How To Find A Maine Coon Rescue Cat

Do you believe in second chances? If you do, then you might be the perfect person to provide a forever home to one of the many Maine Coon rescue cats up for adoption across the USA.

Since the pandemic, this number has risen dramatically. Everyone deserves a second chance, and rescue cats are no exception. Often left in shelters through no fault of their own, they’re ready to be loved and taken to their forever home.

Going to a breeder can mean paying a great deal of money, and you may not be guaranteed to get the cat that you want for a long time due to the popularity of the breeder. They may also have their own preferences as to who the cat goes to.

Although buying from a breeder can guarantee you a pedigree, as well as having access to their genetic records, you are just as likely to find a healthy and happy cat from a rescue shelter.

Below we’ll explain everything you need to know about how to find a Maine Coon Rescue cat anywhere in the USA.

Contents

Where Do I Find A Maine Coon Rescue Cat?

So you’ve decided to rescue, great! To give you the best chance of finding a Maine Coon we’ve put together a list of places to look.

Maine Coon Rescue Groups

There are many Maine Coon rescue groups that are devoted to finding forever homes for Maine Coons that need a second chance.

Quite often the Maine Coons will be fostered in a home whilst they wait to be rehomed.

Here are 5 reputable rescue groups worth checking out:

Maine Coon Rescue

Maine Coon Rescue is a non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing and rehoming Maine Coon and Maine Coon mix cats.

Their network of volunteers provides medical care, screens foster and forever homes, educates potential adopters, and helps transport cats to new homes. The organization is funded by donations, adoption fees, and fundraising activities.

If you’re considering adopting a Maine Coon or Maine Coon mix, this organization can help ensure you’re well-prepared and matched with a cat that will be a perfect fit for your home.

East Coast Maine Coon Rescue

East Coast Maine Coon Rescue is an organization dedicated to rescuing Maine Coon cats and kittens from shelters and other sources. They specialize in Maine Coons and Maine Coon mixes, providing them with loving homes and families.

The organization is supported by volunteers and case managers who match the cats with prospective adopters. They shelter the cats in private foster homes until they are adopted and rely on donations and volunteers to continue their mission.

Adopting from them saves a cat’s life and provides a loving and loyal companion.

Only Maine Coons Rescue

OMC! (Only Maine Coons Rescue) is a volunteer-run, non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing Maine Coon Cat and Kitten mixes from shelters and unwanted situations. They provide care for the rescued cats in foster homes until they find their permanent homes. The organization operates in DC, DE, MD, NJ, portions of NY, VA, and PA.

The adoption process involves a personal interview, foster interview, home visit, and arranging to pick up the cat/kitten. Adopters are required to complete an Adoption Agreement form, make an adoption donation, and, if applicable, complete a Spay/Neuter Contract and prepay for the procedure.

The adoption donation varies based on the age and type of the cat.

Arizona Maine Coon Cat Rescue

Arizona Maine Coon Cat Rescue (AZMCCR) is a non-profit dedicated to the welfare of Maine Coon cats.

They ensure each cat is healthy before adoption, facilitate the adoption process through PetFinder and an online application, and provide cat care advice and support for challenges faced by cat owners.

AZMCCR relies on donations, merchandise sales, volunteers, and foster homes for support. If you’re looking to adopt a Maine Coon or support a cause that helps these cats find loving homes, consider AZMCCR.

Maine Coons And More

Maine Coons & More is a Southern New Jersey-based nonprofit organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and re-homing of Maine Coon cats and other exceptional breeds.

The organization, comprised of experienced volunteers, rescuers, and foster homes, prides itself on not only saving lives but also ensuring that the rescued cats are a perfect match for their new forever homes.

If you are looking to adopt a Maine Coon or another exceptional breed and want a pet specifically evaluated to fit your home and personality, Maine Coons & More is the ideal place for you.

Animal Rescue Search Sites

Animal Rescue Search Sites allow you to search across a large directory of animal shelters by breed and location, making the search for a Maine Coon Rescue Cat a lot easier.

Here are 5 to check out:

Petfinder

When you log on to Petfinder.com, you’ll be able to find your new best friend in as little as 60 seconds. Because of how beloved Maine Coon cats are, they can sometimes be hard to find at your local shelter. Petfinder.com takes the task of visiting website after website to find the Maine Coon kitty of your dreams.

Just type in the type of cat breeds you’re interested in and your location and you’ll be matched with cats that meet that description. Some of these Maine Coon cats may be farther away than others, but if you’re up for the drive, you will give yourself the best options. Best of all, the listings on Petfinder.com let you in on the cat’s personality, coat length, and current health status.

Adoptapet

Petsmart

ASPCA

Petful

Cat Rescue Groups

There are many great Cat Rescue groups that list hundreds of cats available for adoption around the USA.

These Cat Rescue Groups don’t specialize in Maine Coon Cats, but they might have one from time to time.

Here are 4 examples (just to get you started):

Kitten Rescue

Cat House On The Kings

Blind Cat Rescue

Hearts That Purr

Animal Shelters

There are hundreds of animal shelters across the USA.

Contact them in advance, and ask them to let you know when a Maine Coon comes into their shelter.

Social Media & Classifieds

You can find classified listings on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and groups on Facebook that will list Maine Coon Rescue Cats for sale.

Be wary though, classified adverts can often be the place where you’re most likely to find backyard breeders and scammers.

