Maine Coon UK: Health Tests, Lifespan and Costs
The Maine Coon is the largest domestic breed the GCCF recognises. This guide sets out the inherited conditions breeders screen for, what UK vet records show about lifespan, and what a cat of this size costs to feed.
The short answer
In UK vet records, Maine Coons had a life expectancy at birth of 9.71 years, against 11.89 for crossbred cats (Teng et al. 2024 (VetCompass)). The GCCF requires HCM, SMA and PK-Def DNA tests for Maine Coons registered for breeding; also ask for heart scans and hip X-rays. Complete dry foods cost £0.46–£0.52 a day for a 4 kg cat; the GCCF size range for the breed starts at 10 lb (about 4.5 kg), so a Maine Coon costs more to feed.
Maine Coon at a glance
- GCCF section
- Section 2, Semi-longhair
- Size (GCCF)
- 10–20 lb
- Coat
- Undercoat with a glossy topcoat
- Grooming
- Weekly; heavy spring shed
- Activity
- High energy; needs room to play
- Life expectancy at birth
- 9.71 years
Size, coat, grooming and activity: GCCF Maine Coon breed page (adult weight 10–20 lb (about 4.5–9.1 kg)). Life expectancy: Teng et al. 2024 (VetCompass), UK vet records of cats that died in 2019. Checked 21 October 2026.
What health problems do Maine Coons have?
The GCCF calls the Maine Coon generally healthy but names two hereditary issues: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a thickening of the heart muscle that can lead to heart failure, and hip dysplasia. International Cat Caresays Maine Coons are at greater risk of HCM and advises that breeding cats have a heart ultrasound every year during their breeding years. The GCCF's registration policy also requires DNA tests for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and pyruvate kinase deficiency (PK-Def).
| Condition | What the source says | Test breeders use |
|---|---|---|
| Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) | The GCCF names HCM as one of two hereditary issues in the breed. International Cat Care says Maine Coons are at greater risk of HCM and that screening uses a heart ultrasound plus a DNA sample. (GCCF; International Cat Care) | HCM DNA test (the MYBPC3 A31P variant) and a heart ultrasound (echocardiogram) of breeding cats |
| Hip dysplasia | The GCCF names hip dysplasia as the second hereditary issue and says there is no simple gene test for it. (GCCF) | Hip X-rays of breeding cats |
| Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) | International Cat Care lists spinal muscular atrophy in Maine Coons among the more common inherited disorders of cats. (International Cat Care; GCCF registration policy) | SMA DNA test (the GCCF requires it, with HCM and PK deficiency tests, for Maine Coons registered for breeding from 1 January 2024) |
| Pyruvate kinase deficiency (PK-Def) | International Cat Care lists pyruvate kinase deficiency among the more common inherited disorders of cats. (International Cat Care; GCCF registration policy) | PK-Def DNA test (part of the GCCF's Maine Coon breeding registration requirement) |
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
The GCCF names HCM as one of two hereditary issues in the breed. International Cat Care says Maine Coons are at greater risk of HCM and that screening uses a heart ultrasound plus a DNA sample.
Test: HCM DNA test (the MYBPC3 A31P variant) and a heart ultrasound (echocardiogram) of breeding cats
Source: GCCF; International Cat Care
Hip dysplasia
The GCCF names hip dysplasia as the second hereditary issue and says there is no simple gene test for it.
Test: Hip X-rays of breeding cats
Source: GCCF
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)
International Cat Care lists spinal muscular atrophy in Maine Coons among the more common inherited disorders of cats.
Test: SMA DNA test (the GCCF requires it, with HCM and PK deficiency tests, for Maine Coons registered for breeding from 1 January 2024)
Pyruvate kinase deficiency (PK-Def)
International Cat Care lists pyruvate kinase deficiency among the more common inherited disorders of cats.
