Here is a list of commonly asked questions about the Maine Coon cats in our cattery.

How big do Maine Coon cats get?
What colours do they come in?
How often are kittens available?
When do they go to their new homes?
When can we see your kittens/cats?
How much does a Maine Coon kitten cost?
Do you have a health guarantee and a purchase agreement?
Do you ship your kittens?
Do they need much grooming?
I think my cat is part Maine Coon. How do I tell?


How big do Maine Coon cats get?

Males typically get between 15 to 20lb and females 9 to 12lb.


What colours do they come in?

They come in both mackerel and classic tabby patterns and solid patterns as well. Colours could be brown (black), red, cream, or blue with many other possible shades if the silver inhibitor gene is present. Brown (black) and red are dominant colours. Red is also referred to as sex-linked in that it is present on the X chromosome. This explains why torbies (tortoiseshell tabbies) and torties (tortoiseshells) are always female. They have two X chromosomes. Males have one X and one Y chromosome. Males can be only brown (black) or red whereas the females have the possibility of being a combination of both. Of course other colour and pattern genes can modify these colours. The recessive dilute gene modifies brown (black) to blue and red to cream. Silver (actually white) refers to an inhibitor gene that causes the lower part of each hair shaft to be white. The recessive non-agouti gene turns off the light coloured banding in the tabby pattern resulting in a solid patterned cat. The tortoiseshell or tortie is a solid patterned female cat that has both red and brown (black). Here is a list of potential colour and pattern combinations:

Brown (black) classic or mackerel tabby
Red classic or mackerel tabby
Blue classic or mackerel tabby
Cream classic or mackerel tabby
Silver classic or mackerel tabby (a brown (black) tabby with the silver inhibitor gene)
Red silver classic or mackerel tabby
Blue silver classic or mackerel tabby
Cream silver classic or mackerel tabby

Torbies are brown (black), blue or silver tabbies with patches of red. Brown (black) and red are sex linked to the X chromosome. Remember boys are XY and girls are XX. So to have a red tabby girl each X chromosome must have red. A torbie has red only one X. So there are:

Brown (black) classic or mackerel torbie
Blue classic or mackerel torbie
Silver classic or mackerel torbie
Red silver classic or mackerel torbie
Cream silver classic or mackerel torbie

Then there are solid patterns:
Black solid
Blue solid
Red solid (very difficult to get – tabby markings usually show through)
Tortoiseshell or tortie is any of the above with patches of red
Black smoke (black solid with silver inhibitor gene)
Blue smoke (blue solid with silver inhibitor gene)
Red smoke (usually looks like a red silver as tabby markings show through)
Tortie smoke

Particolour patterns are all of the above colour combinations and patterns with white on the paws and possibly on the belly. Could be very little white (low white) or nearly all white (high white to van). The splashes of white in particolours are the due to the white spotting gene.

And lastly
White solid

A white solid is the result of the dominant white gene that covers all other colours and patterns that the cat may be carrying.

Please take a look at “What colour is my cat?”


How often are kittens available?

Reputable, ethical breeders only have a few litters a year. Kittens are therefore available on a very limited basis. If you are interested in a Maine Coon kitten, it is best to become a pre-approved kitten home. See our adoption questionnaire and our purchase agreement.


When do they go to their new homes?

Kittens usually go to their new homes between the ages of 14 to 16 weeks. They will have received two full sets of shots for Panleukopenia, Rhinotracheitis, and Calcivirus at approximately 8 weeks and 13 to 14 weeks of age. They will not need additional shots until they have been at you house for one year. They will then be approximately 1 year and 3 months old.

Rabies shots will also be given if you live outside Canada.

The kittens also receive a health check from our veterinarian at the same time they receive their second set of shots.


When can we see your kittens/cats?

Please be aware that our cats live with us in our home and we are not open for business. Once you are pre-approved to adopt a cat or kitten, you will be invited to visit with us and meet our cats. Kittens also do not usually meet their potential owners until after they have had their first set of shots.


How much does a Maine Coon kitten cost?

Pet quality kittens from our cattery are $800 for males and $700 for females.

Kittens that are show quality and are placed with owners that wish to show are $1000.

Kittens/cats that are show quality with breeding rights are $1300 for females and $1650 for males.

Shipping costs, additional tests (other than those that are part of our breeding program), if requested, carriers, health certificates for international shipping and any other required documents or tests, and rabies shots are all additional costs over and above the cost of the kitten/cat.


Do you have a health guarantee and a purchase agreement?

All kittens/cats are placed with a written purchase agreement that provides a written health guarantee. Our health guarantee covers viral and bacterial diseases, fungus infections, and internal and external parasites, and certain genetic anomalies. All cats or kittens are guaranteed to be FIV/FeLV negative when they leave our home. Your kitten will have been vaccinated for Panleukopenia, Rhinotracheitis, and Calcivirus, and you will be provided a health record showing when boosters are due. The kitten/cat will have been health checked by my veterinarian before going to their new homes.

Our health guarantee extends 21 days from the time the kitten/cat goes to their new home. In order to qualify for this guarantee, the kitten must be examined by a licensed veterinarian within 72 hours after delivery (except Sundays and holidays).

Please see our purchase agreement.


Do you ship your kittens?

Yes we will ship domestically and internationally.


Do they need much grooming?

Anyone that tells you they don’t require much grooming is lying. Maine Coons do require a good thorough combing at least once a week at a minimum. When they shed their coats in the spring and fall they will need to be groomed more often. One way to look at it is the more they are groomed the less hair they will shed on the furniture and carpets. When done on a regular basis, grooming can be just another enjoyable interaction with your cat. They will also need to have their claws trimmed regularly. Claws should be checked once a week and trimmed as needed.

Please see our grooming page for more information.


I think my cat is part Maine Coon. How do I tell?

The Maine Coon is America's native longhair cat. It is believed to have evolved from cats brought over by the Vikings and the cats later left by Europeans. It evolved naturally in response to the New England climate. Your cat's ancestors might be similar to the cats that founded the Maine Coon breed. However, it's impossible to tell from just looking at your cat if it is related to the Maine Coon or to any other breed. Many cats have some of the traits and distinguishing characteristics of Maine Coons but not all of them. Because the Maine Coon is a natural breed and hasn't been bred to extremes, there are cats all over the world that resemble the Maine Coon. The only way to tell for sure if your cat is a Maine Coon is to look at the pedigree. Maine Coons cats are registered with registering associations such as TICA and CFA. There are several other recognized registries for purebred cats in North America and all over the world.