MAINE COON BREED SOCIETY PURCHASING A KITTEN

FIRST DECISIONS

The first decisions you need to make when choosing a kitten are whether to have a male or female, if you have a particular preference in terms of colour and if you want the kitten as a pet, breeding cat or show cat. A visit to a local cat show may be a good idea to give you the opportunity to view some Maine Coons and see the different colours and patterns available. Details of upcoming cat shows may be obtained from the GCCF or from Cat World Magazine. There are also many Web Sites dedicated to Maine Coons, which are useful to look at.

If your Maine Coon is wanted purely as a pet or show neuter, then the sex isn't that important, since you should have him/her neutered, at the correct age (usually 6 months). The male Maine Coons are generally larger than the females when fully grown, but the females have many characteristics, which more than compensate for their smaller size.

BREEDING AND SHOWING

	Breeding and Showing can be very fulfilling, but also have disadvantages, which should be taken into consideration. If you are considering becoming a breeder or would like to have a show cat it will save you both time and money if you do some research first.
We would recommend joining the Maine Coon Breed Society and trying to get to know a few people who are breeders and/or people who show. It would also be a good idea to attend a few Cat Shows, the shows usually have large entries of Maine Coons and this will give you an opportunity to look at some cats and speak to people who breed and show.

FIRST CONTACT WITH BREEDERS

Once you have decided what you are looking for you need to start speaking to breeders, at first by telephone or e-mail. When you communicate with breeders do not be afraid to ask questions, most breeders are only too pleased to help. Do not be tempted to buy a kitten (or pay a deposit) without visiting the breeder first.
	Some breeders have very definite ideas about the sort of homes they like their kittens to go to, it may be that you need to speak to several breeders before you find someone that you feel comfortable with. If you have particular preferences regarding the colour of kitten you would like let the breeder know as not all breeders can produce all colours of kittens.

CHOOSING YOUR KITTEN (S)

Your first visit to the breeder should be when the kittens are at least 5 weeks, visiting before this may not give you a good idea of what the kitten will become. You will usually be expected to view kittens before collection as this gives both you and the breeder time to consider your decision. Maine Coons do not generally have large litters so it may be there is only one or two kittens available, this does not mean there is anything wrong with them. It may be that the last kitten in a litter to be chosen is perfect for you, the others may have been chosen because of their sex or colour. It is not a good idea for too many people to go with you to view kittens; it may be frightening for young kittens to be on view to a large group of people. When you visit the breeder expect to see the whole litter and mother (it may be possible to see the father too) so that you can assess the kittens character and well-being.

Do not choose a kitten just because you feel sorry for it, but look for a friendly kitten that is inquisitive and not too nervous. The kittens should look clean and healthy. Before buying, ensure that you are satisfied with the conditions in which the cats and kittens are being kept.

DEPOSITS AND CONTRACTS

WHEN YOUR KITTEN (S) IS READY

PROBLEMS

Sometimes problems do occur before you collect your kitten, although breeders try their best sometimes kittens become ill. In most cases it is not serious and the kitten will soon recover and suffer no lasting effects. Occasionally a more serious problem may occur which will involve a decision on whether to wait until the kitten recovers or to try and find another kitten. The breeder should keep you informed of the situation but often the decision will depend of the nature of the illness and you may need to involve your veterinary surgeon in the decision. These sorts of problems are few and far between.

COLLECTING YOUR KITTEN (S)

When you collect your kitten take along a secure cat carrier with newspaper in the bottom. You can put blankets in as well but you never know how a kitten will travel until you try it! Before you leave the breeder’s house you should be given the kitten’s pedigree certificate, vaccination record, some form of diet sheet listing the diet and feeding times the kitten is used to and a receipt for the payment received. If you are buying a kitten for breeding it is a good idea to make sure any conditions or restrictions on the future offspring are in writing. If you are new to breeding it is also advisable to discuss before collecting your kitten where you might be able to take the kitten to be mated when the time comes. You will usually be given the kittens registration/transfer slip but in some cases the kitten’s registrations will be delayed to allow purchasers to pick names for their kittens and the registration will have to be posted on afterwards. In some cases the breeder will insist on proof of neutering before they pass on the registration slip.


AFTER COLLECTION

It is a good idea to take you new kitten along to your vet soon after collecting him/her, this will give you an opportunity to register the kitten and discuss any innoculations needed and the best age at which to neuter your kitten. If you have any questions concerning care of your new kitten, do ask the breeder, as he/she should be glad to offer advice. Some breeders will provide a kitten insurance policy, which generally last for the first few weeks; it is recommended that you take out a veterinary fee insurance policy for your new kitten. Most breeders are more than happy to receive photo’s showing the kitten’s progress and it is often useful to see how their kittens turn out as adults

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