You've just brought your Maine Coon Kitten home. Isn't he adorable? As soon as you brought him home he is probably running here and there, checking out his new digs and already getting into mischief. As well he is being curious about everything around him ? and hopefully, he is talking to you and you are listening. So now what? How do you care for your main coone kitten?
It is important to remember that you've just taken this little kitten away from everything that it knows ? including its mother, and the human being that it recognizes as it's ?second mother? (the breeder). Like all new kittens that have been suddenly seperated from its owners and caregivers, it is now up to you to work hard to make your kitten feel at home. Because Maine Coon kittens are sociable animals they have formed a bond with not only their mom but also their siblings and the human owners that where taking care of them.
In order to form a close bond with you, his new caregiver, it is imperative that you give your Maine Coon kitten extra love and attention until he has had time to get use to his new surroundings and to start bonding with you.
Here a few tips to help care for your new maine coon kitten.
1. Let's start with his sleeping arrangements. Remember that he has been sleeping near his mother for all of his life. He has also been able to pile up with the other kittens in the litter for comfort and warmth. If you pay attention to a litter, you will notice that certain members of the litter are always on the top of the pile, while others are always at the bottom. Which pile position did your new kitten hold? Try to arrange his sleeping quarters so that he gets the sense that he is still in or on that pile.
2. Just as a warm water bottle and a tick-tock clock wrapped in a towel soothe a new puppy, they will also soothe your new kitten. Make sure that the water bottle is also wrapped up, so that it doesn't develop a hole in the middle of the night.
Did you make it through the first night? Great! Now, your new kitten needs to visit his new veterinarian. He will need to be spayed or neutered, have a general checkup, have genetic testing if this has not already been performed, have vaccinations, and be treated for fleas and ticks ? even though he probably doesn't have any yet. Be sure to ask questions concerning your Maine Coon Kittens health and general care while you are there.
Caring for your Main Coone Kitten is also helped by knowing what type of food the kitten has been feasting on, your breeder can tell you that. As well, try to get the same toys that he had been playing with also look at the litter box and type of litter being used. Making small changes to his life will ease the transition.
Hold your kitten a lot, and talk to him. Pet him, scratch his ears, and play with him. All of these things combined will make it much easier for him to transition from his birth home to your home.
A recommended place to start a search for a reputable breeder in your local area is the ?Maine Coon Breed Fanciers Association? (www.mcbfa.org) Maine Coon kittens can be instantly recognizable by the long tufty ears and oversized paws, as seen in the classic longhaired American however there is a European strain of Maine Coon, (my own Maine Coon, King Henry comes from a German line) which has a shorter ruff around the neck, and often a fuller, squarer muzzle. The differences are not apparent until the cat is between 12 to 18 months.
In terms of identifying a ?pure? pedigree Maine Coon, you'll be relying quite heavily on information the breeder is presenting to you. If you have difficulty finding a reputable breeder, you could try and get a recommendation by talking to individuals at a Maine Coon event or an ?all breeds? Cat show. It is essential you are happy with your breeder - if you are becoming a Maine Coon owner for the first time, you may need to rely on their expert advice.
You can expect to pay anywhere between $500 and $800 for a pure breed Maine Coon. With food, litter, vet bills and cat-sitters for holidays, Maine Coons can be a relatively expensive investment. All Maine Coon owners will agree that they are a truly wonderful breed and will repay you many times over.
IMPORTANT TIP: This could save a lot of heartache, trouble and expense later on; When buying an expensive pet, do not go for the kitten you feel sorry for and looks like it needs help. Any kittens with signs of withdrawal, low energy or general apathy, should really be avoided. Choose an independent, lively, energetic kitten. Pick out kittens that don't necessarily come to you but are, however, interested in their surroundings.
It's best to pick a local breeder and visit them in their home, when you're first making your initial enquiries to check the kitten's living conditions, health and welfare of all cats living in the same environment.
Although it sounds like common sense, have questions prepared that will help you to establish whether the breeder can be trusted.
Questions you'll definitely want to ask:
1. How much experience does the breeder have? If you need assurance about the breeder's ability/expertise ask to speak to someone who has recently purchased a Maine Coon from that breeder.
2. Who are the kittens? parents and are they champions? Even if you don't intend to show your cat, you'll still want to find out about their pedigree. That's what you are paying for. If this is just not important, you can sometimes find cheaper Maine Coons that are called ?pet quality? meaning they do not meet the required physical standards for showing. This does not mean they are not perfectly healthy.
3. Does the stud live with the breeder? If not, can the breeder guarantee that the stud has not been subjected to any illnesses e.g. cat flu. Has the breeder bred the stud before?
4. Is there any known heredity illnesses in the ancestral line such as HCM (can cause heart failure) and hip problems?
5. Have any of the other cats suffered from any illnesses for e.g. have any recent litters suffered from any strain of cat flu?
6. If relevant to your situation, ask if the kitten is comfortable around other animals and children?
7. At what point, could the kittens leave their mother (I would be concerned if the breeder allowed the kitten to leave it's mother if it is less than 12 weeks).
8. Will a vet check the kittens before leaving the breeder's home? How many times? If the Maine Coon becomes ill after it has left the breeder, who is responsible for paying vet's fees or could the kitten be returned to the breeder?
9. You'll also want to find out how often the queen is impregnated; because a queen subjected to ?too regular? pregnancies can be prone to producing weak or sickly kittens.
Other things you may want to check/do:
10. The living conditions of the stud and queens e.g. the cleanliness of the cages/rooms and the health/welfare of the cat etc.
11. Will the cats be litter trained before they move to their new homes?
12. Also, the environment where the mother and kittens are living. Are there toys, clean litter, warmth, food and water?
13. Check the eyes of the kitten to evaluate its health. Never purchase a kitten that has weeping eyes.
14. The breeder's contract. Have a read of the written agreement before you commit yourself. Pay particular attention to areas of responsibility should the kitten become unwell soon after you've bought him/her.
15. You should book your new kitten in for an all round check with your own vet almost as soon as you've collected from the breeder. If there are any signs of problems, you'll want to know within the first 24 hours.
On the whole, Maine Coon breeders are passionate about their cats and love what they do. There's not a whole lot of money to be made in breeding Maine Coons, and it is very demanding work.
Unless, your gut feeling tells you otherwise, you can expect to be talking to breeders who are totally dedicated Maine Coon lovers.
Both Zoltrifoot & Sarah Crosier are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Zoltrifoot has sinced written about articles on various topics from Pets, Cats Kittens and Finances. To learn more about the Maine Coon Cat please visit today. I believe that giving our pets the best possible care i. Zoltrifoot's top article generates over 3600 views. to your Favourites.
Sarah Crosier has sinced written about articles on various topics from Family, Cats and Cats Kittens. Sarah Crosier is a committed Maine Coon owner and enthusiast. She is the author of the 17 page report, ?7 Essential Tips for Maine Coon Cat Owners?.A free copy of her report is available for immediate download by visiting:. Sarah Crosier's top article generates over 3600 views. to your Favourites.