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Common Health Issues in Maine Coons

Maine Coons are generally healthy, robust cats, but like all breeds, they are predisposed to certain genetic and hereditary health issues. Common health problems seen in Maine Coons include:

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)

What it is: A genetic heart condition where the heart muscle thickens, making it harder for the heart to pump blood.

Symptoms: Lethargy, rapid breathing, difficulty breathing, and sudden collapse.

Screening: Genetic testing is available and recommended by responsible breeders.

Hip Dysplasia

What it is: A malformation of the hip joint that can cause pain and arthritis.

Symptoms: Limping, difficulty jumping, and reduced activity.

More common: In larger cats, like Maine Coons, due to their size.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)

What it is: A genetic disorder affecting spinal cord neurons, leading to muscle weakness and atrophy.

Symptoms: Instability, abnormal posture, and difficulty walking. Usually appears in kittens.

Note: It is not painful or fatal, and affected cats can live normal lives with some mobility issues.

Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)

What it is: A condition where fluid-filled cysts develop in the kidneys, potentially leading to kidney failure.

Less common: In Maine Coons than in some other breeds (like Persians), but still possible.

Obesity

Why it happens: Maine Coons are large, and their laid-back nature can make them prone to weight gain.

Prevention: Regular exercise and portion-controlled diets.

Dental Disease

Common problem: In many cats, including Maine Coons, if dental hygiene isn’t maintained.

Prevention: Routine vet checkups and dental care at home.

Health Tips for Maine Coon Owners

• Genetic testing: Especially for HCM, SMA, and PKD if buying from a breeder.
• Regular vet visits: To catch early signs of disease.
• Healthy weight management: Keep them active and feed them a proper diet.
• Heart scans: Annual echocardiograms may be recommended for breeding cats or those with a family history of heart issues.

• All breeding pairs have annual echocardiograms, hip radiographs and full genetic panels.
• FIV, FeLV, Heartworm testing
• CBC (complete blood panels)
• Respiratory and Fecal PCRs
• Complete physical exams

Maine Coons’ sweet dispositions and large size have earned them the nickname, Gentle Giants. Once you have experienced ownership of one of these magnificent cats, you too will discover that one is never enough.

Maine Coons make excellent family pets and enjoy children.

The Maine Coon is a muscular, solid, medium to large size cat with the look of the wild. They develop slowly and don’t achieve their full size and weight until they are three to five years old.

Maine Coons have oversize paws (referred to as snow shoes) to navigate through snow.

Maine Coons are very sweet loving cats with wonderful personalities and they can grow to be very large in size. Females can range between 12 -18 pounds and males 18 – 28 pounds.

Maine Coons chirp and trill.

Maine Coon cats are noted to be highly intelligent very sociable with other family pets, including other cats and they get along especially well with dogs.

Maine Coons are the only show cat breed originating in US.

The Maine Coon has no recorded ancestral history, and the stories of its origin are only a combination of popular folk tales and fascinating myths which were given birth by its new owners or contemporary writers.

Adult Maine coons have three coats (2 under coats, and one guard coat).

Maine Coons love water.

Maine Coons have the longest whiskers ever recorded.

The cost of one of our kittens is $2800 with a non refundable deposit of $300. That deposit would go toward the remaining balance of your kitten which is due at pick up time. Kitten will not be released until remaining balance is obtained. If paying with a check then this would have to be made prior to pick up to allow for clearing the bank. Otherwise Venmo, Paypal, CashApp are all acceptable.

First set of vaccines, microchip, and genetic testing through Orivet. We delay the first set of vaccines due to the risk of vaccine reactions in small kittens under 10 weeks of age. They will all be tested for FeLV and FIV and receive their first vaccine prior to leaving.

All kittens are released at 13 weeks of age due to the delayed development of Maine Coon kittens. Many of them are still nursing up to 9 weeks of age with various hard and soft foods being offered as alternatives.

Why a Raw Diet Might Be Better for Cats

Species-Appropriate Nutrition

Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they require nutrients found only in animal tissue.

Raw diets typically include muscle meat, organs, and bones, which more closely match what cats would naturally eat in the wild.

Higher Protein, Lower Carbohydrates

Commercial dry foods often contain high levels of carbohydrates like corn, wheat, or rice, which cats do not biologically need.

Raw diets are naturally higher in protein and fat, which better supports feline metabolism.

Improved Digestion and Stool Quality

Many cat owners report smaller, less smelly stools after switching to a raw diet.

Cats may also experience fewer digestive issues such as vomiting, gas, or diarrhea.

Healthier Coat and Skin

Raw diets often improve coat shine and may reduce dandruff or excessive shedding.

This is usually due to improved nutrient absorption and better fat profiles, including omega-3s found in quality raw meats.

Most definitely!! If you choose to do hard food then Nulo, Royal Canin and Weruva are excellent choices.

Our older cats are in auto litter boxes but as kittens we discourage this and we utilize a cedar litter for all babies to ensure no intestinal blockage. The clay litter has been known to cause blockages in kittens under 6 months of age.

Red Flags

• Scammers insist on using text only to communicate.
• Scammers won’t show the parents. (Not just pictures, those are easy to fake.)
• Scammers won’t show pedigrees of the kittens and parents.
• Scammers steal pictures off legitimate websites and put them on their websites.
• Scammers usually want high deposits.
• Scammers encourage the buyer to only communicate on Facebook private messaging.
• Scammers can’t answer basic questions about the care of these special breeds.
• Scammers can’t answer basic health and genetic questions about Maine Coon kittens.
• Never use the Pay Now or Buy Now button to reserve or purchase a kitten without first validating this is a legitimate breeder.
• Scammers use Google Ads to get to the top of search results to draw you in quickly and act on emotions.

Ethical and Reputable Maine Coon Breeder

• In a reputable and ethical breeder, the red flags listed above do not happen.
• Early in the process, texting and messaging may occur, but we prefer video calls and phone calls so both buyer and seller can meet and discuss questions.
• We will educate you on Maine Coons, health risks, and how we at Katie’s Maine Coons mitigate those risks.
• We will provide verifiable references.
• You can verify our cattery is in good standing with CFA and TICA.
• We encourage cattery visits by appointment when we have kittens, so you can see how our furry family lives in harmony with our family and other pets.
• We will send you as many pictures as you want.
• We will send you videos of the kittens.
• We will volunteer to send you copies of pedigrees for both the kittens and the parents.
• We will show you videos of the parents with the kittens.
• We can do FaceTime with you and the kittens.
• We will share our contract with you upfront.
• We advertise on Facebook, but we do not sell through Facebook. We prefer to talk with you in person or on the phone. Messages are fine in the beginning.