Hi there

I am due to pick up a Maine Coon Kitten in the next week as a companion for my friendly young dog, this is the first time ive been without a cat in years and always fancied a Maine Coon.

Anyway Ive picked a lovely red boy, the kittens are very healthy and are coming from a nice home (although id say the breeder is just a pet/hobby breeder and isnt as knowledgeable as she should be)
In my opinion the kittens are a bit on the skinny side, NOT THIN  but I woujld have expected them to be a bit more fat on myself, they are only 8wks at the moment and think breeder wants me to pick him up asap, im just wondering what is the best kitten food to start him off well?

The breeder has them just on a dried kitten food now, but like I say I remember my kittens in the past being a bit more solid in the past

The GCCF recommends pedigree kittens are sold fully innoculated and no earlier than 13 weeks of age, so I would be very wary of this breeder if you are having concerns over the weight of them too.  Has the breeder mentioned innoculations, worming (Should be done at least twice), registration certificate etc.?

There are a lot of very reputable Coonie breeders out there and I have a friend with the breed who can help point you in the right direction.

Most kittens at 8 weeks old aren't even fully weaned from their mother.  I know none of mine have been although they have been eating solids like there's no tomorrow too!

Edited to add:  Elizabeth, I have just seen you are in Scotland too, please can you PM me about this breeder as Louise (Who I have mentioned) may know or have heard of this breeder.

Hi Christine

Thanks for your reply.

I feel a bit annoyed with myself now, I did think it was later at around 13wks pedigree kittens were let go to new homes!  And no the breeder isnt vaccinating them she is letting the new owners do that, she has wormed them though, and stupidly I havent asked her about registration certificates!  I am now though expecting she wont give me one.

On my first visit I saw both cats which were both lovely, healthy and looked to be good specimens of the breed (although I am no expert)  Since going to see these kittens I have looked at other Maine coon kittens on the web and seen they are advertised at a much higher price than these obviously this is why

I have already left a deposit on this kitten and he is lovely and healthy as far as i can see but like i say a little skinny imo but in no way thin etc.....

I was a bit disappointed the breeder didnt seem to have much knowledge on the breed and felt I knew more even though id only done a bit of research on the internet!  

Im not in Scotland! does it say that on my profile? apologies must have clicked wrong box

I would doubt they are registered if she is letting them go uninnoculated, she's obviously not adhering to the GCCF code of ethics and both sire & dam have probably been sold on the non-active (Not to be bred from) register.  

Personally, if the deposit isn't a huge amount I would maybe pull out of the sale.     I have sent this thread on to Louise who will help you if she has an idea of where you/breeder are?

I agree with Christine -don't get this kitten. Apart from possible health problems (and also Maine Coons should be DNA tested for HCM -Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy- so don't accept a kitten whose parents have not got certificates to prove they have been tested negative) -you will end up with behaviour problems in kittens removed too early from their mothers. Like Christine says, GCCF rules say no earlier than 13 weeks and I've never known a kitten NOT to suckle their mum until up to the moment they go. I've even three times had a kitten that didn't eat solids at all until 10 weeks old -they are very slow compared to puppies. I've got 6 week old kittens at the moment and their mum ran short of milk early on so I have been supplementing them with bottlefeeds and still do every 3 hours during the day. As mum was short they started to pick at solids quite early but are nowhere near weaned yet and I don't expect them to eat well for another 2 weeks or so so they really rely on me to supplement them. Could be these Maine Coons either have a mum short of milk and the breeder hasn't bothered to help them (which makes for weak kittens susceptible to all sorts of disease) or they have worms or anything -you definitely are best off walking away. Kittens in good condition should be solid as bricks, feel much heavier than they look when picked up.

By the way I have bred pedigree cats for 21 years. :) Not Maine Coons but we do have two pet Maine Coons so I do know a bit about the breed.

I would sugguest be wary too :(
kittens need longer with mum then pups.  its not just about weaning, its social skills and confidence.
I remember years back my nan had a kitten at 8 weeks and then as the breeder couldn't shift the last one was given his brother at 14 weeks.  the cats grew up very different-the one who left young was nervous all his life, his brother who had longer with his mum was a much nicer more social creature.

likewise a little one I had at 6 weeks although able to eat solids and seemingly confident grew into a very antisocial adult.

if you have really fallen for this kitten I would insist the breeder keeps him another few weeks.won't help with registration or the health tests that should have been done but will make him a far more content adult cat.

