How to choose or make a house
A full-fledged house for an adult Maine Coon will be his favorite place in the apartment if you provide it with all the necessary components. Many owners of such cats prefer to buy a ready-made complex in a store rather than spend a lot of time building it at home. This is convenient - you will bring to the apartment a ready-made home for your Maine Coon, which he will certainly appreciate.
Those who are looking for a profitable option financially should think about building a house for a Maine Coon cat with their own hands. You yourself will take into account and make for yourself a list of those components that must be included in the cat complex. Agree, you know your pet better than anyone else, what games and entertainment he likes best. The assortment in the store is not always pleasing.
Another point that speaks in favor of building a house with your own hands: store-bought copies (even if you take into account that you have found an option that is ideal for a pet) are usually made of cheap materials. You can spend money on a much better quality house, but their range is small, due to the fact that the demand for such expensive complexes is quite low. Even if you have the funds, it is not always possible to buy a good house for a Maine Coon.
So, in order to build a multifunctional and practical complex for your Maine Coon, you should consider the following recommendations from experts:
- height of the observation deck. As a rule, there should be at least two such sites. Their sizes depend on your preferences. But if you want to please your pet, watch him. Where does he most often like to be located? Surely, he has already noticed several observation platforms in the apartment and often climbs there. Make the upper viewing area slightly higher than where the Maine Coon spends a lot of time, and the second area should be slightly lower - this is the main “comfort zone” for the cat;
- viewing area. Most houses for Maine Coons are located opposite the entrance to the room. By nature, these guards like to control the entire room with their gaze. It’s good if the entrance to another room comes into their field of vision - they will immediately prefer to occupy such a place;
Related article: What diseases do Maine Coons most often suffer from?
- presence of a scratching post nearby. Otherwise, its role can be played by completely different objects;
- designing the shape of the booth. This largely depends on the character of the cat. If she likes to hide in the closet or under the bed, then her home complex needs to be equipped with a closed place where she can fully relax.
Nobody can offer you a mandatory house design as such. Rely on the habits of your pet and the practicality of the materials you plan to use. Experiment to your heart's content, and the house will become your pet's favorite place.
Requirements for the house
Considering that cats of this breed sometimes reach enormous sizes, an enclosed house or bed for an animal should be spacious. If you plan to purchase a large play set for the Maine Coon, then stands, shelves, hammocks and other items must be of sufficient strength and securely fastened.
Do not be upset if, for financial reasons, it is impossible for your ward to purchase an expensive playground. You can perfectly equip a cozy bed in an open space using a minimum of materials and costs.
An excellent solution to the problem is to make a cat house with your own hands, which must meet the following requirements:
- the dimensions of the pet house should correspond to the size of the cat lying on its side, taking into account that it has room to stretch;
- a sleeping and play complex with a large number of elements for the Maine Coon should be fixed both to the floor and at the top point (wall or ceiling);
- the materials from which the structure is made must meet environmental requirements;
- The most preferable place for a cat to live is next to the window near the radiator. It is warmer here in winter, and at the same time there is an overview for observation;
- Keeping the Maine Coon's house clean and tidy is the owner's task. Please note that during molting the “amount of work” increases several times.
Choosing a food bowl
The choice of a bowl for food must be approached with the utmost seriousness: even small kittens require a lot of food, so the container for food mixtures should be both spacious and convenient for the pet. It is advisable that the diameter of the bowl be 15–20 cm. As for the material, the best option would be ceramic or stainless steel. The second copy will be much cheaper. Don't forget to consider the presence of a rubber rim at the bottom. Otherwise, such a bowl will always slide on the floor.
The water bowl also needs to be selected wisely. Interestingly, drinking is a real ritual for Maine Coons. Before starting the process, he often rake the water with his paw. Some individuals even put their paw there, and then bring it to their mouth and drink. Accordingly, such a process is unlikely to be completed without water splashing. A much bigger problem awaits the owners of these huge pets when they reach adulthood. An adult Maine Coon will chase the water bowl around, spilling water everywhere. That is why the container must be spacious and stable. Some owners prefer to install a fountain for their animals.
DIY cat house
Any cat corner, like the Dog House , can be made independently.
At the same time, it is not necessary to have the skills of a builder and carpenter, because you can make a house for a cat from any type of box, just cover it with additional fabric, and place a homemade or purchased pillow inside.
The second modification of the design is from a large box.
In this case, a round “entrance” is cut out in one of the sides, and the roof of the shelter can be made from additional sheets of cardboard.
Canadian-style cardboard house will appeal to modest cats
A unique complex for pets is a special trapeze.
It consists of 1, 2 or 3 pillows connected to each other by durable strips of fabric. You can hang a homemade hammock from below.
This is the most mobile version of a mini-house, combining versatility and compactness. How to make a house for a cat of this type?
Materials: the required number of sofa cushions (they can be made specifically for the trapezoid from faux fur or other fabric, stuffed with synthetic padding), durable fabric ribbons or belts for connecting the cushions (width from 10 cm), a homemade hammock.
Soft play trapeze for active cats
Tip: You can stuff the pillows with any old towels or rags to keep them firm.