Test: PK-Def DNA test (part of the GCCF's Maine Coon breeding registration requirement)
Health tests to ask a Maine Coon breeder for
- HCM DNA test (MYBPC3 A31P), SMA and PK-Def DNA test results for both parents
- A recent heart ultrasound (echocardiogram) for both parents: International Cat Care advises yearly scans for breeding cats
- Hip X-ray results for both parents
- Test results that carry the cat's microchip number, from a sample a vet collected
This is general information. Pawwala is not a vet. If you are worried about your cat's health, contact your vet.
How long do Maine Coons live?
- 9.71 yrsMaine Coon life expectancy at birth (95% CI 8.42–11.00; 69 deaths)
- 11.89 yrsCrossbred cats (moggies and mixes)
- 10.41 yrsAll purebred cats in the study
These figures come from Teng et al. 2024, life tables of annual life expectancy and risk factors for mortality in cats in the UK (Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, VetCompass), which built life tables from 7,936 deaths recorded at UK vet practices in 2019. Life expectancy at birth is an average across every cat, including those that died young, so many Maine Coons live well beyond it.
The Maine Coon figure rests on 69 deaths, so the range around it (the 95% confidence interval, 8.42–11.00 years) is wide. Breed clubs often quote longer lifespans; we use only figures from published studies of UK vet records.
What does a Maine Coon cost to keep in the UK?
Each line says how it was worked out. Our food figures are for a 4 kg adult cat; the GCCF gives a Maine Coon adult weight of 10–20 lb (about 4.5–9.1 kg).
| Cost | Figure | How we worked it out |
|---|---|---|
| Food: complete dry foods, 4 kg cat | £0.46–£0.52 a day (£13.80–£15.60 a month) | The three complete dry foods in our cat food comparison, using zooplus UK prices and each maker's feeding guide for a 4 kg cat, checked 21 October 2026. A month is 30 days. |
| Food: all complete foods we compared, 4 kg cat | £0.46 to £3.17 a day | From James Wellbeloved Adult Cat Turkey & Rice (dry) (£13.80 a month) to Bozita Chunks in Jelly, salmon (wet) (£95.10 a month). Wet food costs more per day than dry. |
| Insurance | Get quotes | Premiums depend on your cat's age, breed, postcode, excess and cover level, so we do not show a figure. Our cat insurance guide explains cover types and limits. |
Food: complete dry foods, 4 kg cat
£0.46–£0.52 a day (£13.80–£15.60 a month)
The three complete dry foods in our cat food comparison, using zooplus UK prices and each maker's feeding guide for a 4 kg cat, checked 21 October 2026. A month is 30 days.
Food: all complete foods we compared, 4 kg cat
£0.46 to £3.17 a day
From James Wellbeloved Adult Cat Turkey & Rice (dry) (£13.80 a month) to Bozita Chunks in Jelly, salmon (wet) (£95.10 a month). Wet food costs more per day than dry.
Insurance
Premiums depend on your cat's age, breed, postcode, excess and cover level, so we do not show a figure. Our cat insurance guide explains cover types and limits.
- Checked 21 October 2026. Prices change; confirm on the retailer's page.
Feeding a Maine Coon
We have no breed-specific Maine Coon food in our cat food comparison, so the table shows the range for a 4 kg cat. The GCCF size range for the breed is 10–20 lb (about 4.5–9.1 kg), and feeding guides give larger amounts for heavier cats, so expect to pay more than these figures. Our cat food portion calculatorworks out a starting amount for your cat's weight.
The GCCF says the Maine Coon is slow to mature, taking up to four years, and can tend to become overweight, so take care with portions. For kittens, see our kitten food comparison.
Insuring a Maine Coon
Pawwala is not authorised by the FCA. We explain how cover works and do not give advice or recommend insurers. Pawwala earns a fee when you get a quote through a link marked Ad. Always read the policy wording. How we make money
Premiums for your cat depend on age, breed, postcode, excess and cover level, so compare real quotes. HCM and hip dysplasia are inherited, so check how each policy treats hereditary conditions. Our guide to whether pet insurance is worth it sets out the trade-offs.
