Choosing Your Little Coon Companion: A 5-Step Guide

You have decided that the gorgeous Maine Coon breed is a perfect fit, and you are eager to take one of these gentle-giants-to-be home. However, it’s more complex than choosing the first advertised kitten you encounter. Proper care in choosing your potential companion can make the difference between a match made in heaven—o a disaster.

When choosing your Maine Coon kitten, first ensure you prepare for the responsibility of caring for the kitten properly. Research reputable registered breeders and ensure your kitten is correctly socialized and healthy. Also, ask your breeder to provide pedigree papers, genetic health screening, testimonials, and conduct a cattery visit.

When you choose a Maine Coon kitten, you want to ensure that you and your feline sidekick will have the happiest and healthiest life together. There are many “breeders” out there looking to make a fast buck with no care for giving the kittens the best opportunity to be loving and well-adjusted members of a human family. Here are four essential factors to consider when choosing a Maine Coon kitten.

1. Checklist: Are You Ready?

When people encounter the pure gorgeousness that is a kitten, their hearts often melt, and they might not think through their decision. It is infinitely tempting to take home that little ball of fluff without thinking through the responsibility of adequately caring for your new feline companion.

Choosing a kitten carries a commitment to care for at least 14 to 20 years, and you must be sure you are ready to take this step.

• Home check: Is your home approved for pets, and are your household members/family on board with a new kitten in their space? Have you ensured your living space is secure and kitten-proof?
• Finance check: Can you comfortably afford to pay for vet visits, proper nutrition, and the paraphernalia of an enriched cat environment?
• Time check: Do you have the time and energy to care for a needy and active little creature? Should you leave home for long stretches each day, do you have people committed to helping you care for your kitten?
• Lifestyle check: Is your life settled in terms of living arrangements and occupation with an unlikelihood of travel or lifestyle changes?

Should You Choose a Pedigree Maine Coon Kitten?

Many people argue against buying a purebred companion animal, but there are certainly advantages to purchasing your kitten from an established and ethical breeder. Experienced breeders are committed to creating healthy, socialized kittens and ready to live with a human family.

Other advantages of a reputable breeder of pedigree cats include:

• Health Checks and screening for genetic illness
• Dependable and predictable conformation and temperament
• You will know your cat’s size, coat type, and color.
• Pedigree kittens are likely to be friendly due to purposeful breeding.

Signs of a Purebred Maine Coon Kitten

Sometimes you may find unregistered breeders who find themselves with a litter of Maine Coon kittens. If you are sure that you aren’t supporting unethical breeding and that your breeder is responsible and legitimate, you might want to check if your kitten is a Maine Coon.

Alternatively, you might be adopting a rescue kitten without a history and wish to determine if your kitten is a Maine Coon. Here are some signs that your kitty will be a gentle giant one day!

• Long bodies and legs
• Supersize paws and sturdy wrist bones
• Large almond-shaped eyes
• Distinctive angle upwards between the nose and forehead as opposed to a straight line 
• Maine Coons have a long and square muzzle, especially when you view the kitten in profile.
• Your Coon kitten will have loads of fluff, including lynx-like ear tufts, which breeders call ear “furnishings.”
• Furs between the paw pads
• Medium to long fur, often with the beginnings of a ruff around their necks
• The Maine Coon tail is gloriously long and fluffy. 

2. Choosing a Maine Breeder

The designation “breeder” can mean anyone who accidentally or deliberately bred a litter of kittens, so you need to do your homework. Some breeders are solely in exchange for money without a care for the health and quality of the kittens they breed. Often, these kittens are born in cramped and stressful indoor set-ups that will impact their health and psychological well-being in the future.

Although it’s easy to look for kittens online, it is also easy for unethical breeders to hide behind glamorous-looking websites. There are several ways to find a reputable breeder in your area but carefully research the breeders. Many savvy hustlers are out to take your money without caring for the kittens they are rearing.

Be bold about asking for testimonials and reviews from people who have bought from a potential breeder. Your breeder should provide you with a list of happy clients who will attest to the quality of their kittens.

Some other suggestions for finding a reputable dealer include the following:

• Ask your veterinarians about local breeders. Vets can offer a lot of insight into how well breeders care for their pets and the health of their breeding pairs.
• Attend cat shows and mingle with breeders.
• Ask other owners of Maine Coons where they found their perfect matches.

Is Your Breeder Registered With an Official Organization?

