Thinking Of Getting A Maine Coon? Here is everything you need to know and prepare for!
- crystalstarcoons
- Jul 7
- 4 min read
So you are thinking of adding a new member to your family, and Maine Coons have caught your eye.
That is great! Maine Coons are the sweetest breed, and they most definitely add some extra love and personality into every household. They are both affectionate and energetic, but also extremely beautiful, and they definitely have a lot of that beauty to share---the average size of a Maine Coon is 15-20 lbs after all!
However, as perfect as they seem, just like any cat, they need special care and it's important to understand what you are signing up for when adding one to your family.
Cats Aren't Perfect and Are Unpredictable
Despite how badly we wish to know everything life will bring and how perfect cats look in our eyes, they are never truly free of their quirks.
We may do everything in our power to provide our beloved fur babies with the best lives possible, yet things happen. They can happen to any cat, and getting not just a Maine Coon---but any pet, you are willingly accepting these potential risks so the best you can do for your new family member is stay informed and prepared!
Is your Home Fit For a Maine Coon?
First and foremost, you need to figure out if our home is the best environment for a cat such as a Maine Coon.
They are very large---the largest recognized domestic cat breed, very furry, and very very curious. These cats needs space to spread out and explore. They need space to run around and play, and stay active and occupied.
Best way to do this is to have a bigger, possibly multi-room house/apartment, or a general large space where the cat can easily run around without getting injured or getting bored and depressed. With this space, it should give you more room for enrichment items such as large cat trees, a cat wheel, scratchers, toys, and other things to keep the cat happy at all times.
It is also important to think about the rest of the family, and talk about this decision in more detail to make sure everyone is on board and ready to provide the out most love and care to the cat!
Do Your Research!
Now that you decided that physically, your house is ready for a Maine Coon, it's probably time to start researching the breed in more little detail and what you could expect when actually owning one. Some things to research can include veterinary costs and needs, best food, grooming needs, and your availability as Maine Coons are very social and needy cats. During this time you can also take the time to research breeders and where and how to find ones that can help you find the right kitten for you!
The best ways to find legit and ethical breeders is to look for ones with open and willing communication, and those who can easily provide proof of any promised guarantees---such as video calls, healths records, DNA tests, etc.
These visual proofs are extremely important to ask for, as many scammers or unethical breeders are unable to provide them.
Health Can Never Be Guaranteed
By far, the most important thing to remember when getting a new cat---especially a purebred cat such as a Maine Coon, is that no one can ever 100% guarantee you full health.
Just like in humans, health is a combination of not just genetics, but many other components such as environment, food, hygiene, and exercise. Every ethical breeder will do their best to take any preventative measures to raise the healthiest kittens possible, but two genetically and overall healthy parents do not mean the kittens are instantly immune to developing any conditions, or acquiring a recessive gene adding onto that condition.
Most breeders DNA test their breedings cats, and the best breeders will never breed a cat with any risks that can affect either the cat itself or it's offspring.
Genetic Risks In Maine Coons
Different breeds are prone to different genetic and developed conditions, and in Maine Coons, the most prominent are Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), Polycystic kidney disease (PKD), and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).
Each of these conditions are ones that can be passed down genetically, or developed further in life, and unfortunately neither of them can be completely prevented either.
As breeders, we do our best to avoid these conditions by providing our cats the best environment, as well as doing DNA tests and screenings---which still cannot guarantee that a kitten will not receive a potential recessive gene or develop anything later in life.
In any genetics of any species, two negative DNA tested parents do not void all the risks and chances of congenital or developable conditions, however severely lower the chances in contrast to those who are untested.
Personally, we as Crystal Star, DNA test all of our cats through Wisdom Panel which provides testing for genes tied to HCM, PKD, SMA and many others, which can be found and read about in more detail here. We are always open to sharing the DNA results of our cats!
Due to HCM being a big risk in our breed, we also test all of our kittens for the specific genes linked to this condition. Additionally, all of our cats get yearly Echocardiogram screenings and OFA Hip Dysplasia screenings.
Now that you know some things to expect with a Maine Coon, you hopefully are prepared for any risks and needs they will require!
If you ever have any more questions regarding Maine Coons or general cat genetics, please feel free to contact Crystal Star Cattery directly!