I see nervous anti-social kittens coming into the cattery on a regular basis, all moggy (Not being anti-moggy BTW just stating facts) and all have been bought/given between 6-8 weeks of age.  They are too young at this age to be away from their mum & siblings.

GCCF code of ethics
Inherited problems in cats - Maine Coon

Thanks Marianne & Christine

I agree with what you are saying and am very annoyed at myself for committing to a kitten without asking all the proper questions re:health tests & Registration papers firstly.

Ive always had cats and lost my eldest who was 21yrs last july! Most of my cats have been moggies and think I have had them at an early age of about 8wks but these were from rescues etc... , the last thing I want itsstinso I m not to bothered about the kitten not being registered but concerned if not been tested for inherited diseases etc...
Also I really wanted a bold outgoing kitten who isnt going to be afraid of my over friendly dog, this kitten isnt timid but wouldnt say he is outgoing either, I asked the breeder about the personalities and she reckoned they would all end up the same and be bold in the end.    I am knowledgeable on dogs traits from puppies and know this isnt so, not too sure in kittens though.

Mairianne, if you have two MC would you say they are a good choice as a companion for my dog ?  

Just to put another side to it my current 2 a burmese from a breeder who seemed to know what she was doing breeding and show wise I had at 13wks she is very unpredictable and everthing on her terms and thinks nothing of attacking anyone if the fancy takes her we all have the marks to prove it !. The second a moggy born in a barn left mum at 7weeks (yes I thought it was too early) is the friendlist socialble cat you could wish for. My other cats over the years have been both moggie and pedigree and I have had both temperment types  The pedigrees have always been around 13wks one with great temperment (burmese different breeder) the other  (british blue)couldn't be picked up and took little handling. The  other a moggie with dreadful background (rescue ) and probably about 12 weeks old very good.
I wouldn't know what to do next time

Mairianne, if you have two MC would you say they are a good choice as a companion for my dog ? 

I've a Maine coon ( did have 2) and Gordons.  he's very patient with them, and will take alot before putting them in their place.  In fact Clyde and my eldest Gordon are great friends and love to cuddle up together in front of the fire :)

Moggies do mature quicker so can often go sooner than pedigrees -but of course with moggies temperament is pot luck and you can get some really nasty so and sos -I've got one myself LOL. yes Maine Coons tend to get on great with dogs -they see themselves as dogs I think! Very different to many other cat breeds.

Looking at the size of some of the male neuter MC's, they are bigger than some dogs!    Brits & Selkirks get on very well with dogs too.

I've never had a nasty moggy and my family have had 7 - sme singl's, some in pairs-  over the years, they've just been quite nervous whereas all the pedigrees I have are much more resilient!

All the downright nasty cats that have come into the cattery have been moggies and I mean nasty enough to inflict wounds on you, only one pedigree who isn't that great in that he sprays (Devon Rex!), all the pedigree's tend to be great.

> a burmese from a breeder who seemed to know what she was doing breeding and show wise I had at 13wks she is very unpredictable and everthing on her terms and thinks nothing of attacking anyone if the fancy takes her we all have the marks to prove it !.

Have to say this is NOT a typical Burmese temperament - they usually are over-friendly and adore people.  Did you find the breeder through one of the Burmese breed clubs?

http://www.burmesecatclub.com/life.htm

I'm no expert on cats, had them all my life but my knowledge of them would fill little more than a postage stamp, like many who have cats, we love them and care for them, but know little of the breeding and health test side, you have two of the best experts here in Marianne and Christine I have learnt so much about cats from them.

Luckily you have found them before you have collected this kitten, let it go and go to a reputable breeder. :-)

I've had many cats over my lifetime also had a Maine Coon, he was a brilliant cat, although very aloof and placid he never did really mingle with my other cats, basically ignored them as though they were a different species, or he thought himself above them. :-D But mingled with the dog/s so in my limited experience of 1 (:-D) he was brilliant with dogs.

