In this article, we look at the 10 best cat foods for Maine Coons. With these reviews, you can make the best decision regarding your kitty’s health. There’s also a buyer’s guide to help you out further when shopping around.
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A Quick Comparison of Our Top Picks in 2025
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Smalls Human-Grade Fresh Cat Food Subscription |
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Budget Buy
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Cat Chow Dry Cat Food |
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Royal Canin Maine Coon Cat Food |
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Instinct Original Chicken Cat Food |
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Royal Canin Maine Coon Kitten Food |
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The 10 Best Cat Foods for Maine Coons
1. Smalls Fresh Other Bird Cat Food — Best Overall
Life Stage: | All life stages |
Food Form: | Fresh, wet |
Special Diet: | N/A |
Protein Percentage: | 15.5% |
If you want to feed your Maine Coon like their ancestors, you need to try Smalls Fresh Other Bird Cat Food. This protein-packed fresh food is mostly made from turkey, as you might expect. It includes finely ground turkey thigh as the first ingredient. Turkey liver, green beans, and peas are also included, as they help increase the overall nutritional content of the food.
Organ meats are packed with protein and amino acids, which are exactly what your cat needs to thrive. All the ingredients are high-quality and human-grade, which is why we think that Smalls Food is the best overall cat food for Maine Coons.
- Includes organ meats
- Fresh food provides moisture
- Human-grade ingredients
- Expensive
2. Cat Chow Complete Dry Cat Food — Budget Buy
Life Stage: | Adult |
Food Form: | Dry food |
Special Diet: | N/A |
Protein Percentage: | 32% min |
The Cat Chow Complete Dry Cat Food is the best cat food for Maine Coons for the money. Although highly affordable, it’s packed full of nutritious ingredients to help keep your Maine Coon happy and fit. Most notably, it has a high protein content, with many added vitamins and minerals.
Although not specifically designed for Maine Coons, this cat food still comes with all the nutrition this breed needs. It has a lot of ingredients to help with shiny coats and strong muscles, which are highly important for a Maine Coon.
What’s convenient about Cat Chow Complete Dry Cat Food is that you can find it at many pet stores. So, although you can purchase this product online, you will likely be able to find it at your nearest pet store too.
- Highly affordable
- Sold at many locations
- Includes a lot of healthy ingredients
- Not specifically made for Maine Coons
3. Royal Canin Maine Coon Dry Cat Food
Life Stage: | Adult |
Food Form: | Dry food |
Special Diet: | N/A |
Protein Percentage: | 29% min |
A great choice is the Royal Canin Maine Coon Dry Cat Food. Since this food is specifically designed for Maine Coons, you can expect this food to nourish your cat’s body, health, and well-being. Whether you are worried about their coat or teeth, this kibble will keep your cat healthy.
This Royal Canin food is specifically formulated for purebred Maine Coons. It includes heart-healthy and breed-specific nutrients to ensure that your cat has a beautiful coat and healthy skin. It is also designed to accommodate your pet’s square jaw, which is a unique feature of this brand’s food that makes it stand apart from the rest. Many Maine Coon owners report that this food has done wonders for their cats. They also report that their pets like eating this meal because of its delicious flavor and texture.
The only downside is its expensive price tag and rarity on most local stores’ shelves.
- Formulated specifically for Maine Coons
- Includes a lot of healthy ingredients
- Improves all aspects of your Maine Coon’s health
- Expensive
4. Instinct Original Grain-Free Recipe With Real Chicken Freeze-Dried Raw Coated Dry Cat Food
Life Stage: | Adult |
Food Form: | Dry food |
Special Diet: | Grain-free; gluten-free; no corn, wheat, or soy; high protein |
Protein Percentage: | 41% min |
If you are looking for a well-rounded Maine Coon cat food, look no further than the Instinct Original Grain-Free Recipe With Real Chicken Freeze-Dried Raw Coated Dry Cat Food. This product is packed with the best ingredients and contains a nutritional analysis that is better than nearly all other cat foods on the market.
For example, it has a 41% minimum crude protein content, which is one of the highest available. Given that your Maine Coon is an obligate carnivore, the more protein they can get, the better. This food is also free from gluten, grains, corn, wheat, and soy to further ensure the healthiest ingredients possible. Due to the superior ingredients within this cat food, it’s no shock that it can improve your Maine Coon’s health.
Its obvious drawback is that it is not made specifically for this breed and that it’s extremely expensive. Still, it still does a great job at providing your Maine Coon with the nutrients that they need.
- Provides the best nutrition for cats
- Includes a lot of healthy ingredients
- High protein
- Not specifically made for Maine Coons
- Highly expensive
5. Royal Canin Feline Breed Nutrition Maine Coon Kitten Dry Cat Food
Life Stage: | Kitten |
Food Form: | Dry food |
Special Diet: | N/A |
Protein Percentage: | 34% min |
Kittens need a slightly different diet than their adult counterparts to ensure that they grow to be big and strong. We recommend checking out the Royal Canin Feline Breed Nutrition Maine Coon Kitten Dry Cat Food, as it is specifically formulated for Maine Coon kittens. The main difference between this and the adult version is that this product includes different proportions of ingredients to ensure that your kitten has the best foundation for a healthy life possible.
