Maine coon kitten; advice, tips,?

I am getting a pure bred Maine Coon for Christmas. Any suggestions on how to take care of him best? What is a good price for a pure bred kitten? The one I am thinking of getting is $800 which includes vaccines, neutering, and papers. I've never spent this much on an animal but I love the way maine coons look- like little bobcats. They are beautiful!Maine coon kitten; advice, tips,?
I never bought cats before either, but I also fell in love with Maine Coons. I purchased mine for $500 almost 5 years ago she's a purebred but it was more of a hobby breeder, they weren't show cats. That price isn't so bad, as long as the cats are healthy and well taken care of. They are pretty much the same amount of work as other cats, just a little bit more grooming. Their hair will get very long and may tangle and get matts if you don't brush them regularly. By the way, my coon is going to be 5 and her hair is still filling out, she gets fluffier and fluffier but I think she's almost done. I would suggest two wonderful grooming tools. The furminator is the number one brush out there. In pet stores they can be $60+ but I got mine for $20 at entirelypets.com It is most definitely a must have, it removes so much hair you will be amazed. If your cat does develop matts, this matt remover works like a miracle, it takes them right out. Maine coons act more like dogs than cats, mine greets me when I come home and carries around stuffed animals all over the house. The few minutes extra grooming time is definitely worth it, they are so beautiful especially when their brushed.Maine coon kitten; advice, tips,?
Have you tried looking for main coon rescues in your area?


also http://petfinder.com is a great site to find certain breeds in your local area.


RIght now with the economy people are unable to take care of their pets and we are seeing an alarming number of people trying to find homes for their pets.


So I must first urge you to do this rather than pay an enormous amount for a cat that looks cool.





Also I will tell you that as main coons are really pretty they are a breed that has many medical and genetic dispositions including cardio myopathy and hip dysplasia.





I can not tell you how much to pay for a kitten i can only tell you that 800 dollars is a lot to spend on a cat.


vaccines usually runs around 60 dollars


neutering usually runs around 100 dollars


so essentially you are paying 640 dollars on a kitten


so if you still feel that you must buy a kitten


that is a lot to spend so make sure you know that you are getting it from a decent, reputable breeder.


Tour the facility and check both the parents.


Get any medical history on both parents.


Check to see if they have any xrays on the parents hips


and or chest


Make sure the kitten looks bright and alert


free from fleas


You should not be able to see the ribs but be able to feel them


Make sure the eyes and ears are clean and healthy.





Cats can live up to 20+ years although a main coon usually lives 10-15 so this is a big commitment.


Outdoor pets usually get more medical problems and live less as long.


You will need to need to vaccinate and deworm yearly to every 3 years


he will need dental cleanings as he ages



I actually got a maine coon/ himalayan mix at my local SPCA. I've been back a few times and always see maine coon kitties there. Often times they aren't adopted because people don't want to deal with the long fur. So you may want to check local rescues and shelters first.





That being said, my coon is such a sweetie. She is very needy for attention. I have had her for two years now and I will always have a coon kitty in my house! To take care of yours, really it's just like taking care of any other domestic cat. Provide a lot of TLC and healthy food in moderation. I'd pick up a good brush and give him a good brushing every few days; it's a great way to bond. I have a furminator brush and it works wonders on mine! (you can google it and find it online... some pet stores sell them too).





The price for yours seems a bit high to me. I've seen the purebreds of maine coons go anywhere from $400 - $700, but generally not higher than that. If I were you I would do some research and see if there are any breeders in nearby areas that sell them for cheaper. But that's really up to you. The only problem is that you don't know the disposition of the kitty before you get him... be sure you play with him a bit before taking him home, just to make sure you mesh with him





Good luck to you whatever you decide!
There's a lot of them in shelters. There's acouple people on Y!A that have gotten all their purebreed maine coons from the shelter actually.





That sounds like a decent price. Make sure you're not going through a backyard breeder or something. The better the breeder, the healthier your kitten!
Why not save $740 and adopt from a shelter? They come with shots and spay/neuter.