| The only way to be 100% sure of getting a
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| | not important, you can sometimes find
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| verified pure breed Maine Coon cat is to
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| | cheaper Maine Coons that are called "pet
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| buy a pedigree kitten from a breeder. The
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| | quality" meaning they do not meet the
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| breeder should be able to present a
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| | required physical standards for showing.
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| family tree of your cat's pedigree and
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| | This does not mean they are not perfectly
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| provide relevant certification.
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| | healthy.
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| A recommended place to start a search for
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| | 3. Does the stud live with the breeder?
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| a reputable breeder in your local area is
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| | If not, can the breeder guarantee that
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| the "Maine Coon Breed Fanciers
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| | the stud has not been subjected to any
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| Association" ( Maine Coon kittens can
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| | illnesses e.g. cat flu. Has the breeder
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| be instantly recognizable by the long
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| | bred the stud before?
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| tufty ears and oversized paws, as seen in
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| | 4. Is there any known heredity illnesses
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| the classic longhaired American however
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| | in the ancestral line such as HCM (can
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| there is a European strain of Maine Coon,
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| | cause heart failure) and hip problems?
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| (my own Maine Coon, King Henry comes from
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| | 5. Have any of the other cats suffered
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| a German line) which has a shorter ruff
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| | from any illnesses for e.g. have any
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| around the neck, and often a fuller,
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| | recent litters suffered from any strain
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| squarer muzzle. The differences are not
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| | of cat flu?
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| apparent until the cat is between 12 to
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| | 6. If relevant to your situation, ask if
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| 18 months.
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| | the kitten is comfortable around other
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| In terms of identifying a "pure" pedigree
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| | animals and children?
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| Maine Coon, you'll be relying quite
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| | 7. At what point, could the kittens leave
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| heavily on information the breeder is
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| | their mother (I would be concerned if the
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| presenting to you. If you have
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| | breeder allowed the kitten to leave it's
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| difficulty finding a reputable breeder,
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| | mother if it is less than 12 weeks).
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| you could try and get a recommendation by
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| | 8. Will a vet check the kittens before
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| talking to individuals at a Maine Coon
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| | leaving the breeder's home? How many
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| event or an "all breeds" Cat show. It is
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| | times? If the Maine Coon becomes ill
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| essential you are happy with your breeder
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| | after it has left the breeder, who is
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| - if you are becoming a Maine Coon owner
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| | responsible for paying vet's fees or
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| for the first time, you may need to rely
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| | could the kitten be returned to the
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| on their expert advice.
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| | breeder?
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| You can expect to pay anywhere between
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| | 9. You'll also want to find out how often
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| $500 and $800 for a pure breed Maine
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| | the queen is impregnated; because a queen
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| Coon. With food, litter, vet bills and
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| | subjected to "too regular" pregnancies
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| cat-sitters for holidays, Maine Coons can
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| | can be prone to producing weak or sickly
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| be a relatively expensive investment. All
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| | kittens.
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| Maine Coon owners will agree that they
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| | Other things you may want to check/do:
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| are a truly wonderful breed and will
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| | 10. The living conditions of the stud and
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| repay you many times over.
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| | queens e.g. the cleanliness of the cages
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| IMPORTANT TIP: This could save a lot of
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| | rooms and the health/welfare of the cat
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| heartache, trouble and expense later on;
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| | etc.
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| When buying an expensive pet, do not go
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| | 11. Will the cats be litter trained
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| for the kitten you feel sorry for and
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| | before they move to their new homes?
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| looks like it needs help. Any kittens
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| | 12. Also, the environment where the
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| with signs of withdrawal, low energy or
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| | mother and kittens are living. Are there
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| general apathy, should really be avoided.
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| | toys, clean litter, warmth, food and
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| Choose an independent, lively, energetic
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| | water?
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| kitten. Pick out kittens that don't
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| | 13. Check the eyes of the kitten to
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| necessarily come to you but are, however,
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| | evaluate its health. Never purchase a
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| interested in their surroundings.
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| | kitten that has weeping eyes.
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| It's best to pick a local breeder and
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| | 14. The breeder's contract. Have a read
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| visit them in their home, when you're
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| | of the written agreement before you
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| first making your initial enquiries to
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| | commit yourself. Pay particular attention
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| check the kitten's living conditions,
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| | to areas of responsibility should the
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| health and welfare of all cats living in
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| | kitten become unwell soon after you've
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| the same environment.
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| | bought him/her.
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| Although it sounds like common sense,
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| | 15. You should book your new kitten in
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| have questions prepared that will help
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| | for an all round check with your own vet
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| you to establish whether the breeder can
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| | almost as soon as you've collected from
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| be trusted.
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| | the breeder. If there are any signs of
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| Questions you'll definitely want to ask:
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| | problems, you'll want to know within the
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| 1. How much experience does the breeder
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| | first 24 hours.
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| have? If you need assurance about the
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| | On the whole, Maine Coon breeders are
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| breeder's ability/expertise ask to speak
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| | passionate about their cats and love what
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| to someone who has recently purchased a
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| | they do. There's not a whole lot of money
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| Maine Coon from that breeder.
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| | to be made in breeding Maine Coons, and
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| 2. Who are the kittens' parents and are
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| | it is very demanding work.
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| they champions? Even if you don't intend
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| | Unless, your gut feeling tells you
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| to show your cat, you'll still want to
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| | otherwise, you can expect to be talking
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| find out about their pedigree. That's
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| | to breeders who are totally dedicated
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| what you are paying for. If this is just
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| | Maine Coon lovers.
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