Maine Coon Lifespan: How Long Do Maine Coon Cats Live?

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Maine Coons are famous for being healthy and hardy cats. As an American native breed, they’ve evolved in the harsh climate of Maine, making them large and quite husky. While they’ve grown to be quite a sturdy breed, they are also long-lived cats if adequately cared for.  

While the most common question surrounding Maine Coons is related to their size and weight, Maine Coon parents are mainly concerned with their cat’s life expectancy. So, how long does a Maine Coon live, on average?

Sadly, our felines often do not live as long as we do. However, as with humans or any other animal, the Maine Coon lifespan depends on several factors that affect its health and longevity. With the proper care and long affectionate cuddles, your gentle giant can live well into a very old cat age.

How Long Do Maine Coon Cats Live?

The average Maine Coons lifespan is 12 to 15 years. But the validity of this data provided by feline experts comes into question, with many Maine Coon parents confirming their fur babies live to be older than 20. This fact is also confirmed by the world’s oldest Maine Coon named Rubble, a male Maine Coon who died at 31 years of age. Rubble’s 31 years are equivalent to nearly 150 human years. Pretty old, huh?

Although, in theory, Maine Coons are stated to live somewhere around 12 years, some data suggest that most Maine Coons will exceed 15 years of age with proper care, while others will live shorter than average. Moreover, their lifetime is determined by several different factors. Starting with genetics, which plays a massive role in life expectancy, Maine Coons lifespan is also determined by their lifestyle, diet, physical activity, and general care. 

Purebred Maine Coons are likely to suffer genetic diseases that are common for the breed. Hereditary conditions can, of course, affect the lifespan and the life quality of a Maine Coon. Therefore, it’s important to check for genetic disorders early and implement preventative measures. With today’s available curing and preventive methods, even genetics can be outsmarted with the proper care.

The Life Expectancy of Female Maine Coon Cats Vs. Male Maine Coon Cats

Although the differences in sexes are evident in size, weight, and personality, both male and female Maine Coons have more or less the same life expectancy. Although gender is not a factor that can affect a Maine Coons lifespan, owners of male Maine Coons should be more cautious about genetic diseases. 

Both male and female Maine Coons are prone to common hereditary disorders such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and hip dysplasia. However, male representatives are more susceptible to developing one of these two diseases, directly affecting their life quality and expectancy.

The Lifespan of Maine Coon Cats Vs. Other Large Cat Breeds

Maine Coon cats are one of the largest, most robust, and quite resilient domesticated breeds. So, their average lifespan of a mere 12 years might be surprising. As mentioned before, Maine Coons usually live longer than the predicted average. Since many representatives commonly reach 15+ years of age, Maine Coons have a similar life expectancy as most cat breeds.

Maine Coons are still on the lower end of the life expectancy scale compared to other large cat breeds. They have a lower upper-end life expectancy compared to Norwegian Forest cats, the breed most similar to Maine Coons. Norwegian Forest cats have an average lifespan of 14 to 16 years. Other large cat breeds that, on average, have a longer lifespan than Maine Coons are; British Shorthair cats 14-20 years, Siberian cats 10-18, Ragamuffins 12-18, and Turkish Van cats 13-17 years of age. 

When it comes to life expectancy, Maine Coons fall in a very average group. Regular domestic cats and most other cat breeds fall within the same range. The common outliners mentioned above, on average, have a very slim difference in life expectancy. The differences in lifespan are mainly based on common health issues, weight, size, gender, and other genetic or environmental factors.

What Are the Maine Coon Life Stages?

The lifespan of the Maine Coon cat is divided into several life stages that reflect the advancement of the physical maturity of the cat. What is interesting about Maine Coons, similar to other larger breeds, is that they are slow to mature, which helps them reach the size and strength that defines them.

There are 5 stages in the life of the Maine Coon cat, from a tiny kitten to a senior cat.

Phase 1 – Maine Coon Kitten (up to 12 months)

The newborn Maine Coon is considered a kitten until it reaches 12 months of age. Some kittens are faster to grow, but the kitten phase should be over between 6 and 12 months old for most Maine Coons. During this period, Maine Coons grow fast, their personality starts to grow and they are quite playful. 

