Are you adding a Maine Coon kitten to your family? Find out what to get & what to expect here! Care & grooming, safety info, introductions and more.

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It's important to have realistic expectations when introducing a new pet to a resident pet. Some cats are more social than other cats. For example, an eight-year-old cat that has never been around other animals may never learn to share her territory (and her people) with other pets in the household. However, an eight-week-old kitten separated from her mom and littermates for the first time, might prefer to have a cat or dog companion.

Cats are territorial and need to be introduced to other animals very slowly in order to give them time to get used to each other before there is a face-to-face confrontation. Slow introductions help prevent fear and aggression problems from developing.

PLEASE NOTE: When you introduce pets to each other, one of them may send "play" signals that can be misinterpreted by the other pet. If those signals are interpreted as aggression by one animal, then you should handle the situation as "aggressive."

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What is it about Maine Coon Cats? Is it their magnificent coat? That amazing tail? Who could miss the super long whiskers? Perhaps it's their size? Maybe your favorite trait is the lynx-like tufts on their ears?

Let's take a closer look at their unique traits and characteristics to give us some insight. As all Coon lovers know, this is no ordinary cat!

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Housetraining cats and kittens

Most cats and kittens require little training to use their litter box, as they have an innate desire to dig and bury their waste.  The challenge for owners is to see that the behavior continues!  Once a cat or kitten has developed undesirable toilet habits, the problem can be very difficult to resolve.  Here are some suggestions that will help keep your cat or kitten using his litter box.

Pick a good location for the litter box.  Make sure your cat knows where it is!  It should ideally be placed in a semi-private area, removed from high-traffic zones, but not so isolated that it isn’t cleaned regularly.  Small kittens should be sequestered in a small room with their box for a few days until they have used it consistently.  Avoid placing the box next to kitty’s food and water or near a noisy appliance (such as a washing machine, dryer or furnace) that might suddenly scare him while toileting.  Also, avoid corners and tight areas like closets where kitty might feel trapped, particularly if there are other cats in the home.

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There are now many easy raw-feeding choices for the person on-the-go. In stores and on the internet, you can purchase frozen complete diets, frozen ground meat/bone/organ mixes and pre-mixed supplements that you just add to raw meat. There are a few national brands, and many smaller, regionally available products that make it easy to feed raw. It's as simple as thawing and serving.

We discuss some specific products here, but there are many others, with more being added all the time as demand for easy-to-feed raw foods increases. Feeding complete foods is probably the most convenient, but it can be more expensive and it gives you the least control over what ingredients are used. Finding a producer whose product you trust, and who uses quality ingredients is very important. Remember, your cat will eat less when on a raw diet, so that is a consideration when looking at cost. Look for foods that are grain-free, and are low carbohydrate if they contain vegetables or fruits. Try to use products that contain meat from quality sources, and that use whole animals if possible. Most of these foods are available online in addition to being sold at retail outlets such as natural pet stores, natural grocery stores and some veterinary offices. Check the maker's websites to find out where their product is sold.

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