was 22 pounds at his peak of health and fitness... and boy did he need a lot of food! So I'd say feed him until he stops shouting.. if he eats too much he will be sick and you will know to cut back a little :)

[ophiotaurus]

Thanks Medusa that's great advice. Your two sound lovely :)