One benefit of this food is that once your kitten hits the adult stage of life, you can easily transition your cat to the adult version. As a result, you don’t have to worry about your cat getting an upset stomach or not liking the flavor, since they grew up on this brand’s food.
The Royal Canin Maine Coon Kitten Dry Cat Food is a bit expensive and difficult to find in all stores, but it is one of the few products specifically formulated for Maine Coon kittens.
- Formulated specifically for Maine Coons kittens
- Includes a lot of healthy ingredients
- Improves all aspects of your Maine Coon’s health
- Expensive
- Difficult to find at stores
6. Royal Canin Maine Coon Breed Thin Slices in Gravy Adult Wet Cat Food
Life Stage: | Adult |
Food Form: | Pate |
Special Diet: | N/A |
Protein Percentage: | 5% min |
The Royal Canin Maine Coon Breed Thin Slices in Gravy Adult Wet Cat Food is just like the dry food version except that it is in pâté form instead of kibble. That’s why it’s more expensive, but it also offers different nutritional advantages.
Most notably, this cat food has 8.5% maximum moisture. For certain Maine Coons, such as seniors, this may be just what they need. It also offers breed-specific ingredients and benefits to keep your furry friend happy and healthy.
Even though other Royal Canin foods are pricey, this product is the most expensive of the brand. The reason is that wet cat food is simply less cost effective to produce than dry varieties.
- Formulated specifically for Maine Coons
- Includes a lot of healthy ingredients
- Improves all aspects of your Maine Coon’s health
- High moisture content
- Highly expensive
- Difficult to find at stores
7. Tiki Cat Luau Succulent Chicken in Chicken Consommé Grain-Free Canned Cat Food
Life Stage: | Adult |
Food Form: | Shredded |
Special Diet: | Grain-free; high protein; no corn, wheat, or soy; gluten-free; low glycemic; pea free; GMO free |
Protein Percentage: | 16% min |
Although wildly expensive, the Tiki Cat Luau Succulent Chicken in Chicken Consommé Grain-Free Canned Cat Food has one of the best ingredients lists on this list. It works for all Maine Coons, including seniors and those with weight problems.
Moreover, the ingredients are free of any additives that are harmful to cats, such as pea protein and additional grain. It’s also packed full of nutritious vitamins to keep your kitty’s joints working as they should and their coat beautiful. All the protein is hormone- and antibiotic-free. In other words, this commercial cat food is as close as you’ll get to your Maine Coon’s natural diet in the wild without doing all the work yourself!
The biggest drawback of this product is that it is incredibly expensive. In fact, it really isn’t a feasible choice for the average owner, no matter how healthy it may be.
- Provides the best nutrition for cats
- Includes a lot of healthy ingredients
- High protein
- Not specifically made for Maine Coons
- Incredibly expensive
8. Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
Life Stage: | Adult |
Food Form: | Dry food |
Special Diet: | Grain-free; high protein |
Protein Percentage: | 42% min |
A great cat food to check out for your Maine Coon is the Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Grain-Free Dry Cat Food. It’s not specifically formulated for this breed, but it has an incredibly high protein content to ensure that they can all the nutrition that they need.
This food does not include any ingredients that are harmful or unnecessary for your cat. For example, it is free of grain and is formulated with a high protein content. It also contains vitamins, minerals, and omega fatty acids, and it is crafted in the U.S.A. Many owners love this food because of how effective it is at helping to maintain their cats’ health.
The one drawback is that this food is highly expensive and difficult to find at stores. You will have to buy it online for a hefty price.
- Provides the best nutrition for cats
- Includes a lot of healthy ingredients
- High protein
- Not specifically made for Maine Coons
- Highly expensive
9. American Journey Turkey & Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
Life Stage: | Adult |
Food Form: | Dry food |
Special Diet: | Grain free; no corn, wheat, or soy; high protein |
Protein Percentage: | 40% min |
In most respects, the American Journey Turkey & Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food is free of corn, wheat, and soy. This ingredient choice makes this food healthy for many cats, including Maine Coons.
Although it isn’t crafted specifically for this breed, you don’t have to worry about it failing to nurture your favorite cat. It has a high protein content, complete with great ingredients specific for a healthy heart, great skin, and satisfaction from every meal.
The main drawbacks are that it is expensive and difficult to find at most stores.
- Provides the best nutrition for cats
- Includes a lot of healthy ingredients
- High protein
- Not specifically made for Maine Coons
- Expensive
- Difficult to find in stores
10. Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Real Turkey Pâté Recipe Canned Cat Food
Life Stage: | Adult |
Food Form: | Pate |
Special Diet: | Limited ingredient diet; grain free; gluten free; no corn, wheat, or soy |
Protein Percentage: | 9% min |
The Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Real Turkey Pâté Recipe Canned Cat Food is a good choice for cats with sensitive stomachs. Your Maine Coon will be able to stomach it without many irritations. Since it contains real turkey, your cat will find this food tasty too.
