Just a quick reminder what to look for when trying to find a responsible breeder, so many people seem to be posting about bringing home underage kittens - a kitten should not leave their breeder until 13 weeks old minimum.
✅ Registered with GCCF, TICA, or FiFE those are the main and most common pedigree registries in the UK.
A good breeder will happily share proof they're registered, such as a prefix/cattery name paperwork which should have the date they registered their prefix, breeder's name and their chosen prefix, some breeders are registered with multiple registries.
✅ Parents should be registered
Again registered responsible breeders should be happy for you to see these.
The parents documentation should tell you their pedigree name, date of birth, parents names, breeder name, owner's name, colour, gender, microchip number and for some if they're active/have breeding rights or not.
Non-active means not for breeding and they should not be bred from because the kittens won't be eligible for registration.
✅ Parents genetically health tested for HCM, SMA and PK-def.
Results should be available to view from each parent, with parents pedigree names and microchip number listed on the results - it should match the parents pedigree slips. Ideally the results should be clear - neither parent should be affected.
✅ Kittens should leave pedigree registered, fully vaccinated with vaccination card, microchipped, wormed and typically pet kittens are neutered before going to new homes too.
✅ You should receive all documentation - including pedigree registration when collecting your kitten. Should include pedigree registration, vaccination card, microchip registration/transfer info and typically four weeks free pet insurance.
Most registries state that pedigree registration shouldn't be withheld and must be given over at point of sale/collection.
✅ Kittens must be 13 weeks old minimum before leaving for new homes, 14 weeks old if FIFE registered.
✅ You should be able see the litter together, unless over 13-14 weeks old and some have already left for new homes. You should see the mother of litter and the dad (unless a stud was used)
✅ The kittens should ideally be raised in a home environment so they're familar with typical household sounds. They should have access to clean water, food, litter trays and have toys around for them.
✅ The kittens should be comfortable in their surroundings to explore, play with toys, eat, sleep and just go about their usual routine. They might not be cuddly because you're a stranger and kittens are normally busy getting up to mischief, being playful or eating and napping 😂 they might initially be nervous or unsure but should come out after a little time or encouragement.
Red flags and things to avoid - especially if there's multiple red flags.
🚩 No pedigree registration.
🚩 Refusing to show pedigree registration, or health test results or making constant excuses not to show them.
🚩 Parents pedigree registration and health test results not having the same microchip number, date of birth etc so you're unable to confirm if it's the same cat.
🚩 Letting kittens go to new homes under 13 weeks old.
🚩 Selling kittens without full vaccinations and microchip.
🚩 Scammers are all over social media and pet selling websites. Do not pay a deposit without seeing a kitten in person, having a video call to see the breeder and kittens, or meeting the breeder in person like at a cat show.
🚩 Charging extra for pedigree registration, there are no good reasons for a breeder not to register a litter.
🚩 Charging different prices for different colours or genders, they all cost the same to raise.
Only price difference should be between pets (non-active) and potential breeding cats with breeding rights (active).
🚩 Lethargic kittens, emaciated kittens, runny eyes, regular sneezing, yellow/thick mucus nasal discharge, covered in faeces or severely urine stained, matted kittens, signs of fleas/flea dirt, signs of skin infections or ringworm.
🚩 Breeder always having multiple kittens available, all year round, especially if they have different breeds available at all times. Sadly there's still kitten farmers around or third party sellers that sell kittens typically from kitten farms as unregistered pedigrees for profit.
🚩 Sells any/all kittens as active regularly, most kittens are not breeding quality so if a breeder is willing to sell any, or all kittens from the same litter as active - it's likely because they can charge more, not that you are buying a quality potential breeding cat.
🚩 Maine Coons shouldn't be Colourpoint (like Siamese, Ragdolls or Birmans for example) or Chocolate, Lilac, Chinchilla and they should not have blue or odd eyes unless pure white or for some registries very high white.
🚩 Avoid falling for marketing terms like "XL", "XXL", "Rare *insert country* lines" - especially if there are other red flags too! Breeders advertise kittens and want their adverts to be seen but you shouldn't be paying more for marketing terms.
Maine Coons are an American breed, there's only the breed standard according to each registry and there aren't different types like XL because they don't get their own class at shows, they're all judged under the same MC breed standard of their registry.
Please walk away from a back yard breeder with multiple red flags - buying from them doesn't save any kittens, it simply financially supports them and encourages them to continue. If they couldn't sell their kittens, they'd soon stop breeding them. Please try to support genuine responsible breeders that have a love and passion for preserving the breed and their cat's welfare.