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Maine Coons are a semi-longhaired breed and have a heavy thick coat. Frequent grooming is required to prevent the fur from matting and knotting.

Common places where knots can develop are around the front and back legs on the underside of the body.

Things you will need:

1. Mild cat shampoo
2. Empty bottle for mixing water with shampoo
3. Rinsing jug and/or shower spray
4. Steel comb
5. Fur brush
6. Clippers ('rounded' type)

A Maine Coon breeder shared with me her method for bathing her 7 Maine Coon cats!

Add part cat shampoo and warm water to an empty bottle (amounts according to directions on bottle) and mix thoroughly.

Run the bath, without your cat knowing it's for him/her!

Gently lower your cat into a filled bath (2-3 inch depth of water approx), feet first and gently pour bath water over body with a jug.

Add shampoo/water mix on a section of the fur and lather steadily.

Be as flowing and speedy as you can without any sudden movements. Offer reassurance and praise throughout.

When fully lathered, rinse as thoroughly as you can. Again be gentle and try to avoid fast jets of water or too much splashing.

Place the cat in a large towel and dry as much excess water out the fur as quickly as possible.

Soon after, get the first brush onto the coat and continue to groom at regular intervals until the coat is dry. I have heard of some owners using hair dryers, although we have never used this method so can't comment on its effectiveness.

Pay particular attention to the tail, and be careful not to catch the tailbone with the brush. This can be painful and can cause to discomfort if extra care is not taken.

TIP: You can wear gardening gloves if your Maine Coon has a tendency to scratch whilst he is being groomed. We don't tend to wear these ourselves as Henry has been groomed since he was a kitten and is quite used to this routine. He also knows he will receive treats once the trauma is over!

Claw Clipping

If you do not feel confident with this, you may ask your vet to carry this out, or a professional groomer. However, if approached carefully, it can be done quickly and without discomfort to the cat.

The most important thing is not to cut too far down the claw into the 'quick'. This looks like a pink pointed claw within the claw.

My advice when starting out with this is to just clip the points off the claws regularly, rather than leaving long periods between clipping.

The other thing to remember is not to cut 'across' the claw. You must cut with the clippers facing down in the same direction as the claw is pointing.

Copyright 2006 Sarah Crosier