This food is completely free from grain, gluten, corn, wheat, and soy, so you know that your Maine Coon is getting some of the best ingredients when eating this product.
That said, pea protein is one of the first ingredients listed. Even though it counts as a protein, animal protein is a much more viable option for cats. Also, this food is incredibly expensive.
- Provides good nutrition for cats
- Includes a lot of healthy ingredients
- Good for cats with sensitive stomachs
- Not specifically made for Maine Coons
- Incredibly expensive
- Includes pea protein
Buyer’s Guide: Picking the Best Cat Food for Maine Coons
If it’s your first-time buying cat food for your Maine Coon, you likely have a lot of questions. To simplify things, there are two factors that you need to consider when buying food for this breed: form type and ingredients. Form type refers to wet cat food versus dry cat food, whereas ingredients are a bit more self-explanatory. Let’s take a look at each of these factors.
Wet vs. Dry Cat Food for Maine Coons
Both wet and dry cat food have advantages and disadvantages. Dry cat food is highly affordable and lasts a long time, but it often includes high carbohydrates and a low moisture content. In contrast, wet cat food is more expensive and often nasty to smell, but it normally has a lower carbohydrate content and higher moisture content, resulting in better nutrition for your Maine Coon.
Since wet and dry cat food come with contrasting benefits, feeding your cat both allows them to benefit from both. As your pet gets older, slowly add more wet cat food, as it will nourish your senior Maine Coon’s joints. This isn’t as necessary for healthy adult cats.
- NO MESS - The 360° tray on this cat food and water bowl set has a raised design to catch and...
- WHISKER FRIENDLY - Shallow and wide metal containers with flat bottoms ensure your kitty can enjoy...
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Whether you are an avid kibble supporter, favor wet food, or dabble between the two, opting for the right cat bowl to serve it in is key! The Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl is equipped with features like shallow dishes for whisker relief, slight elevation to promote good posture and digestion, and removable stainless steel bowls for easy cleaning. Its modern design is spill-proof and has a wide tray on the base meant to catch anything that falls from your kitty's mouth or out of the bowl. Click here to find out if the Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl is right for you.
At PangoVet, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
Ingredients to Look For
When selecting cat food for your Maine Coon, there are certain ingredients that you want to look for. Most importantly, check for animal-based protein, not pea protein. As an obligate carnivore, your cat needs a lot of animal protein. The more a food has, the better.
Additionally, look for vitamins and minerals that directly relate to your cat’s joints, muscles, and coat. Since Maine Coons are so large, they can experience joint pain as they age. By providing them with cat food that nourishes their joints from a young age, your pet may age more gracefully. Similarly, this breed is known for their gorgeous coat. Keep it healthy with omega fatty acids.

Ingredients to Avoid
No matter what type of cat you have, there are certain ingredients to avoid. Excessive amounts of grains, wheat, rice, corn, fiber, and potatoes should all be skipped over.
- Animal-based protein, such as chicken or beef
- Named fat sources, such as chicken fat or sunflower fat
- Vitamin C (calcium ascorbate)
- Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)
- Taurine
- Omega fatty acids
- Plant-based protein, like pea protein
- Meat byproducts
- Carbohydrate fillers, such as wheat, corn, rice, peas, potatoes, etc.
- Cornmeal
- BHT, BHA, and ethoxyquin
Our Cat Foods for Maine Coons Selection Process
The cat foods we reviewed in this article were chosen by PangoVet’s writers and editors, in collaboration with our experienced veterinary team, based on personal experience with the product, knowledge and expertise about the pet’s care needs, brand reputation, and reviews across multiple retail outlets from other customers that have purchased and used the product. The combination of these factors allows us to gather a wide range of information to help you choose only the best cat foods and ensure you have the most accurate information about these products to promote proper care, health, and well-being of your beloved pets.
Why Trust PangoVet?
PangoVet’s licensed and experienced veterinarians have a knowledge base that extends to all kinds of pets—furry, scaly, and feathered—and want only the best for pets of all shapes and sizes. We also have experienced writers and editors who are pet owners with a variety of different pets, and we love our pets as much as you do. We recognize pets as part of our family. We make sure to only choose products from reputable brands highly rated by customers as well as products that we have personal experience with, to ensure that every cat food featured in this review is high-quality and safe for your pets.
Conclusion
Among these reviews, our favorite cat food for Maine Coons is the Smalls Fresh Other Bird. It’s packed full of all-natural ingredients and mimics the natural diet of felines. The only thing to consider before choosing this product is whether a subscription service cat food is right for you. If you are on a budget, you might decide on Cat Chow Complete Dry Cat Food instead because it is affordable but still offers great nutrition for your Maine Coon.
No matter which cat food you are leaning toward for your pet, make sure to use the buyer’s guide in the decision process. This way, you can make an educated decision to keep your Maine Coon healthy for as long as possible.
- Want to know how various other cat foods stack up against one another? Read our guide to the Best Cat Foods.
Featured Image Credit: Fayzulin Serg, Shutterstock