You need to ensure that your chosen kitten breeder is recognized by an official governing body that provides the necessary information regarding breed bloodlines and standards. There are several official governing bodies, the most reputable being the following:

• The International Cat Association (TICA)
• Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA)
• The American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA)
• The Cat Fanciers’ Federation (CFF)

Does Your Kitten Have a Pedigree?

First and foremost, your Maine Coon should come with a pedigree which is an official document that certifies that your kitten is a purebred. Typically, the pedigree will reveal your potential feline companions’ genealogy (bloodline) through 4-5 generations.

Pedigree will also reveal whether your breeder follows ethical breeding practices and avoids breeding mothers and their offspring or brothers and sisters.

3. Tips For Choosing a Socialized Maine Coon Kitten

Cats have a relatively narrow window of vital socialization between two and seven weeks of age. Suppose your breeder neglects to introduce your kitten to human contact, other cats, and the basic stressors of home life in this period. In that case, chances are they will never be wholly affectionate towards their human companions.

Mistreatment or neglect in this period can also have far-reaching consequences for your kitten’s future behavior and temperament. To ensure your kitten has the best chance of being a happy and loving companion, you should consider the following factors when approaching a Maine Coon breeder.

Is Your Kitten the Appropriate Age for Adoption?

If your breeder offers you a kitten of 8 weeks or under, it is a red flag that they need to be more knowledgeable about cat socialization and the pitfalls of early weaning in cats. Cats weaned too early can develop physiological and socialization problems later in life. That is why most reputable breeders offer you a kitten between 12-14 weeks.

 A study published in the Nature Journal showed that weaning after 12 weeks significantly decreased the likelihood of aggression in cats as they matured. In the survey of over 5000 cats, they found that weaning after 14 weeks decreased behaviors such as wool sucking and excessive grooming.

The longer your kitten spends with their mother and littermates, the more socialized and emotionally secure they will be as adults. So look for breeders who offer their kittens at a suitable age.

Will the Breeder Allow You To View the Kitten in Its Environment?

Cats have a susceptible window period where they learn to socialize with humans between 2-7 weeks. Frequent and gentle handling is essential in creating the kitten’s future personality and relation to their humans.

Verifying the state of care of your breeders’ cats can tell you a lot about the care they have taken to provide you with a happy and healthy kitten. The cats should be indoors in a natural home environment that is clean and enriched, which will ensure the breeders raise your kitten well.

Fly-by-night breeders running cat mills will make excuses to prevent you from visiting their premises. Proper breeders will welcome you into their home, as they have nothing to hide.

Enquire About the Maine Coon Kittens Mother

Cats learn most of their socialization behaviors from observing and reacting to their mother’s behavior. Calm and happy queens create sociable and confident kittens who learn to get along with other cats and their eventual human companions. In the weeks between 2 and 9, the kitten is like a sponge soaking up knowledge of its world by mimicking its mother.

Asking to view the kitten with their mother eliminates the possibility of framed or illegally imported kittens, which can have severe consequences for their mental and physical well-being. You can also see the nature of the mother cat and how she reacts to humans in her environment, which likely determines how her kittens will view humans in the future.

Close contact with their mothers also plants the seeds for an emotionally balanced nature, and cats deprived of close contact with their mothers before eight weeks may show aggressive or fearful natures.

Ask To View Your Maine Coon Kittens Father

Believe it or not, your kitten’s father has a significant say in whether your kitten will be loveable and affectionate. Sandra Mccune published a study in Applied Animal Behaviour Science in 1995 exploring the role of paternity on kitten behavior.

She compared correctly socialized kittens between 2-9 weeks with human contact and unsocialized kitten behavior from either a friendly or unfriendly father. The results showed that the father’s personality influenced the kittens’ sociability as they matured with friendly father cats, creating sociable kittens. When confronted with novel objects and new people, socialized kittens with friendly fathers exhibit bolder, friendlier natures.

How Does the Kitten Interact With Their Littermates?

It is best to choose a kitten from a litter so that they have experienced interacting and playing with other kittens. In the invaluable socialization period between 2-9 weeks, your kitten learns vital clues on how to interact with both humans and interpret social signals from other cats.

Hand-reared kittens isolated from their mothers and littermates typically show negative personality traits such as nervousness, aggression, and the inability to handle novel objects and situations. They also learn to play gently with other cats and humans, such as bite inhibition and overly rough play. Kittens learn valuable boundaries by interacting with their littermates, which can influence their temperament and personality.