The kitten phase is the time for litter box training to be done, although most Maine Coon kittens will instinctively know to use a litter box. It is also the time of acclimatisation to grooming brushes, bathing, pet carriers, and introducing to other household animals.

Maine Coon kittens need a lot of food. Small frequent portions are recommended. They grow fast and need the strength and energy to attend to their curiosity and clumsy adventures.

Phase 2 – Junior Maine Coon (up to 2 years)

The second Junior phase starts at around 12 months. For some kittens, it may begin at 15, and for some, even earlier than 12 months. The junior phase lasts until 2 to 3 years of age. Although the Manie Coon is not a kitten anymore, it will proceed to grow until around 4 years of age, albeit at a lower rate than before. At this age, the cat’s life phase is equivalent to a human teenager. 

During the junior stage, the character and social skills of the Maine Coon start to show. A Maine Coon owner will notice the playful kittiness transforming into the intelligent, goofy, dog-like behaviour that is distinctive for Maine Coons. Their fur also grows from one inch old to a full-length coat (around 4 inches), including the lion’s mane that makes the Maine Coon look magnificent.

During the junior phase, Maine Coons reach sexual maturity. Careful monitoring of the food intake and cat’s weight is important, and the calorie and protein intake should match their energy expenditure.

Phase 3 – the Prime Maine Coon (3 – 6 years) 

After reaching 3 years of age, a healthy Maine Coon will sport a glossy, luxuriant coat. In its prime years, the cat should be in peak physical condition and finally reach full maturity. The Prime Maine Coon has a defined personality and preferences, clearly showing great affection for its fellow human. They are still playful, but they are now mostly calm and quite sociable. 

During this phase of life, Maine Coon is most likely to become overweight. Obesity can seriously impact their life quality and expectancy. Diet should be monitored, and regular vet check-ups and grooming are recommended. 

Phase 4 – Mature Maine Coon (7 – 10 years)

Getting into the mature phase of life, Maine Coon will become less active and more clingy to its human. Although most fit cats will keep the same active lifestyle as they come close to 10 years of age, they start to slow down and become evidently more lethargic. 

Poor diet at this stage can lead to obesity and poor organ functioning. Feeding your cat healthy, well-balanced food and monitoring food intake is of utmost importance. The decreased physical activity requires calorie intake monitoring to avoid common health issues in mature age. 

Phase 5 – Senior Maine Coon (11+ years)

A lucky Coon will stay in the senior phase for over 10 years. This life phase is similar to humans being above 60 years of age. In their senior phase, Maine Coons become less agile and pretty passive. Joint pain might prevent them from being physically active, and they’ll spend most of their time sleeping. 

The fur will start to change, being less glossy and sleek. The cat will prefer softer foods, and lumps may develop on its body. The cat owner should look for serious health symptoms like kidney diseases, seizures, and dementia.

What Influences the Lifespan of a Maine Coon?

A Maine Coons longevity depends on numerous factors. The main influences that determine the life expectancy of a Maine Coon come from genetics, lifestyle, and environment. Here is a more in-depth look at the factors that influence a cat’s lifespan:

1. Genetic Predisposition

Genetics is the main factor that influences a cat’s development, health, and life expectancy. However, one can definitely influence the predispositions of nature with nurture. 

Genetics may seriously affect the health and lifespan when the cat suffers from hereditary health disorders. In Maine Coons these disorders are; hip dysplasia, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). In the case of the development of genetic diseases, the cat can still have a quality life with a lot of care, but the life expectancy will most likely be shorter than the average. 

When discussing genetics as a factor that influences a cat’s longevity, it is important to mention that studies show purebred Maine Coons have a shorter lifespan than mixed breeds. This should not come as a surprise, considering the small pool of genes in purebreds results in mild to severe genetic disorders. 

2. Diet

A balanced diet that provides all the nutritional value a cat needs will result in a healthy and happy Maine Coon. Like all large breeds, a Maine Coon always seems hungry and wants to eat a lot. However, quality and balanced portions are essential for proper growth.