| Check in the policy wording | Why it matters for a Maine Coon |
|---|---|
| Hereditary and congenital conditions | The conditions in the health table above are inherited. Check whether the policy covers them and from what age. |
| Policy type | Heart and kidney conditions are long-term. Lifetime cover renews the vet-fee limit each year you renew; per-condition and time-limited cover stop paying once their limit or period ends. |
| Pre-existing conditions | Anything diagnosed or showing signs before cover starts is usually excluded, so insure before any symptoms appear. |
May suit you if
- You want a friendly, playful cat that, the GCCF says, bonds well with another cat or the family dog
- You have room for play and a strong climbing frame that will take a large cat's weight
- You can groom weekly and more in the spring shed
May not suit you if
- You have little space: the GCCF says the breed is high energy and needs plenty of room to play
- You cannot keep up with grooming: the GCCF says the long, thick coat needs regular grooming to prevent knots and mats
- Your food budget is tight: a large cat eats more than the 4 kg figures in our table
Getting a Maine Coon responsibly
Ask for both parents' HCM, SMA and PK-Def DNA results, a recent heart ultrasound and hip X-ray results. A GCCF-registered breeder on the GCCF Breeder Scheme has signed up to the GCCF's code of ethics. If you would rather adopt, search rescue centres such as Cats Protection.
The Maine Coon made up 3% of cats acquired in the last 12 months and 2% of cats acquired at any time in Cats Protection, CATS Report UK 2025. Of owners who said their cat was not a moggy, 50% were given paperwork confirming the breed and 40% were not.
- Ask to see the kitten with its mother and littermates, and ask for the parents' test results before you commit (International Cat Care).
- The GCCF's kitten checklist asks whether the kitten is at least 13 weeks old, fully vaccinated, registered and insured (GCCF).
- Be prepared to walk away rather than buy an ill or scared kitten out of pity (International Cat Care).
How much grooming does a Maine Coon need?
The GCCF lists weekly grooming for the breed and says the long, thick coat needs regular grooming to prevent knots and mats, with extra care in the spring when it sheds heavily. It also says to check the large ears regularly to make sure they are clean.
Further reading
How we checked this page · checked 21 October 2026ShowHide
What we did
What we did not do
Prices and terms change. Confirm on the retailer's page before you buy.
Sources
- GCCF: Maine Coon breed page · checked 21 October 2026
- GCCF: Maine Coon registration policy (June 2025) · checked 21 October 2026
- Teng et al. 2024, life tables of annual life expectancy and risk factors for mortality in cats in the UK (Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, VetCompass) · checked 21 October 2026
- Cats Protection, CATS Report UK 2025 · checked 21 October 2026
- International Cat Care: inherited disorders in cats (updated 18 Dec 2025) · checked 21 October 2026
- International Cat Care: cardiomyopathy (heart disease) in cats (updated 26 Sep 2025) · checked 21 October 2026
- Pawwala cat food comparison (zooplus UK prices) · checked 21 October 2026
Other cat breeds
- British ShorthairLife expectancy 9.58 years
- RagdollLife expectancy 10.31 years
- BengalLife expectancy 8.51 years
Frequently asked questions
Is the Maine Coon the largest cat breed?
The GCCF describes the Maine Coon as the largest domestic breed it recognises, with a size range of 10–20 lb and males weighing up to 18–20 lb. It says the breed is slow to mature, taking up to four years.
Why are Maine Coons so big?
The GCCF says the Maine Coon evolved as a sturdy working cat in rural New England, with a physique and coat suited to the climate of the region. It has substantial boning, a long rectangular body and large paws.
Can Maine Coon cats go outside?
The GCCF does not set a rule for the breed. It says Maine Coons are high energy and need plenty of room to play and work off their hunting instinct, so an indoor Maine Coon needs space, toys and a strong climbing frame. Talk to your vet about vaccinations and parasite treatment if your cat goes outdoors.
Can I adopt a Maine Coon in the UK?
Yes. Cats Protection lists cats for adoption across the UK. In its CATS Report 2025, 23% of all owned cats had been adopted from a UK rescue or rehoming centre, but only 16% of cats acquired in the last 12 months were adopted, compared with 44% bought.