Raising kitties takes a great amount of dedication and love. There are so many elements that go into each baby that is brought into our home or born here. Once they are born both their genetic components and environment play a huge part in how they develop and turn out. Additionally, the homes they go to also plays a huge part in how they develop and grow. It is our ultimate goal to raise healthy, happy and well socialized Maine Coon kitties. It all starts with healthy, quality parents. You may ask yourself what does that actually mean for my kitten? Sometimes, illnesses in cats don't show up until later in life. That is why it is essential to test and ensure good genetics are present.
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We searched all over the world for the best kitties we could find. We looked at pedigrees to learn of past hereditary issues, diseases and temperaments. We checked health records extensively and also had veterinarian testing done in the countries that they came from before making a final decision to purchase a specific baby. Once the baby was chosen, then they are scheduled for delivery. We hired a pet Nanny to bring them to our home from out of Country. No matter how careful we have been, we still had to trust the honesty of other breeders, to send the kitten when selected. As these breeders are not living in the USA there is nothing we can do if they are not true to their word. In actuality, it's impossible to ensure that we are taking home the baby that we were purchased or if all that we had been told regarding the kitten was true. There are a lot of scams here in our local area, the USA, and even more so outside the USA. It can be almost impossible to find a breeder of quality babies that have the traits and genetics we wanted in the USA. The Maine Coon breeders are often "closed" to selling kittens for breeding and show so most of us go to Europe and abroad to find our perfect show kittens. Buying out of the Country is risky and you really never know if what you have been told is legitimate and have to rely on the word of people you have never met outside of the USA.
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In importing kittens from outside the USA there are issues that we have encountered. We have been sold babies and never received the papers on them, kittens have arrived on death's doorstep and in need of emergency medical care the day they arrived, and sometimes we paid and never received a baby at all. It has taken much trial and error to find legitimate sources to purchase babies from and even then the long trip over seas can have serious consequences to the baby. We have struggled with issues over the years despite spending countless hours researching and learning about the places we were considering buying a baby from. We have kittens arrive and die the same day, they have arrived feral and had congenital issues. The first thing we do when a baby comes is to provide the best care possible, nurture them and then once of age we test for heart and other genetic issues. I have cried many tears when these sad babies have arrived only to slip away in a day or two. Breeders have disappeared when problems arise and they ghosted us. It has taken lots of heartache and effort to test each baby that has arrived at our home, grow them to adulthood, evaluate for show potential then decide if they are the quality we wanted for our program. If a baby does not meet our program then we spay, neuter and gift to previous kitten or horse buyers we know and have built relationships with. Despite our best efforts to produce the best quality babies possible it has been a challenge. Over the years, we have learned where to go to find a quality baby and what to do for them to reach their best selves. All in all, it is very expensive to have kittens shipped in from out of the USA and can be an emotional roller coaster. If you find a fabulous breeder the babies can get sick on transport and not survive.
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Once the babies arrive from their journey across the pond then we spend time finding which foods work best for them. Cats, like people, can have food allergies and have GI issues. It takes a good year to know as much as possible about each kitty and ensure they have the diet, care and environment they need to thrive. We are big on providing supplements each day, best quality kibble, canned food and meat I prepare daily. Going to cat shows give me the opportunity to collaborate with hundreds of skilled, knowledgeable breeders who have experienced everything possible in raising kittens and caring for their adult cats. I am grateful for all the tips and experience they have shared with me and this is another reason I enjoy showing cats. I have found the best foods, learned about issues that can come up from feeding certain foods, meats, and so much more. From food to grooming tips I have learned a lifetime of knowledge from these wonderful people. I have found we are all so like-minded and love our kitties like our own children.
Some kitties don't like going to cat shows and it can be very stressful for them. Like people, some kitties can have more introverted personalities, while others are extroverted. This can effect their overall well being and stress can effect their health. We show all of our kitties but the ones that don't do well with the stress at shows may not be the best for a breeding program. We make the tough decision to spay/neuter and find the best loving home possible. I tend to bond hard with every animal in my care and mourn when a kitty goes to a new home. It gets easier when I see the kitty happy in her or his new home but it is always tough for us. It is comforting to place kitties in homes of people I have known over the years. People that have purchased our foals decades ago or had a kitty from many years ago that have been an important part of their family. There are some that are still in touch after 20 years and I have the joy of seeing them each year of their lives.