The pillows are connected to each other in the shape of a pyramid with fabric ribbons. The ribbons are sewn on four sides, leaving a distance between the pillows of 30-40 cm (if the cat is large, then the distance is increased). A homemade or purchased hammock is secured under the first pillow from below; for this, it must have 4 loops, each of which consists of two parts that are tied together. Above the last pillow on top, all four ribbons are sewn together. Additionally, they can be connected with a strong rope, creating a large loop for hanging the trapeze.
The hanging house promotes complete relaxation for cats
You can hang the trapeze on a prepared reliable hook in the wall, protruding 20-30 cm (5 cm more than the diameter of the largest pillow).
You can also use other mounts that are in the house, for example, for a punching bag or a swing.
Any cat will love a sofa with tunnels
A cat house, selected in accordance with its character and habits, will become a favorite place for your pet.
And you shouldn’t neglect even the smallest homemade shelter, because these animals value personal space so much!
In addition, gaming complexes will help maintain the health of your pet by providing it with the necessary physical activity.
And designs with scratching posts will protect furniture from sharp claws.
In such a house the cats will have somewhere to frolic.
Purchasing and choosing a location for the tray
What should a litter box be like for a Maine Coon? For an adult pet, it is better to install a closed toilet - a tray with a door. If you want to purchase an open container, keep in mind that its walls must be high. Maine Coons love to dig into the litter: if the tray is low, small particles will be spread throughout the apartment, and a lot of dirt will accumulate around the toilet itself.
Similar article: How to organize food for a kitten and an adult Maine Coon
It is advisable that the sides of the tray be bent inward. This option is considered standard. However, not all owners of these large cats go to a pet store to buy a tray. You can find a good alternative: bathtubs with high sides, trays, and various storage boxes.
There should be litter in the tray, but it is advisable for you to think in advance about how to teach the kitten to go to the toilet without it - this may be necessary in case of tests. In general, there are several types of litter for an adult Maine Coon:
- woody;
- mineral and clay;
- silica gel.
Never fill your pet's potty with sand brought from outside. As for where it is better to put the tray, the most optimal place is the bathroom. You can also place the cat litter on the loggia or balcony. Remember: the Maine Coon must have constant access to the litter box, so do not close the door tightly.
What types of houses are there?
Most often, Maine Coon owners choose play complexes, because they comfortably contain the accessories necessary for the cat.
Regarding the size, purpose and shape, there are various cat shelters, any of which can be made with your own hands:
- Bed. This is an easy way to create a private place for your cat.
- In the form of a booth. The owner of a Maine Coon will have to tinker with the roof and decide how to get into this house, but such a building looks more attractive, giving the owner more room for imagination.
- House made of cardboard. Also a simple construction; even an ordinary cardboard box, decorated or upholstered with soft fabric, will do.
- Adapted home elements. This is a multifunctional type of housing, it serves as a joy for the furry pet and for the owner. For example, a table in the living room, which will also become a refuge for the Maine Coon.
- Game complex. The largest in size and capabilities for a kitten, because it includes a place to rest and a large number of different structures for games (shelves, scratching posts, ladders, toys, etc.).
What kind of carrier and harness are needed?
It is recommended that a Maine Coon kitten be taught to wear a harness from a young age. During the first walks, your pet will most likely not feel very comfortable, but a strong harness is necessary so that you can control your cat. The best material for a harness is leather, but many people prefer to buy nylon straps.
A Maine Coon carrier is another item in the arsenal of the owner of cats of this breed. The thing is that this pet does not really like transportation; even a trip in a car can be very stressful for him. That is why purchasing a special backpack or bag is simply necessary. For carrying, they buy both plastic containers and cages. What exactly is right for your four-legged friend remains to be seen. First, buy a bag, leave it in the apartment - let the cat gradually get used to it.
Similar article: Approximately how much does a Maine Coon cat cost?
Step-by-step instruction
The designs of the houses can be varied. Below we will consider various homemade options: from the simplest to the most complex.
Making a sleeping place for cats is not at all difficult. Of course, it will not become a full-fledged shelter, but the animal will be happy that it has its own bed. A small mattress, which must be equipped with soft sides, is suitable for this. Alternatively, use a box. Cut off the top and cover the inside with fabric with foam rubber. We bring to your attention step-by-step instructions for making a sleeping place for your tailed friend, which can be placed inside the house or placed in a secluded place.
You will need: an old sweater, padding polyester, holofiber (or foam rubber for stuffing) and sewing supplies.
- Step 1. Cut the neck of the sweater and sew the opening from shoulder to shoulder.
- Step 2: Fill the sleeves with stuffing so they look like a sausage.
- Step 3. Sew them together.
- Step 4. Now cover a piece of foam rubber with the sweater to create a flat, warm bottom and sew the bottom closed.
- Step 5. Sew the sleeves to the bottom so that they form a rounded “nest”.
Simple house out of a box
The basis of the house will be a box, which means that first of all you need to find a good version of it. Place it in front of your cat for her to climb into, making sure she can fit in it and can turn from side to side.
- Step 1. Make an entrance to your pet's future booth. Take a plate of a suitable diameter, attach it to the wall of the box, circle and cut a round hole along the contour.
- Step 2. Now let's start creating the roof. There are four pieces of cardboard that cover the box, cut the cardboard from the entrance side and the back side of the box, and connect the sides by the edges in the form of a roof using glue.
- Step 3. Set up the inside of the booth: place a small folded blanket or mattress in it.