Learning more about their dietary needs will help you feed them homemade fresh food and decide on the best type of cat food to buy. Feeding the cat with several smaller protons throughout the day is better than less but larger portions. 

Maine Coons are prone to getting overweight, mostly because humans expect them to become quite large and feed them substantially. But an obese cat that is used to overeating is likely to die earlier as they are developing risks of obese-related diseases. Such diseases include hypertension, joint pain, diabetes, cancer, osteoarthritis, and heart disease.

Maine Coons that weigh 20%+ over their ideal body weight are considered obese and are likely to have a shorter lifespan than a cat with a healthy weight. 

3. Physical Activity and Mental Stimulation

Maine Coons are seriously strong and intelligent cats that thrive when physically and mentally stimulated. They’re quite active and would run and explore around the home. They can also be stimulated with toys and playtime shared with their fellow humans. They are known as a rare cat breed that enjoys being walked outside on a leash. This is one more opportunity to stimulate their urge to explore and for them to be physically active and exercise daily. 

Metal stimulation is equally important for optimal health. Their dog-like features also show in the strong bond they build with their owners and can quite often engage in conversations. They love to cuddle, sleep and talk with their human. They can be engaged in playtime with toys that induce mental stimulation as well as training sessions.  

4. Environment

In this case, environment is quite a broad term, and it can refer to many different environmental factors that can affect the lifespan of a cat—starting with a friendly and loving environment that stimulates healthy development. On the opposite side, it can be home with continuous stressors from aggressive and unfriendly animals or kids. Moreover, like humans, cats can be affected by polluted environments if exposed to unsafe chemicals and toxins. 

The environment as a life expectancy factor also refers to the difference in lifespan in indoor vs. outdoor cats. Indoor cats that are properly cared for will experience more extended life expectancy than outdoor cats. Outdoor cats are exposed to stressors and have a lot to defend themselves from: dogs, violent humans, cars, chemicals on the streets as well as unsafe food. 

Indoor Maine Coons that have a garden and a safe place to hang around the house possibly have the best conditions to thrive. 

5. Healthcare

As mentioned before in this article Maine Coons, like most purebreds, are prone to hereditary genetic disorders. If tested and caught early in their life, preventative measures can be taken, so the cat does not develop severe symptoms and live a normal life. Besides genetic diseases, Maine Coon can develop other types of health issues. Thus regular vet check-ups are mandatory. If a problem is presented, it can be caught early on through regular blood work.

Can you Improve the Lifespan of Your Maine Coon Cat?

The above-mentioned factors can positively or negatively affect a Maine Coons lifespan. Therefore, if, as a cat owner, you do your best to improve your cat’s lifestyle, diet, and environment, you can directly affect its lifespan.  

In saying that, being aware of their nature and needs, you can do your best to keep them satisfied and happy, thus prolonging their life. They are friendly and intelligent cats and can be mentally and physically stimulated. Playing with a Maine Coon, showing them affection, and treating them as part of the family will help them thrive. Attention to their diet and regular exercise will also positively affect their physical health and longevity. Therefore, you can positively affect your pet’s life expectancy with proper care and love. 

Factors that Can Negatively Impact their Lifespan

Factors that can significantly decrease a Maine Coons lifespan are the common genetic disorders. Maine Coons are predisposed to developing a few health issues that, in most cases, are hereditary.

1. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Statistically, about 30% of Maine Coon cats carry a genetic mutation. This mutation causes the thickening of the heart’s muscle walls, known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM). In time this condition leads to cardiovascular problems, blockage of blood vessels, blood clots, and, in some cases, heart failure. A Maine Coon can be a carrier of the genetic mutation, passing it onto its offspring but not developing the disease itself. 

Genetic tests are available to test the Maine Coon for this common heart disease. It is a factor that can negatively affect the heart’s efficiency levels and significantly decrease the cat’s lifespan.

2. Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is a much more common disease that occurs due to Main Coons large frame. The weight strains their bones and hips during growth so that problems can occur. If caught early, it can be treated and prevented. However, if the problem with hip dysplasia persists, it can also lead to arthritis. Prolonged symptoms can even lead to paralysis; therefore, looking for signs like limping and meowing caused by pain when moving is important. 