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Going home is a happy day for new families but can be stressful for the babies. Stressed babies can exhibit symptoms of illness. Often-times families will change foods right away and this also can be a source of stress for a baby leaving their family and siblings behind. It is important to keep the babies on the foods they are used to eating. If you desire to change foods please talk with your vet about it and gradually change the diet a little at a time. Babies are already grieving their mama and family and having comfort foods they are used to makes the transition a little easier. Maine Coons bond hard with their families and changes should be gradual. Some things to consider is using the same foods (we send home some with you for the first week), litter and planning to spend some time with them to bond and help them settle into your home. It should go without saying that keeping a clean environment, daily water and food bowl cleaning and gradually introducing your baby to other pets. Too many changes can bring on a cold or diarrhea so keeping things as close to what they are used to is important. Be aware that your current pets may carry diseases you are not aware of such as Herpes and other things. It is passed along from water and food bowls, saliva and litter pans. When your current peds are "shedding" a virus it can be passed along to your new baby. Current pets can be very stressed when you bring a new baby into the home and can cause them to have "flare ups" which can be passed on to the baby. I recommend introducing your new baby to current pets in your home gradually. We like to see them "quarentined" for 14 to 30 days while you watch to see how things are progressing. You can purchase "kitty playpens" on line at Amazon for not much so the baby can see the rest of your pet family and not be exposed to illnesses. Also, keep in mind that visitors coming into your home to see and admire your new baby can bring illnesses on their clothing and shoes. It's important to not have sick people over to visit the baby until they are a bit older and have settled into your home. Keep in mind that if you are taking them out in public you risk exposing them to diseases and illnesses as well.
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Feeding your new Maine Coon baby is important as this can affect their growth cycle, health and even their well being. There are many foods out there that have "fillers" in them such as sawdust or use putrid animal parts to save money. Just like people, if you eat garbage it is going to effect your health and overall well being. There are many excellent cat foods on the market now and you may need to experiment with them. If your kitty is not adjusting well to his or her food s/he may have an upset tummy, diarrhea or other symptoms. Some kitties have allergies to certain foods such as chicken and this may not show up until after they are weaned. Breeders and friends I have love the SMALLS brand of food that comes in the mail but there are a variety of excellent foods on the market. One thing to remember is that "treats" can be very appealing for your baby but make them sick. Treats can have "fillers" or sub par ingredients and may be laced with catnip or some such thing that makes them appealing to the baby. If you are giving treats or changing foods do it very gradually in tiny amounts so they do not get sick. It is not recommended to add treats or change their diets when they are first moved to your home. They WILL get sick so it's best to wait a few weeks and then do the change gradually over a couple months.
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Maine Coons enjoy having things to keep their minds busy and love to interact with their families. We send home a pack of toys to start them off but they are kittens for life and enjoy lighthearted play. Cat trees should be made of wood and not press board. Your baby is going to grow to a good size and some of the cat trees on the market may not be suitable for larger kitties. We like to trim toenails weekly and groom several times a week. I use grooming powder each time I attend to their magnificent coats. This keeps tangles at bay and kept them looking their best. Maine Coons have naturally oily fur to help them in cold climates. The oil can make tangles more prevalent and also make it necessary to clean their ears regularly. Oily ears can lead to ear mites so it's important to clean and care for your baby regularly. They do need regular care just like we all do and more than some other cats do.
We feed SMALLS for our cats with food allergies, Royal Canin Mama & Babycat for all other cats that do not have allergies (kibble), Nulo canned, Instinct canned, Wellness canned, Orijen canned and rotate them as Kitties get bored just like we do with their foods. I don't recommend raw foods unless it is Smalls brand but you can boil chicken or other meat (no spices, hormone and antibiotic free) as meat protein is excellent for them to eat daily in addition to the foods above but this is mostly a treat and they need the nutrients of a quality wet and dry food as the primary source. Careful with supermarket kitty treats as well as they may have junk ingredients in them to make your baby have a sick tummy and may not add any nutritional value.
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Many of you ask "how large will my kitten grow"? While most everyone wants a 35 pound cat that is not common. The average sizes are from 15 to 25 pounds (25 being very large) at our cattery. Many things can effect the growth of a kitty including genetics, hormones, nutrition, overall health and environment. Having huge cats is not necessarily a great thing as a matter of fact as the very large cats can have a higher incidence of heart issues and can have issues such as head growing to quickly for the body which can cause eyelids to turn under which requires surgery most of the time.
We also have raised horses for decades, and although everyone wants a nice size horse, we do not force growth by overfeeding grain. Overfeeding or pouring on cheap feed can ruin a young horse developmentally. A foal that has been fed extensive grain can get "Epiphysitis" in the growth plates that can cause painful swelling in the bones and lameness. I have always been careful to only feed quality alfalfa hay and limit the grain intake until babies are around 2 to 3 years old and even then never overfeed them. I have never had a horse with growth issues or lameness. My foals live into their 30's with zero lameness issues. I bring this up as cats also need quality food and care in order to live their best lives. With my kitties I am also careful and will not feed cheap foods to boost growth. In the long run it can and usually does effect the health and longevity of the animal.
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