We are delighted to present this interview with Steve Lane from Florida Maine Coons. In this insightful discussion, Steve shares his journey to becoming a Maine Coon breeder, details his breeding philosophy, and highlights the importance of ethical breeding practices. As a passionate advocate for the Maine Coon breed, Steve offers invaluable advice to those considering Maine Coons as pets.
All of the images included in this article are of Steve’s amazing Maine Coons!
Hi Steve. We’re so pleased to chat with you. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your cattery?
Florida Maine Coons was founded in 2016 under the TICA registered name OptiCoons, my wife Ginnie and I chose this name as we desired to breed and raise Optimal Maine Coons – with regards to size, temperament, proper structure and, most importantly, healthy genetics.
How did you and Ginnie get started as Maine Coon breeders?
Great question, we decided we wanted to add a cat to our family, so we went to the local animal shelter. There were dozens of cats to choose from, however there were two very large silver cats that just caught our eye. We decided to adopt one of them, then the person helping us informed us that the other silver cat was the brother. There was no way we could separate them, so we adopted both. We found out that the guys were a Maine Coon mix and, at the time, we didn’t care.
As time went on we grew to realize what awesome cats they were, and we decided to do our due diligence and look into breeding Maine Coons… and the rest, as they say, is history.
Today we have the honor to be caretakers of the MajestiCoon line of American Maine Coons. These bloodlines and the entire cattery came to us in 2021 from our mentor in the UK, Lucille, who decided to retire after 45 years of breeding. These bloodlines are amazing, and the love and work Lucille put into creating this bloodline is simply amazing. The lines are highly sought after as many pedigrees trace back to foundation line cats from Maine, USA.
We promised to keep these lines going and when we retire they will be passed down as well. The Maine Coon breed MUST carry on as most of the genetic pool is, well, in all honesty, rubbish. Talk about pressure!
That’s quite a journey! It’s inspiring that you’ve committed to preserving Lucille’s bloodline. Tell me, what do you love most about the Maine Coon breed?
As pet owners, they are just incredibly smart, affectionate, and beautiful.
As a breeder there really is a science to breeding, it’s very interesting.
All reputable Maine Coon breeders are members of cat registries. Which ones are you a member of? Why do you consider them important?
Yes, we’re a member of TICA (The International Cat Association).
We have at this point been awarded “Outstanding Maine Coon Cattery” from TICA four times. Registries define standards that cats should be bred to. We believe that as breeders we owe the world our best effort to breed to the Maine Coon standards. TICA sets those guidelines that all members should follow.
Absolutely. How would you describe your Maine Coon breeder philosophy?
We firmly believe that our purpose is to connect people with this magnificent breed of cat at a fair and affordable price. Breeding any animal ethically and responsibly can be costly, but the rewards of uniting a beautiful and healthy kitten with its new family are immeasurable. The smiles, memories, and pictures of our fur babies growing up in homes across the world make all the hard work worthwhile.
That sounds very rewarding! How do you ensure the health and well-being of your cats and kittens?
This is the expensive part of breeding, as I have said before, we owe it to the breed to preserve the breed and that comes at a cost. Veterinary costs, high-quality foods and supplements add up quick, along with lots of socializing time, grooming and patience.
However, if you’re not providing the best care you can give to them then you should not be a breeder. There are, in recent years, too many breeders entering the profession. I refer to it as a profession because to do it right requires education, training, licensing, and experience.
Sadly, many new breeders think it’s a get-rich-quick scheme. Unfortunately, they are doing it wrong, and it shows in the quality of kittens they produce. It is heartbreaking to hear from buyers weekly – of how they bought a kitten from “breeder xyz” that just died when it was less than a year old.
That’s heart-wrenching. In light of these breeding challenges, what health screenings or genetic testing do you perform on your cats to ensure you’re breeding healthy kittens?
All of our adult Maine Coon Male breeders and Female breeders are tested for HCM/SMA/PK/PKdef by the prestigious UC Davis Veterinary and Genetics program in Davis, California.
We also keep profiles of all of our breeding animals. This DNA testing is done through Wisdom Panel, which checks for 50 different markers in Maine Coons. It helps guide us in making pairing decisions with males and females.
