If you’re looking for a new kitten and want to find the best breeder, then this guide will explain all the tips and tricks you need to know to make sure the Maine Coon breeder you are choosing is reputable. Picking the right breeder will give you the best chance of getting the healthy and happy feline friend that you’ve been dreaming of.
With a rise in scammers since the pandemic, it can sometimes seem a little daunting to find the right breeder for you. But don’t worry, we’ve put together a ‘breeder bible’ to help you weed out those backyard breeders and scammers.
What’s a scammer, and how do I avoid them?
Since the pandemic, unfortunately, there’s been a rise in scammers posing to be genuine breeders. They could use the name of a breeder that you’ve heard of to gain your trust and will try and sell you a kitten, only to make off with your money.
Scammers will usually:
- Only contact you via text message or email
- Ask you to pay a deposit, or the full amount before meeting the kitten.
- Not have any physical address and won’t allow you to visit the kitten or the mother.
- Will only ship the kitten to you, and won’t let you collect it from their home
- Won’t have much knowledge about the breed.
- Will usually ask for payment in vouchers, which is not traceable.
If you’re contacted by a breeder, use the checks in this breeder bible, and you’ll be able to spot a scammer a mile away.
What’s a ‘Back Yard Breeder’ and how do I avoid them?
Backyard breeders, breed animals in poor conditions with not much socialization or care. You might have heard of them referred to as ‘kitten farms’. The health of the kitten is not a priority, rather kittens are bred with the sole purpose of making money.
- They do not check the health of the parents.
- Do not test for hereditary and genetic conditions.
- The mothers would often have many more litters than is healthy for them.
- They are usually not registered with any organizations such as TICA or CFA.
- They don’t offer future support or have much knowledge about the breed.
- They can’t give a Health Check Guarantee.
- Will sell the kitten before it’s 12 weeks old.
A decent breeder will always have the welfare of the kitten at heart and will usually ask you a lot of questions to make sure that the kitten will be happy living with you.
Top tips & checks when choosing a Maine Coon Breeder
However tempting it is to find a breeder quickly, we implore you to really take your time when choosing a breeder. To make sure you find a genuine and caring breeder, follow these steps.
Check for an online presence:
- Does the breeder have a website, and what information is provided there? Do they have photos of previous litters and information about the adoption process?
- Does the breeder have a social media presence such as Facebook or Instagram? Are there regular updates on this page and comments from previous buyers? Reputable breeders will often post regular updates about current litters as they grow older and may write posts regarding kitten care.
- Have they registered their physical location and personal name on their website? It’s common that scammers will not disclose a physical location or provide a personal name.
- Be wary of Craigslist or Facebook marketplace – If the breeder only sells through an online marketplace, then this is a cause for concern. Reputable breeders should have a website where you can establish if they’re registered with the right organizations and that they’re genuinely pedigree kittens.
- Do they have positive reviews? Check their website for testimonials. Social media is also a great place to look for reviews, as well as on Google. Ideally, these reviews will be detailed and will come with a photo of the cat that they have bought.
- Does the breeder have personal information about them and their history breeding? Breeders should describe who they are and their experience breeding cats.
Is the Maine Coon Breeder CFA, TICA or MCBFA registered?
Reputable breeders will often have to register with certain organizations and abide by their ethical code of conduct. If the breeder is registered with one of these organizations, then it’s most likely that they are a reputable breeder. These are official organizations that recognize a cat as pedigree, and pedigree papers will usually be issued by these organizations.
You can find listings of registered breeders here:
- TICA – The International Cat Association
- MCBFA – Maine Coon Breeders & Fanciers Association
- CFA – Cat Fanciers Association
What other checks do I need to make?
Once you’ve checked the breeder’s online presence then you also need to make sure that the breeder is responsible. The aim of a breeder is not to make money, but to better the breed and improve the condition of the cat and this should be clear on their website.
Responsible breeders should have plenty of information on their site, to put your mind at ease and show that they’re taking steps to put the kitten’s wellbeing first.
We would always recommend calling the breeder first before deciding if they’re right for you. This will allow you to find out more about upcoming litters, but also to determine if the breeder has good knowledge and is confidently answering questions about the adoption process.
They should be able to describe the temperament of the parents of the kitten and should be able to confidently answer any questions about how they would suit your home.
