The nuts and bolts! (this page is (basically always) under construction!)
Do you have any kittens available now? Please see the kitten page for updates about availability, plans, and upcoming litters.
How much do your kittens cost: Kittens range from $1,800-$2,000. $1,800 for most colors, and $2,000 for silver or smoke colors due to increased costs of importing these colors. More info about pricing here.
Do you take reservations? Yes! As of May 2020, we are transitioning to a Premier Reservation List. Meaning, I will keep a short advance wait list, to hold your spot "in line." If you would like to be on this list, contact us. The fee to be on the wait list is $250 and will be refunded if have not gotten a kitten within one year. The fee goes toward the final purchase price. The process for being added to the paid wait list involves an online application, and an interview. Please thoroughly review our wait list agreement here.
What if I don't want to join the paid wait list? No problem! You can just keep an eye on the kitten page, where I will post availability after the wait list has chosen, usually around 4-8 weeks of age.
How long can I expect to wait for a kitten? We are a very small hobby breeder. We have two young children at home (ages 3 and 5), so in the interest of excellence, we try to have only four or five litters a year. That means you can expect to wait about 4-8 months for a traditional color, and 6-12 months for the more in-demand colors like silver, solid black/blue, or smoke.
What are your priorities? #1. Health #2. Temperament, and socialization #3. Color ... #45. Size (If you're looking for "the biggest cat ever!" I suggest you find another breeder, as that isn't one of my priorities.)
Do you ship kittens? No. Our families either drive or fly to pick up their kittens. That way you get to meet us, meet the parents, and littermates! We have kittens all over - in Vermont, Washington, Idaho, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, and of course Ohio and many others.
Do you perform health testing? Yes, all our cats are at minimum tested for an array of DNA issues, including HCM, PkDef, PKD, and about a hundred others. Most receive heart echocardiograms to determine heart health. We go to Ohio State University's Veterinary school and research center, and echos are performed by board certified veterinary cardiologists. Results are available upon request.
How big are your Maine Coons? When fully mature (this takes 3-5 years!), the Maine Coon average male is 18-22 pounds, and the females are 9-13 pounds. As with people, there is a lot of variation in there, and boys from the samelitter can end up as much as 10 pounds different in size! Please know that I am a little touchy about people who only care about getting the "biggest cat ever" - that is just a status symbol. And once a cat gets overly large, there are increased health risks (especially hip dysplasia). A healthy cat is infinitely more important to me than a huge one. This article here is helpful for explaining size and deceptive photo angles.
Do you have food or product recommendations? Yes! See our Food! page and our More Info page.
Can we come visit your cattery? Yes! But not until after they've had their first round of shots, which is generally at 8 or 9 weeks of age.
Help! I'm nervous about being scammed! First of all, I don't blame you! There are a lot of Maine Coon scammers out there - not to mention backyard breeders (which deserves a whole page written about this topic!). If you are concerned about being scammed, the first thing you should do is talk to them on the phone. You can also ask the breeder you're talking with to make a photo or video with the kitten you're interested in and a written note with your name on it in the photo. If they're a scammer, you can expect to get no response to this request. Also please bear in mind that when considering the cost of a purebred cat: you get what you pay for. If you're getting a "good deal" it is usually because the breeding cats are being abused, do not get appropriate health testing, and the kittens are not properly cared for or socialized. More articles about these issues on our More Info page.