Common Diseases of the Maine Coon Cat
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Maine Coon cats are great pets and very healthy animals. But sometimes these poor cats are adopted from breeders or shelters where they are not given the care they need.
This is why it is very important that when you decide to adopt one of these beautiful and elegant animals, you are given all the documentation and guarantees. What's more, if this is not possible, you must get informed about the illnesses or possible diseases that they may suffer from.
Although this cat breed tends to have good health, you are expected to take care for it with love and dedication. Keep reading AnimalWised to find out the most common diseases of the Maine Coon cat.
Heart diseases
Feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a serious disease that is not exclusive to Maine Coon cats. However, in the small world of this precious breed, there are some breeding lines prone to suffering from this disease over time.
This heart condition is characterized by the thickening of the walls of the left ventricle of the cat's heart. This, in turn, causes failures and the deterioration of the heart muscle.
Deformation of the sternum
The deformation of the sternum, called pectus excavatum, is characterized by a total or partial depression of the sternum.
This abnormality compresses the Maine Coon's lungs and heart, making the normal function of these vital organs difficult. Cats suffering this deformity have an abnormal hump on their back.
Hip dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is a severe deformation characterized by a severe malformation that causes spine depression in the cat's hindquarters. This makes the hind legs go into an X-shaped position
This malformation is very painful and crippling for the poor cat, and causes the cat to become excessively fatigued. This malfunction is due to defects in breeding and inbreeding. Inexperienced breeders are to blame for allowing the breeding of these defected lines. However, a cat may also suffer from hip dysplasia if it is not exercised or exercises too much.
Rex mutation
A genetic variation is responsible for the strange appearance of Maine Coon cats carrying the rex mutation. This mutation is an extremely rare abnormality. Cats affected by this rare gene have a completely curly fur coat. It may be that in a litter of normal Maine Coon kittens there may be one kitten with this variation. However, this is not exactly a disease.
Obesity
Maine Coon cats are very large. Adult males range between 7 and 11 kg (15 to 24 lb). Females weigh much less, between 4.5 and 7 kg (9 to 15 lb).
However, the Maine Coon's laziness along with their insatiable appetite are a bad combination if you don't monitor their food intake. You should keep an even closer eye on their food intake if the cat is neutered. In other words, notwithstanding its naturally big size, the Maine Coon cat is prone to obesity.
The veterinarian will have to set the cat's diet. Otherwise, as has happened to some cats, they could gain weight and weigh up to 20 kg (45 lb).
This article is purely informative. AnimalWised does not have the authority to prescribe any veterinary treatment or create a diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian if they are suffering from any condition or pain.
If you want to read similar articles to Common Diseases of the Maine Coon Cat, we recommend you visit our Prevention category.