Choosing a breeder
How to Choose a Reputable Maine Coon Breeder
A pretty website proves someone can pay for Squarespace. It does not prove their cats see a cardiologist. Here is a practical checklist we would use ourselves if we were on your side of the table.
Start with the boring stuff: registration and identity
Most serious Maine Coon breeders in the United States register with TICA (The International Cat Association) or CFA (The Cat Fanciers’ Association). Ask for the cattery name exactly as it appears on the registry, then verify it. Registration is not a personality test, but it is a paper trail.
Green flags that actually mean something
- They show you cardiac documentation. Echocardiogram reports from a boarded cardiologist beat vague claims of “hearts checked.”
- They use DNA wisely. In Maine Coons, the best-known mutation is MYBPC3 A31P. Genetic results help, but they do not replace ultrasound because not every cat with a mutation gets sick, and not every sick cat follows a simple DNA story.
- Kittens grow up inside the home. You should hear normal life in the background on a video call: TV, dishes, maybe a dog barking two rooms away.
- They interview you. Good breeders turn people down when the fit is wrong. If nobody ever says no, wonder why.
- There is a written contract. It should spell out spay-neuter timing, what happens if the kitten fails a vet exam, and return rights if you cannot keep the cat.
Red flags worth walking away from
- Pressure to pay tonight with Venmo, Zelle, or gift cards.
- Kittens leaving before roughly 12 to 14 weeks, when they are eating reliably and have had core socialization.
- No contract, or a contract that punishes you for asking vet questions.
- Shipping a live kitten in cargo as if it were luggage (many ethical breeders simply refuse).
- Stock photos, mismatched backgrounds, or a seller who will not video chat in the kitten’s real room.
Questions that cut through small talk
- When did each parent last have an echocardiogram, and can I see the summary?
- What DNA tests do you run, and how do you use the results in pairing decisions?
- Where do kittens sleep at night during weeks five through twelve?
- What exactly is included in the price, and what will my contract obligate me to do after pickup?
- If my vet finds a congenital problem in the first week, what is your policy?
How we do it at Koala-T Coons
We are TICA-registered, health-test our breeding cats, and raise kittens underfoot in Chambersburg. Pickup is at the cattery by appointment; we do not post our street address online, but we give directions once we know you are a serious match. Pet kittens are $2,800–$3,500 with a deposit to reserve. Call (717) 810-7006 when you are ready for an honest conversation.
Think we might be a fit?
Use the inquiry form on our main site, or call. If we are not the right program for you, we would rather say so early than waste your time.
Contact Koala-T Coons