Observing your intended kitten in play with its littermates is a good idea. The kitten should not be overly aggressive or timid and shy away from the other kittens.

Have a look at these gorgeous 6-week-old Maine Coons creating havoc!

Signs of an Emotionally Balanced Maine Coon Kitten

You can tell much about your potential cat’s personality by observing them in play and their interactions with other humans. Often, breeders will allow you to visit their home before choosing a kitten where you can look out for the following positive personality signs.

• Your potential kitten should not shy away from human touch or cower in fear
• A kitten who hisses and spits at human contact may prove to be an antisocial adult.
• The kitten should show confidence and readily play with you or their carers.
• A well-socialized kitten will approach you with curiosity and a raised tail.

4. Tips for Choosing a Healthy Kitten Coon

You should ensure your potential kitten has the best chance of living a happy, healthy, and long life. Maine Coons have certain genetic predispositions to illness, some of which will only arise years after you take your kitten home. Responsible breeders dedicate themselves to ensuring they do everything possible to breed out genetic vulnerabilities where possible.

Therefore, it is essential to ask the right questions of your potential breeder regarding your kitten’s future health.

Has Your Breeder Screened Their Breeding Pairs for Genetic Diseases?

The unfortunate part of pedigree bloodlines is that the narrowed genetic diversity makes a particular breed susceptible to genetic ill health. The good news is that breeders can avoid some of these potential health issues by submitting their breeding stock to rigorous genetic screening.

A reputable breeder should be able to provide you with evidence that they have screened their breeding pairs for the following Maine Coon specific disorders:

• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy HCM
• Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)
• Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency
• Feline Hip Dysplasia

The breeder should be able to show echocardiograms and heart screening via ultrasound to support the genetic tests.

Can Your Breeder Provide Your Kitten’s Veterinary History?

Buying a pedigree cat can be costly, and you should expect that your chosen cattery provides a proper veterinary history for your new kitten. Included in the history should be the following procedures:

• Treatment for worms and fleas/parasites
• Up-to-date vaccinations
• Appropriate neutering/spaying
• Microchip for identification

10 Signs of a Healthy Maine Coon Kitten

When you first view your kitten, there are several telltale signs that your kitty is happy and physically healthy. You can tell signs of health from touch and observation, and when you focus on these critical areas:

1. Bright and alert eyes with no discharge or weeping
2. The coat is smooth and soft and free of mats or bald patches. It should also be free from grease and dirt
3. The coat should be free from fleas or ticks. You can often see the residue of parasites, such as fleas, by tiny black specks close to the skin.
4. The ears should be free from debris, waxy buildup, or residue
5. Clean noses free from any discharge or scabbing
6. The skin should be supple and smooth, not stiff or tight, which can be a sign of dehydration
7. They pass urine and stool normally
8. They are active and mobile when not sleeping, with coordinated movements
9. No signs of labored breathing, coughing, or sneezing
10. A clean bottom free from feces or redness, which may be a sign of diarrhea or illness

Check out this awesome Instagram clip of a Maine Coon kitten growing up in super-speed:

5. Other Information You Should Expect From Your Breeder

Your Kittens Nutritional Needs

Kitties are notoriously fussy eaters, as all of us cat lovers know! When you take a kitten from their mother and littermates, it can cause considerable stress. So it’s essential to maintain consistency in all areas you are able, especially in nutrition.

Sudan changes in diet can also cause stomach upset and stress, so you should ensure you have your kittens’ chosen food on hand before you take them home. A responsible breeder should provide detailed nutritional information about what foods to feed your new kitten and how often to feed them.

Your Kitten’s Preferred Litter Substrate

Proper breeders will provide you with a well-socialized kitten already litterbox trained (as far as their youth allows!) Kittens prefer the substrate they are familiar with, so it’s good to ask your breeder to provide you with the same litter product. Also, try to replicate the kitty’s litter box style to facilitate familiarity.

Final Thoughts

Welcoming a kitten into your home is a fantastic experience, and they will take center stage in your home with their unadulterated cuteness. However, finding your perfect Maine Coon kitten takes time and a little effort to ensure your companion is happy, healthy and long-lived. If you have had a Maine Coon companion in the past, you know what to expect; for those first-time Maine Coon carers—you are in for the experience of a lifetime!