I would never buy anything if not from a reputable source, please take the help from Marianne or Christine, let them point you in the direction of a good breeder who understands the breed well, you have a chance to undo your mistake unlike many who don't. :-)

Yes I did and I would agree that her teperment was unexpected for the breed. our previous Burmese loved people and  the dogs and had a tendancy to behave like a ragdoll in that he would be floppyish when picked up and very loving.
I certainly detected none of her behavour when we choose our kitten or in any of the other cats the breeder had including Mum. However there was a story not related to my cats temperment sourrounding the breeder and her breeding not found out unitil sometime later when I was trying to register the kitten with the cat fancy as mine cat but cant go into it here.
Its a great pity as although we love her and she wants to be around us if she comes on your lap not moving is the best thing if you stroke her very quickly you can get swiped with claws and or teeth and dont touch her tail. The vet had to put her out to look at a poorly foot she had the other month after concluding that gautlets weren't sufficient. My son seems to be the one who she goes to most and can get away with more than the rest of us. However she is what she is and here she will stay.

> However there was a story not related to my cats temperment sourrounding the breeder and her breeding not found out unitil sometime later when I was trying to register the kitten with the cat fancy as mine cat

Crikey!

Was this a Member of the Burmese Cat Club or Burmese Cat Society ?   or someone advertising on their website?   (big difference IMHO as members have to adhere to the club's code of ethics ;) )

I found this when looking around last night - wonder how long the list would be if the Kennel Club published one?

http://www.gccfcats.org/suspend.html
http://www.gccfcats.org/disciplinaryprocedures.html
http://www.gccfcats.org/fixedp.html

I read those lists a while back and was a bit surprised to see a couple who used to breed & show Large Munsterlanders on the life bans list!  

I am not sure now you ask, I met them at a show and got talking seemed to have all the right credentials  subsequently I spoke to the cat fancy who had all the details as I knew them just some strange happenings.
Must be just bad luck because my first pedigree came from a well known  and thought breeder in that breed (not burmese ) and she was also far from cuddly dreaded taking her to the vet even if it was routine.  The other of my cats both pedigree and moggie have been great. having been brought up with a moody cat i just take it as "well thats the cat"
Interesting list my breeder is not on it though so thats something

>I read those lists a while back and was a bit surprised to see a couple who used to breed & show Large Munsterlanders on the life bans list!

Chrisitne, I must admit that I was surprised you didn't know. I had heard rumours, but no names were mentioned.

Having been the subject of rumours and also heard a lot of rubbish that's done the rounds I tend to stay out of the 'Chinese Whispers' cliques.

Hello All

Well pleased to tell you I did walk away from the kitten Id left a deposit on , the breeder was clearly just breeding for money, and the more I looked into it was clear the two cats she'd bred from were most likely
on the non - active list that shoujldnt have been bred from anyway, hence the kittens not being registered.

Anyway I have now found the most beautiful Kitten, Red and white Maine coon boy, the breeder is totally different! devoted to her cats, shows and is very knowledgeable on the breed.
The kittens were so much more outgoing and confident so I look forward to picking him up in the middle of next month.

Would love to post a picture of him on here to show you, how do I do that ?

So glad you've found a breeder you're happy with, it makes all the difference and you'll be able to contact them if you have anything that worries you :)  Outgoing cats are much easier to live with than nervous ones, I've had both and know which I prefer ;)

Pictures aren't allowed on the board but you can put photos in Photobucket and then link to them on your profile page :)   I think you really need to do this as we all need a kitten fix - and Maine Coons are so cute :-D

That's brilliant news! Our Ringo is also Red and white.

I'm so pleased!   I will let Louise know as well as she had viewed this thread too.    Love to see some photos! 

Ringo is lovely!

> Well pleased to tell you I did walk away from the kitten Id left a deposit on

Well done, that couldn't have been easy following your head when you had booked a cute little kitten. Good for you :)

How exciting for you now you have found a kitten form a good breeder, I bet you can't wait to bring him home :)

My friend has a Main Coon, her tail is amazing I have to comment on it every time I see her. The funny little chirpy noise she makes instead of a meow is really sweet, it's odd for such a little noise to come out of a big cat.