Frequently asked questions at Coon Shadow
Are your cats health tested ?
Yes absolutely ! All of our maine coons , past and present are genetically tested, by dna, through UC Davis veterinary laboratory for :
* HCM ( hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – thickening of the muscle walls of the heart)
- SMA ( Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an inherited disorder that appears similar to the disease of the same name seen in humans)
- PKD ( inherit polycystic kidney disease. PKD is when they have We test all members of our cattery to help in the prevention of producing kittens with these genetic conditions.many cysts or pockets of fluids in their kidneys.
We test all members of our cattery to help with the reduction and prevention of producing kittens with these genetic conditions.
How can I be sure your cattery is real and you arent going to scam me?
Unfortunately pure bred cats have become a target market for scammers , and we have an entire page related to this topic here on our website and we encourage you to visit that page and read it entirely BEFORE contacting us
We want a" HUGE" Maine Coon , how big do your cats get ?
Our Maine Coons average weights, at maturity, range from (males : 18-24lbs ) and (females 9-18lbs) . Maine Coons look even larger than their actual body weight on a scale , as they are typically taller and have much longer body and tall length .The biggest contribution to their large size is their heavy coat , square facial features and large bone structure .Dont worry our line consistently produces very large Maine Coons , your cat will be plenty big .
Please keep in mind that Maine coons mature slowly (especially the males ) for up to 3 years before reaching their final size . The other thing in relation to size is : please do not select a kitten by which looks the largest as a kitten . I cant tell you how many times that the smallest kittens turn out to be the biggest cat as an adult . Genetics and nutrition is what determines the final size , and our cats already come pre-programed with the genetics to be plenty big :)
Can we come meet the baby kittens and take a tour ?
We are a closed Cattery , for the health and safety of our kittens , and our own personal safety we do not allow visits .
( 1 )Kittens can not be vaccinated before the age of 7 weeks , and having various people in and out , handling them can put the kitten , as well as any litter mates, or other litters of kittens , at great risk for exposure to viruses and pathogens that the kittens are not yet able to be vaccinated against.
(2) we currently live in a world and time of " adopt dont shop " where some certain groups of "activists " hold radical and extreme beliefs about breeders , pure breeds , and animal husbandry in general .Where as their hearts may seem to be in the right place , there are some extremists that go to great lengths to even target ethical breeders . They will pose as if they are just a pet loving person considering adopting an animal . They use this as a guise to gain access to the homes and locations of breeders , with the sole intention to " liberate animals " aka : vandalize , intimidate , threaten ,harass , or even attempt to steal animals . Unfortunately this is a growing trend across the USA , and we will not subject ourselves to it, or compromise the safety and sanctity of our home and family to the risk of this lunacy. However , You CAN meet your kitten . Read the next section to understand our policy about that .
when can I meet my kitten ?
When you reserve a a kitten from us we will let you know what date the kitten will be ready and that way you will have plenty of time in advance to plan for that date a head of time .
Each litter of kittens all go to their new homes on the same day , and we will meet each new owner at our vets office , where each kitten is inspected by our vet , and given a certified vet health certification . Additionally you will receive records and dates of vaccinations , flea preventative , and dewormings .
You will be able to take your time and interact and meet your new kitten and get acquainted before going to their new home .
Additionally , you will receive videos and pictures of your kitten with our Coon Shadow Maine Coons logo in the background . We will say your name in the videos so you can be assured that it is your kitten , and that the kitten is from our cattery.
How do I know the kitten I reserved will be the right fit for me ?
Usually most all of our kittens are reserved before they are old enough to go to their new homes , and typically some are reserved before they are born, or by the time they are 2 weeks of age ( when we first post pictures and make the litter announcements ). which can often lead to the question of " how will I know that the kitten I selected by photo and video will be the right fit for me "?
The answer is : All of our kittens are raised in the home , underfoot , with two dogs , rabbits and a prairie dog , and are constantly handled by children . Our kittens are constantly picked up, and held and laid on their backs like babies since they are born . We do this with them all so that they are accustomed to being held and trust humans not just to touch them , but to hold them and cradle them . The end result is a living breathing Maine coon rag doll that enjoys being held , and you can cradle like a baby . We are very strict with the selection of temperaments of the cats we allow to breed in our program . Physical beauty and health is not enough , all cats must be social , outgoing , confident and loving . We do not allow skiddish or temperamental cats to be part of our program . After 5 generations of selections made like this , we have established a very standardized and consistent temperament in our program and all the offspring carry these unique traits . This assures us , and the future owners of our kittens that they are receiving a kitten that will be a good fit that they will love , and be be a social and loving member of their new family .
When you come to pick up their kitten , if you were to feel that the kitten you reserved is not a right fit for you ,( we have never had this occur in the entire history of our cattery , but we mention it as we want you to know you reserve this option ) you can transfer the deposit you have placed toward another kitten in a future litter or if we happen to have another available kitten at that time which is not reserved , you may select that kitten if you choose .
Can I facetime you and meet my kitten?
We do not do facetime visits . There are two of us that maintain this Cattery : Lance works full time and late nights. Lance manages the majority of phone calls and correspondence for the Cattery . Savannah raises the kittens , cares for all the cats and takes care of two young daughters , on top of the endless responsibilities that comes with all that, all while maintaining a large property and home .
In the last 5 years we have had a lot of requests for facetime calls due to the amount of scammers out there .
We used to do Facetime calls , but we receive many emails and calls daily , and many of those inquiries request Facetime meetings . We quickly learned that it becomes very difficult to coordinate Facetime meetings . With our busy schedules , and the busy schedules of prospective kitten owners, we simply found it to be too difficult and stressful to be able to orchestrate Face time meetings . So now it is our policy that we no longer do Facetime calls to meet kittens .
However we are glad to take your phone calls ,and happy to answer any questions you might have , between the hours of 11am-10pm 7 days a week .
We are happy to send videos of our kittens to you , and we will say your name in the video and you will see our Coon Shadow Maine Coons logo in the background so you can be assured that the kitten in the video is from us .