There are plenty of catteries, but finding the Maine Coon that's right for you isn't easy. This page will help you get ready for that step.
The breeder will certainly ask about your home, your experience with animals and how a Maine Coon will fit into your life. It isn't prying. It's care for the kitten.
Photos are only the start. A special bond forms between a Maine Coon and its owner, and you can't feel it from a distance.
Kittens must not go to new homes before 3.5 months: that's the minimum for vaccination, socialisation and their first lessons in life alongside their mother.
By nature the Maine Coon is an active, sociable cat. He needs "mountains" to climb, "dens" to retreat to and a playground for his games.
If you've found a lovely little face online and fallen in love, that's wonderful. But any responsible breeder will ask you to tell them a little about yourself: how you live, what kind of home you plan to give the cat, whether you've had cats before and why a Maine Coon in particular.
After getting to know each other from a distance, you meet in person. This really matters: a subtle psychological and emotional bond forms between a Maine Coon and a person, and it doesn't happen without time spent with the kitten face to face.
"Even if you love a kitten's photo, that doesn't mean you'll feel it's your Maine Coon once you hold it."
Maine Coon kittens must not go to a new home before three and a half months. That time is needed for full vaccination, their first lessons in life and a stronger immune system. Three and a half months is still a very tender age, and even then the move is a big stress.
It's in the breed's nature that Maine Coons stay kittens at heart for a very long time, even as adults.
If a kitten has stayed with the breeder for longer, it doesn't mean something is wrong with him. Perhaps he just hasn't found his person yet. The longer a kitten has lived at the cattery, the healthier and calmer he'll be when he moves.
The Maine Coon is a very active and sociable cat. To develop properly he needs a varied diet, room to live and real company.
A place where he can watch what's going on from above. It's an important behavioural need for the breed.
A safe spot where the cat can retreat and be alone.
Space for jumping, climbing and sharpening claws. A scratching post and a cat tree are a must.
A Maine Coon shouldn't be left alone for long. He becomes very attached to his owner and takes long absences hard.
Many buyers want a Maine Coon "on the cheap" and agree to a "defective" one, while still expecting a big, beautiful pedigree cat with a good temperament. But a cat like that, by definition, can't be defective.
In Maine Coons any colour and any amount of white spotting is allowed: it's a natural breed created by nature, not a decorative one. The only colours not allowed are chocolate and colourpoint (the Siamese group).
Skeletal abnormalities, underdeveloped internal organs, blindness or deafness. These are animals that need special care. A responsible breeder won't hand a kitten like that to strangers.
Kittens without papers are another story. Registering a pedigree costs about 1,500 roubles. If a breeder skimps on the paperwork, it's worth asking yourself how they go about choosing breeding cats and raising kittens.
"You can buy a friend if the friend is a pet. But you shouldn't skimp on friends. If you can't afford the kitten you really want, it's better to wait until you can."