If prevented and cured early on, hip dysplasia won’t affect their life quality significantly. However, if caught later, it can indeed affect their life expectancy.

3. Polycystic Kidney Disease

This condition is also hereditary in Maine Coons and causes the development of multiple cysts on the cat’s kidneys. Over time, these cysts release toxic organisms into the bloodstream. Polycystic kidney disease is one more factor that can shorten your cat’s lifespan if not treated. 

4. Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Another hereditary disease in Maine Coons, spinal muscular atrophy, causes loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord. Its symptoms are instability, posture abnormalities, and unsteady gait. It is also followed by atrophy of the muscles in the hind legs.  

This condition is not painful but can significantly decrease a cat’s lifespan, especially if it lives indoors. A more passive lifestyle will induce fast advancement of muscle atrophy. If living outside, a Maine Coon with SMA may live longer, but the life expectancy is usually shorter than in healthy Maine Coons. 

5. Periodontal Disease

Not only Maine Coons but all cats can suffer from periodontal diseases. Such diseases can easily be prevented with good oral hygiene. Otherwise, it can lead to serious problems. The most common one is that the cat loses all teeth and cannot eat. The disease results from plaque and tartar build-up over a cat’s teeth.

Humans should ensure good oral hygiene for their cats to avoid inflamed gums that may start to recede, which may be fatal.

Do Outdoor Maine Coons Live Longer?

There are various contradictory opinions on this subject among experts and cat lovers. The logical answer is that a healthy and strong Maine Coon may live longer in its natural habitat, but is today’s world equal to what their natural habitat should be?

An outdoor cat these days faces much more than predator threats. They can easily be poisoned with harmful chemicals, killed by a motor vehicle, or tortured by evil humans. To add to this the constant stressors from other animals and poor diet, outdoor cats are most likely to live shorter than indoor Maine Coons.  

However, there are undeniable benefits to giving your cat the freedom to roam freely outside. They are big and active and love to explore nature, which is full of smells and scents to investigate. Being outdoors means they get plenty of exercise when chasing prey, climbing, and jumping, which keeps them physically active and thus fit and healthy. But letting your cat outside alone means exposure to all the dangers mentioned above. Road traffic, poison, and infectious diseases can shorten the life span of your Maine Coon.

So the conclusion is the best environment for a Maine Coon cat would be equal to the one it’s usually recommended for a dog. A safe house with a yard or some safe outdoor place where the cat can enjoy the sun, run freely, and climb. If these conditions are not available, the best option is to lush your dog-like feline and go on an adventure together. 

How Long do Indoor Maine Coon Cats Live?

Indoor Maine Coon cats that are regularly exposed to safe outdoor adventures can live up to 15 years. However, it is not uncommon for a Maine Coon to live more than 20 years if lucky enough not to be affected by common genetic diseases and pampered as it should be. 

The owner of the oldest Maine Coon, who died at 31 years, said, “Rubble’s longevity is a result of him being pampered like a child.” It is completely expected for a cat to live a very long life if kept in a safe indoor environment. 

An indoor cat can be at risk of: overeating, lack of exercise, and psychological issues. If these 3 aspects are monitored by humans and prevented, their loved pets can live a long and happy life. 

How Old Is My Maine Coon Cat In Human Years?

The popular concept of calculating how old a cat is in human years is one human year is equivalent to seven cat years. But scientists say it is not that simple. A one-year-old cat is much more mature than a 7-year-old child.   

Here are the details of how to calculate your cat’s age in human years, a concept that is accepted as possibly the most accurate:

• The first year of a cat’s life is equivalent to 15 human years.
• The second year equals around nine human years, so when your cat is two years old, it is approximately 24-25 years of age. 
• After the second year, every additional human year is considered 4 cat years.

The best part about sharing life with a Maine Coon cat is that they are a factor that positively affects human life expectancy. Their loving presence, loud purring, and cuddles positively impact human health and well-being. Sharing life with the gentle giants they are, improves a human’s life quality and life expectancy. So as long as we invest energy and love in a Maine Coons healthy lifestyle, we get every benefit in return.