How Much Does A Maine Coon Cat Cost? 2024 Price Guide

Easy to spot by their large size, fluffy coats, and cute ear tufts, Maine Coons are one of the most well-known cat breeds. These gentle giants of the cat world are popular for their personalities as much as their beauty. Friendly and social, Maine Coon cats love people and other animals, making them the ideal family pet.

Currently the third most popular registered cat breed, Maine Coon cats come in a dazzling array of coat colors and patterns. The Maine Coon’s combination of dramatic good looks and sweet nature is hard to resist! If you feel yourself falling under the spell of these furry beasts, you might be interested in bringing one into your family.

Before you decide to get a Maine Coon, it’s always a good idea to find out as much as you can about how to care for one. Getting a pet is a big responsibility and should be treated as such. You will need to be prepared to commit both time and money to your new family member.

With that in mind, here is a guide to how much it costs to own a Maine Coon cat.

Bringing Home a New Maine Coon Cat: One-Time Costs

So, you’ve decided you are ready for your own Maine Coon Cat. Congratulations! Now let’s talk about the less fun part of getting a new pet: the costs.

The one-time costs of a new Maine Coon cat depend on several different factors. One is whether you are adopting or buying your new cat and how old they are. If this won’t be your first pet cat, you may already have some of the supplies you need at home, which will decrease your overall one-time costs.

Here are some estimates to give you an idea of the one-time costs you can expect when you bring home a new Maine Coon cat:

Free

Believe it or not, there are certain situations where you may be able to get a new Maine Coon cat for free. Maybe a friend or relative is no longer able to care for their Maine Coon and asks for your help. Sometimes a free Maine Coon is advertised online or in newspaper classifieds.

Whatever the circumstances, always remember there is no such thing as a truly “free” pet. Make sure you can handle the cost of caring for your new Maine Coon even if you don’t have to pay anything to get one.

Adoption

$100–$400

You may need to be patient, but it is possible you can find a Maine Coon available for adoption. Local animal shelters or breed-specific rescues are good places to look for adoptable Maine Coons. The cost of adopting a Maine Coon usually includes some basic vet care such as shots or spaying and neutering.

Breeder

$800–$2,000

The first step in buying a Maine Coon cat from a breeder is to make sure you are working with a responsible and reputable cat breeder. These breeders work hard to make sure they are producing healthy kittens. The International Cat Association (TICA) keeps a list of breeders that is a good place to start your search.

Buying a Maine Coon from a breeder can get expensive and the higher quality a cat is, the more it will cost. For example, a cat listed as “pet-quality” will be less expensive than one that is “show-quality.” Keep in mind that breeding cats responsibly is expensive and the price of your new Maine Coon cat may reflect that.

Initial Setup and Supplies

$350–$1,300

The initial setup and supply costs of your new Maine Coon will depend a lot on how old your new cat is.

Getting a kitten all their shots, as well as having them spayed or neutered, will cost more than adopting an adult cat who has already had these things done. On the other hand, an older cat could have more health issues, such as tooth disease, which might need to be addressed.

Again, if you’ve had a cat before, you may already have many of the supplies on this list which may cut down on initial costs.

List of Maine Coon Cat Care Supplies and Costs

How Much Does a Maine Coon Cat Cost Per Month?

$90–$430

Now that you have an idea of what you can expect to spend by bringing a new Maine Coon cat home, what about monthly expenses? Keep in mind that Maine Coon cats can be up to twice as large as the average house cat. Larger cats mean you will likely end up paying more for food, litter, or medications, especially if you have more than one cat.

Here is a breakdown of some common monthly costs of owning a Maine Coon cat.

Health Care

$50–$360 per month

Keeping your Maine Coon healthy is about more than just taking them to the vet (although that’s important too!) Making sure your cat eats the right diet and gets regular grooming care to keep their coat maintained is also part of Maine Coon health care. A lot of these costs are variable depending on the age of the cat and prices in the area where you live.

Food

$20–$50 per month

A full-grown Maine Coon cat could weigh as much as 20 pounds. Especially when they are young, Maine Coons are known to have huge appetites. They might eat as much as 1 cup of dry food a day. Senior cats eat less so your monthly food costs will depend on the age of your cat as well as the type of food you feed.

Maine Coons do better on premium quality food that is high in protein and low in carbs. Some people prefer to feed wet food or a raw diet. Keep in mind these types of diets are usually more expensive than dry kibble.

Grooming

$0–$70 per month

After the initial cost of purchasing a brush and nail clippers, grooming your Maine Coon will cost more in time than money. The famously fluffy Maine Coon coat needs regular brushing, preferably daily but at least weekly. Keep their nails clipped short. It’s also recommended to either bathe your Maine Coon or use cat cleaning wipes to help maintain their coat.