- Does the breeder have good knowledge of the breed?
- The breeder should have a good understanding of the breed and should be able to distinguish between features of both American and European looks.
- How many litters has the mother had?
- Ideally no more than six.
- Is their breeding line regularly vet-checked for hereditary and genetic conditions?
- In order to better the breed, breeders should not be breeding from cats that have known conditions that could be passed on to their litter and should be getting them checked by a veterinarian regularly.
- Can the breeder provide a Health Check Guarantee?
- It’s pretty standard for a breeder to be able to provide you with a health check of at least 1 year. This means that the cat has been guaranteed not to have any genetic or hereditary conditions, often including feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). This proves that the breeder is confident that the cat will be happy and healthy.
- Are the cats well-socialized?
- Cats should be handled regularly by humans, and ideally will be around other cats as well as children and even dogs. This means that there won’t be any surprises for the kitten when you take them home.
- Can the breeder provide pedigree papers?
- Some breeders will not be able to issue pedigree papers until the kitten has been neutered or spayed to protect their breeding line. The breeder should not refuse you access to pedigree papers unless you have not spayed or neutered the kitten.
- Is the price too good to be true?
- Check other breeders in your area and find out the average cost of pedigree Maine Coons. If the cost seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- Are the photos of the kitten seen in several advertisements?
- Are you being asked to pay a deposit before meeting the kitten?
- You should not pay a deposit until you have met the kitten in person.
A reputable breeder will always:
- Communicate by phone. If you are having trouble getting the breeder on the phone, they may be hiding something.
- Treat their pets like family, because in a way, they are!
- Will ask you questions about you and your home to make sure that you’re a good fit. A responsible breeder will put the needs of the kitten first and will not let you adopt if they don’t think you’re suitable.
- Only breed from healthy cats
- Will never sell a kitten that’s under 12 weeks old – This is important so that the kitten has time to develop.
- Make sure the kittens are vet checked and have up-to-date vaccinations.
I have chosen a Maine Coon breeder, what next?
You’ve picked your Maine Coon breeder. The next steps are to meet the breeder at their home and meet the kitten and their mother.
If the breeder won’t let you meet them at their home and view the kitten, they may not be legitimate.
On your first visit:
- Make sure that the kitten is healthy and happy – Eyes should be clear, they should have a healthy coat and a healthy weight.
- Is the mother healthy and happy?
- Check that the kitten is alert and happy around humans. If the kitten is shy or aggressive toward you, this is a bad sign.
- Do they live in good conditions? Their litter should be clean, and they should have plenty of room to roam and play.
- Are they well-socialized? Are they in the same room as other animals, and are all kittens kept together?
- You should be able to visit the kitten more than once, and the breeder should be able to provide additional photos on request.
Taking them home:
The breeder should suggest and allow you to pick the kitten up from their home. Some reputable breeders do allow shipping, but this is often not recommended.
- Kittens should have had a full round of vaccinations and a veterinary check.
- You should be provided with a Health Check Guarantee
- You should be given an info pack which holds their birth details and the pedigree information about the parents. It should also hold information about health records and vaccinations.
- The breeder should be available to ask any questions after you leave.
Conclusion
We’re confident that by using this guide, you’ll have all the information that you need in order to make sure that you’ve picked the perfect Maine Coon breeder.
Frequently Asked Questions: How To Choose A Maine Coon Breeder
How Can I Identify and Avoid Scammers Posing as Genuine Maine Coon Breeders?
Be cautious with breeders who only contact via text or email, ask for full payment before meeting the kitten, or lack knowledge about the breed. Use checks provided in the breeder bible to spot potential scammers.
What Are Backyard Breeders, and How Can I Avoid Them?
Backyard breeders breed animals in poor conditions without proper care. To avoid them, ensure the breeder is registered with reputable organizations like TICA, CFA, or MCBFA, and that they prioritize the welfare of the kittens.
What Are the Top Tips and Checks When Choosing a Maine Coon Breeder?
Check for an online presence, verify registration with official organizations, assess the breeder’s responsibility, knowledge of the breed, and health check guarantees. Ensure the breeder communicates by phone, treats their pets well, and never sells a kitten under 12 weeks old. Always meet the breeder and kitten in person before making any payments.