Most importantly, we work closely with our local Veterinarians to ensure the “Optimum” health of our Maine Coon family. On an annual basis our breeders all get a physical, consisting of blood work, and skeletal, hip, and cardiac workups as needed.
Tell us a bit about the environment where your cats are raised.
In the beginning, we just had our home with one male and two females. If you have ever been around breeding-age males you will know what a challenge it can be when they begin marking their territory.
Fast forward a couple of years and we made a large addition to the home, where I keep an office. As a software architect, I work from home and the boys also have a very large 24×30 area to live, with everything a guy could want – comfy furniture, heat, air conditioning, lots of windows, a grooming and bathing area, lots of ways to hide and get away for some alone time.
The girls live in the main house which is attached directly to the addition. As we have litters, the babies are isolated in a separate room until they reach the age where they can be vaccinated and be protected from bacteria and viruses.
Recently we have added a large catio on the back side of the house where both the males and females can access, they have separate sections of course. They love sitting outside and watching the world go by.
We are registered with the state of Florida and Citrus County. We are a properly licensed cattery.
What are some of the ways you socialize your kittens to prepare them for their new homes?
Some adopters, and the public in general, don’t understand just how important this is. Maine Coon Cats in general are pretty well-behaved but until they are introduced to humans and other animals they do have a wild side.
Daily handling, playing with their paws to prepare them to be comfortable when nails need to be trimmed, fingers in the mouth to get them used to having their teeth brushed and, of course, grooming all pay big dividends as preparation for going home.
What is the process for someone interested in adopting one of your kittens?
Typically, it begins with an email or a phone call. It’s not as easy as that – Ginnie will make sure she speaks at length to make sure it is a good fit. Its all about the kitten – not how much money the adopter has. The kitten and its well-being are the most important factor.
If all goes well a deposit is made and a contract is signed. Excitement for the adopting family grows in anticipation of the day they go home.
We are a very open, honest, and transparent cattery. We do allow adopting families to visit their new babies as they grow. Anywhere between 12 and 16 weeks of age, the kittens go to their homes to be loved forever.
Are there any specific criteria or requirements that potential adopters need to meet?
Yes –
- Can you financially take care of this kitten? Again, to do it right is not cheap.
- Will someone be home most of the time to be with the kitten? If they are left alone they will feel abandoned.
- Will you promise to always love and give attention to your new baby?
What are some of the ways you support new owners after they adopt a kitten?
We offer a 5-year health guarantee. Our bloodlines have a 40-plus-year history of clean, strong and healthy genetics, so we know our kittens will be healthy with proper care. Along with that we have an open-door policy for life, we are here to answer questions or concerns of any kind about your kitten.
That’s fantastic. What advice would you give to someone considering a Maine Coon as a pet?
You get what you pay for, like anything else in life.
You need to consider your breeder – what is their reputation? What are their credentials? How about their Health and Breeding Program?
Just putting a male and female together doesn’t work so well, if you’re ethical and looking to sustain your bloodlines. Maine Coons vary greatly in looks and characteristics, so choose wisely, as this is a lifelong commitment for you and them.
Are there any common misconceptions about the Maine Coon breed you’d like to address?
About the breed, no.
As a Maine Coon breeder – do the right things right.
About unethical breeders, who are only in it for the money, or the scammer and backyard breeders, who just take shortcut after shortcut, yes. How do you sleep at night with no respect for the breed or the families you are hurting?
Hopefully, with interviews like this one, we can educate people on the importance of finding a responsible Maine Coon breeder. How can we learn more about your upcoming litters and events?
We have litters throughout the year just follow us on Facebook and be informed.
We would love the opportunity to talk with you and educate you on this magnificent breed.
Thank you so much for your time, Steve. How can people get in touch with you for more information?
We actually have 2 websites – Florida Maine Coons and MajestiCoon, which celebrates our historic bloodline.
Many thanks from the caretakers and guardians at Florida Maine Coons, LLC.
Steve and Ginne Lane
Dunnellon, Florida 34433
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