Some owners choose to have their cats professionally groomed 3–4 times a year. These sessions usually cost around $30–$70.

Medications and Vet Visits

$20–$200 per month

At a minimum, your Maine Coon should be on a monthly preventative medication to keep them free of fleas and other pests. A 3-month supply of flea and tick preventative averages about $50.

Additional monthly veterinary costs will vary depending on whether your Maine Coon is on any other medications or whether they need to go to the vet for an annual exam and shots.

As your Maine Coon gets older, they usually start requiring more veterinary care, which can increase your monthly expenses.

Pet Insurance

$10–$40 per month

Pet insurance for cats is usually cheaper than it is for dogs, even for dog-sized cats like the Maine Coon! The monthly costs of a policy will depend on what type of coverage you choose. Some policies will cover the cost of shots and other preventative care. Others only cover emergencies or long-term health conditions.

Whatever the monthly cost of the pet insurance, it is often worth it knowing you won’t have to worry about a huge bill if your Maine Coon gets sick or needs surgery.

Environment Maintenance

$25–$40 per month

Most of the monthly maintenance costs for your Maine Coon will be related to keeping their litter box fresh and clean. Big cats can cause big messes and you will need to budget accordingly. These estimates don’t include the initial cost of purchasing a litter box and scoop, which were covered earlier. The amount of litter used monthly will depend on the number of cats you have and the quality of the litter.

Entertainment

$15–$30 per month

Keeping your Maine Coon cat active, physically and mentally, is a big part of keeping them happy and healthy. Bored cats may develop bad habits like scratching furniture or marking. Inactive cats could gain too much weight and develop health problems as a result. Make sure your cat has a variety of different toys and spend time every day actively playing and interacting with your Maine Coon cat.

A great way to budget your monthly cat toy expenses is to subscribe to a service that sends you a new box of cat toys every month. Not only will you be able to know exactly how much you are spending but your cat will always have something new and exciting to play with.

Total Monthly Cost of Owning a Maine Coon Cat

$90–$430 per month

Keep in mind that these are all estimates. Your actual monthly costs to own a Maine Coon may vary from month to month. However, it’s important to have an idea of how much you could be spending to properly care for a Maine Coon before you commit to bringing one home.

Additional Costs to Factor In

Besides your initial and monthly costs, you will need to be aware of some other possible expenses when owning a Maine Coon cat. These could be anything from cleaning up after your Maine Coon to paying for emergency medical care.

Probably the toughest expense to plan for is the cost of any emergency medical care your Maine Coon needs. Depending on the type of care needed, you could be looking at hundreds or even thousands of dollars in vet bills. If you don’t have pet insurance, it’s recommended to try to keep $500–$1,500 in an emergency pet fund.

Here are some other possible expenses you will need to be aware of:

Unexpected expenses are an unavoidable part of owning any pet including a Maine Coon. The best way to prepare for those expenses is to have a plan ahead of time and ideally keep some money saved up.

Owning a Maine Coon Cat On a Budget

As you’ve seen, owning a Maine Coon cat can certainly get expensive. If you have your heart set on a Maine Coon but are worried about the expense, there are some ways to own a Maine Coon cat on a budget. The basic needs of any cat are food, shelter, litter, and love. Love is free and everything else can usually be found on sale!

Saving Money on Maine Coon Cat Care

Adopting a Maine Coon will be the cheaper option compared to buying one. Be cautious about buying from a pet store or backyard breeder even if they are cheaper. You may end up paying more in vet bills for a less healthy cat.

Low-cost vet care including spaying, neutering, and shots is available in many areas. Some veterinarians offer packages or discounts to make yearly vet care more affordable.

Feeding dry cat food is cheaper than canned or raw diets and many cats do just fine on quality, but more moderately priced brands. Many cat supplies can be purchased used, cutting down on initial expenses.

Conclusion

To recap, your greatest one-time expense will likely be when you first bring home your Maine Coon cat. Depending on how much your new cat costs, you could spend up to an average of $3,300 in initial expenses. Again, as we discussed, you do have some options to reduce costs here.

Once you have your new cat at home, you can expect to spend an average of $90-$430 per month caring for your Maine Coon cat. Again, these estimates will vary based on several factors but are a good place to start when making a monthly pet care budget.

Maine Coon cats are wonderful animals who all deserve loving homes. Unfortunately, love doesn’t pay the bills, so you will need to have another plan for that. Before bringing a Maine Coon cat home, make sure you understand the cost and commitment involved. Then you will be able to enjoy your new furry friend with less worry and more cuddles!-

Related Read:

• How To Tell If Your Cat Is a Maine Coon
• How to Discipline a Maine Coon Cat – Vet Approved Tips

---

Featured Image Credit: Nils Jacobi, Shutterstock