Before you part with your money, there are a few things to be mindful of:

• Does the cat look healthy?
• Is the seller willing for you to meet the cat before you pay money? If not, this is a bad sign.
• Do they want you to pay in vouchers? If so, you could be speaking to a scammer as vouchers are an untraceable source of income.
• Are they willing to speak to you over the phone? Scammers will only want to communicate through email, instant message or text message.

Facebook Marketplace

Craigslist

If you don’t live near a cat rescue or animal shelter but are still interested in adopting a Maine Coot kitten or adult cat, then you could always check out Craigslist. Availability will vary.

Craigslist is a good option for seeing what adoption options there are in the community, and they’re usually a bit cheaper than going to an animal shelter or breeder. When you visit Craigslist, just type in what you’re looking for and your preferred location and see what’s available.

Why Get A Maine Coon Rescue Cat?

Unfortunately, according to ASPCA, over 3 million cats are placed in shelters across America every year and around 860,000 are euthanized. Many of these cats are perfectly healthy, but the demand for room in the shelters is so high that the shelters have no choice but to put the cats to sleep.

This is why it’s so important to research the type of cat that you’d like before you rescue, and that you make sure that you’ve got the time and space to care for it. Rescuing a cat is literally life-saving, and the cat that you decide to rescue will repay you back with lots of love.

There are thousands of wonderful cats who are looking for a new home, and it’s your responsibility to make sure you’ve taken time to research and prepare to make sure you don’t end up taking the cat back.

What Is The Price For A Maine Coon Rescue Cat?

It’s often very much cheaper to buy through a shelter than if you were to buy directly through a breeder.

Breeders charge a premium for their pedigree line, often charging in the region of $1000 – $3000 per cat.

Shelters usually charge an adoption fee of anywhere between $15 – $100 depending on the breed and age of the cat.

How Old Are Maine Coon Rescue Cats?

Generally, most cats in shelters will be at least a year old. Although adopting a kitten is lovely, an older cat is much less work. You won’t usually have to train them, and they’ll already be socialized with humans. Not only will the cat be well socialized around humans, but quite often may have grown up around other types of pets too.

Searching For A Maine Coon

There will be a large variety of cats to adopt in any shelter, different ages, sexes, breeds and personalities. If you’re specifically looking for a Maine Coon, we would advise that it can sometimes be a challenge as they’re so popular, and would recommend that you speak to your nearest shelter.

They should be able to let you know when one becomes available.

What Do I Need To Be Aware Of?

Ask About The Cat’s Personality

The people who work at the shelter will be able to tell you all about their personality and how they would fit into your home if you did decide to take them home. Shelter cats get a bad reputation for having behavioral and health problems, but 9 times out of 10 this simply isn’t the case. Most often than not, the cat has been left at the shelter through no fault of their own.

Pedigreed Status Is Not Assured

If you’re specifically looking for a rescue Maine Coon, you may not be able to find a cat with pedigree status. Finding a pedigree cat in a shelter is often quite a challenge, but there are Maine Coon rescue groups that cater for this which we have written further on below.

There are benefits to cats not being pedigree. They’re much more likely to be healthy as pedigree cats can often suffer from genetic conditions due to inbreeding. Humans selectively breed certain characteristics into cats which can cause defects that aren’t seen until later on in life.

Get Your Maine Coon Rescue Cat Vet Checked ASAP

You may need to pay extra charges to neuter or spay, and it’s very important to vet-check the cat as soon as you take them home. Most often the shelter will have checked the cat over for you, but it’s important you do this yourself as usually the vet within a shelter will have basic training as a technician.

You should get a thorough check done by your own vet. You can then make sure their vaccinations are up to date and get them spayed or neutered if they aren’t already.

Conclusion

Choosing to rescue a Maine Coon cat is a wonderful thing. You’re able to give it the life that it always wanted and it will show you heaps of love and affection in return.

It’s very important to make sure that your new cat is veterinary checked by your own vet once you’re ready to take them home. This lessens the risk of any unforeseen health issues and will ensure that the cat is up to date with vaccinations. We would also recommend getting the cat spayed or neutered.

Please check with the shelter what food your Maine Coon is eating so that you can keep feeding them the same brand when you get home. If you wish to change the brand at a later stage you can then do so gradually.

We hope that this guide gives you the confidence to find your new best friend. There are far too many wonderful cats left in shelters all across America, given moments of interaction a day and facing the possibility of euthanasia.

With shelters being at maximum capacity, now is as good a time as any to adopt not shop.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Does It Cost to Adopt a Maine Coon Rescue Cat?

Adopting a Maine Coon rescue cat is often much more affordable than buying from a breeder. While breeders may charge anywhere from $1000 to $3000 for a pedigree Maine Coon, shelters usually charge an adoption fee ranging from $15 to $100, depending on the breed and age of the cat.

Where Can I Find a Maine Coon Rescue Cat for Adoption?

You can find Maine Coon rescue cats through various channels, including specialized Maine Coon rescue groups, animal shelter search sites, general cat rescue groups, local animal shelters, and even social media platforms like Facebook and Craigslist. Some reputable rescue groups and search sites include Maine Coon Rescue, East Coast Maine Coon Rescue, Petfinder, and Adoptapet.

What Should I Be Aware of When Adopting a Maine Coon Rescue Cat?

When adopting a Maine Coon rescue cat, it’s essential to understand that pedigreed status may not be assured, and you should get the cat vet-checked as soon as you take them home. Be cautious with classified adverts, as they may contain listings from backyard breeders and scammers. Always ensure the cat looks healthy, meet the cat before payment, and be wary of sellers who only communicate through email or text or ask for payment in vouchers.