Maine Coon Kittens for Sale – Cautionary Note
Whenever you see Maine Coon kittens for sale, make a few basic checks before you spend any time visiting. You can tell a lot by ‘gut instinct’ and the helpful attitude of the seller. Good Maine Coon breeders will be protective or their cats. They should be asking you about your living situation and if you have any other animals, children, etc. If they don’t seem interested in you, they may not be so interested in the homes their cats are going to and you may view this as a negative sign.
Remember, reputable breeders are plentiful and you will find beautiful healthy Maine Coon kittens for sale and ready for new homes if you’re prepared to take your time. They are not in short supply despite their popularity, although the best breeders in your area may not have new litters at the same time as you were hoping to find your new kitten.
King Henry 6 weeks
First Steps to Finding a New Maine Coon Kitten
When we chose our kitten, we first searched for local breeders on the Internet, looked at photos of previous litters, and then contacted them via email. Many places we contacted had waiting lists, and we actually ended up with quite a limited choice of suitable breeders, who were due to have kittens.
TIP: Allow plenty of time to look around and don’t expect to bring a new kitten home tomorrow. Good breeders will keep Coon kittens for sale with their mothers until they are 3 months old even after papers have been signed. We chose our kitten when he was 5 weeks and visited him again before we finally brought him home.
Before we brought our first Maine Coon kitten home, we purchased a large scratching post, (which is absolutely essential for big mainly indoor cats if you want to prevent him from scratching your favourite arm chair), a weeks supply of food and litter (the same varieties that he/she was used to) and a cosy cat bed for him to snuggle up in as he adjusted to his new surroundings.
When you find a breeder you can trust and is recommended but doesn’t have kittens available always ask for a recommendation. The Maine Coon breeder community is close knit but sometimes political and competitive so always do your own research and if you’re not sure about something – ask and if you don’t get satisfactory answers, simply move on.
Avoiding Maine Coon Health Problems
If kittens are born with problems, it’s difficult for a breeder to sell them, and they may be forced to keep them if they survive. Some strains of cat flu can be more serious (some fatal) than others and some illnesses are more contagious than others. All you can do is be vigilant when you find a kitten you like and if in doubt, it’s best to move on.
Our own personal story of finding Maine Coon kittens for sale was not without difficulty and “Henry” actually came to us with an incurable condition affecting tear production. Without on-going daily medication, the prognosis was that he could have lost his sight within the first two years of his life. As it happened, Henry is happy and healthy, although it cost our insurance company around $100 equivalent per month in vet’s bills for around 3 years.
This was a steep learning curve and was more by luck than good fortune that things have worked out ok. Actually finding Maine Coon kittens for sale is the easy bit. Making sure you do your due diligence and putting your head before your heart requires a careful, methodical approach. Once you get that right you can look forward to enjoying the unique Maine Coon personality, fun and love with your new kitten without the hassle and heartache.
Next>>>Maine Coon Kittens Adoption
BACK TO HOME PAGE >>Maine Coon
Click here to see one of the earliest Maine Coon cat pictures ever taken
Maine Coon Kitten for Sale? 4 Questions You Must Ask the Seller
Little King Henry still at the cattery
I remember been so pleased with myself when I eventually found a reputable breeder with genuine pedigree Maine Coon kitten for sale . I thought that was the end of the search when really it should have been the beginning. Back in 2002 I actually found information and advice quite hard to come by so was totally reliant on what information my breeder offered.
Having made a few mistakes and learnt along the way here’s a few more questions you may want to ask if you’re about to buy a Maine Coon and you’ve found a breeder with a kitten for sale that meets with your requirements …
- Will I get a health warranty and a contract?
This is definitely something you should expect, although this works both ways and you are advised to read through the paperwork carefully. Usually there will be a time period when kittens can be returned in the event your vet finds a problem.
Contracts may also specify whether the cat can be kept indoors or outdoors. I realised when corresponding through my websites with many new Maine Coon owners that people often want their cats to roam outside freely. It is pretty standard for the contract to stipulate that neutering must take place within a certain period of time and transference of ownership is not permitted. This is all about protecting the integrity of the breed and the reputation of the breeder selling the kittens.
2. What vaccinations will you/I have to take care of?
This will vary country to country, from state to state. I know that different vets have varying opinions on what shots are necessary and healthy for a young kitten to have. The best advice is to simply make sure the kitten has a clean bill of health verified by a vet before you take the kitten. Make sure to get a vaccination record so you can then consult with your own vet as soon as you become the new owner.
3. What registration requirements?
In my experience this is left to the new owner to send off the appropriate documentation to the governing body along with a small registration fee. The registration papers should be provided to you by the breeder so make sure you ask about for them if not provided. Registration is essential for showing cats but is recommended in any case. If you’re going to invest and buy a Maine Coon it seems sensible to register your new cat – I think of it like registering a new baby’s birth.
4. When can I take my new kitten home?
A responsible breeder should not separate a new kitten from its mother for at least 10 weeks. A new kitten’s immune system is not developed until this stage and the early weeks can be when any health problems first become apparent. Maine Coons are slow developers taking up to 4 years to mature fully and it is generally accepted that its ok for kittens to go to their new homes when 12 weeks old. With both of our MCs we had to wait about 3 months. It can seem a long time but always worth the wait and gives you plenty of time to get prepared for your new arrival.
Next>>>Maine Coon price
BACK TO HOME PAGE >>Maine Coon
Click here to see one of the earliest Maine Coon cat pictures ever taken
Share your thoughts..