What is the cost for a Makanacoon kitten?

We feel we have a quality breeding program, but it doesn't come without a lot of work and expense!

Prices, Deposits, and Payment Policy

There are two nonrefundable deposits that are required to purchase a kitten. A first nonrefundable deposit is required to hold a kitten. The buyer must send this deposit to Pat Taylor within one week once a kitten is chosen. The deposits go toward food, vet bills and health testing, so are very important. When the kitten has had its vet check around 8 weeks of age, and is found to be in good health, then a second nonrefundable deposit is due. The balance of the purchase price is due when the purchaser takes possession of the kitten, usually at 12 weeks of age. If the buyer changes their mind, the deposits will not be refunded.

1. Regular-footed kitten (non-polydactyl):
   The purchase price for a regular-footed kitten is $2,200.00. The first nonrefundable deposit for a regular-footed kitten is $400.00. The second nonrefundable deposit for a regular-footed kitten is $700.00. The balance due at 12 weeks therefore is $1,100.00.
2. Polydactyl kitten:
   The purchase price for a polydactyl kitten is $2,500.00. The first nonrefundable deposit for a polydactyl kitten is $500.00. The second nonrefundable deposit for a polydactyl kitten is $750.00. The final payment due at 12 weeks therefore is $1,250.00.

If you are waiting for a kitten, it is up to you to contact me. Please do not be afraid to remind me any number of times that you are still interested in getting a kitten. Unfortunately, I can no longer get back to all of you when a litter is born. The best way to get in touch with me is through email:
makanacoon1@gmail.com.

Click here to see a copy of the sales contract.  (PDF file requires Adobe Acrobat Reader or other PDF reader software)

Some of our cats whose ancestry goes back to cats known to produce SMA (a Spinal Muscular Dystrophy in kittens) have been DNA-tested for the disease and all are Negative and Non-Carriers.   We also have plans to start screening for HD (Hip Dysplasia) to get OFA ratings.

The costs of cardio and health testing, showing our cats, along with regular vet care for the cats in our breeding program are the primary reasons that drive the price of our kittens.

Please remember too, that all of our cats, with very few exceptions, are titled show cats, and that most of our kittens that go out as pets with a spay/neuter contract are quality, with many being show quality.

Our kittens are handled every day, raised with a dog, and socialized from an early age, which is paramount.

While you may find a Maine Coon kitten being sold for much less elsewhere, be sure to do your due diligence!  More than likely, the breeding cats that are producing these kittens are not Cardiomyopathy tested by a Board Certified Cardiologist using a Doppler machine, which is the only way to tell at any given time that a cat has a sound and healthy heart.   Quality breeders would be hard-pressed to charge significantly lower prices and still sustain the constant cardio testing of the cats in their breeding program to ensure that they have a sound heart.

Testing Maine Coons doesn't mean that they get Cardiomyopathy more than other breeds; it just means that Maine Coon breeders have taken on the responsibility and expense to try to do all that they can to produce kittens and cats with healthy hearts.

Please see our Health Policy page for more information on Cardiomyopathy and our testing program for our breeding cats.

Showing cats involve show fees, as well as hotel and travel expenses.  These expenses add up quickly!   But we truly believe that showing should be an integral part of a cattery that is trying to breed quality and health.

What kind of food do I need to get for my kitten?
We feed our cats and kittens canned food and a mix of several dry foods.

Dry Food:

We use holistic Life's Abundance All Life Stages (with grains) as our main and most important dry food. Since Life's Abundance cannot be bought in any pet stores, it has to be auto shipped to all of us, which makes it easier to get, as you don't have to go out and buy it. It can easily be ordered from this link. It was developed by a veterinarian, and has never been on recall. We have used Life's Abundance for many years, and our cats have benefitted from eating it from kittens on up to mature cats.

Click here for more information on Life's Abundance cat food.

People should order Life's Abundance dry food via this link to make sure they are getting that food from the proper company.

Into the above, we mix dry Royal Canin Kitten kibbles that you can buy from any pet store, and Science Diet TD that you have to buy from your vet. For kittens and our Moms, we also put Royal Canin Baby Cat dry food in a separate bowl as it is a very small kibble. For our cats we use big dry food canisters, so they can free feed as they get hungry.

Wet Food:

Every night we put some Blue Ridge Beef Raw Diet down for all of our cats and kittens for about an hour. After that it has to be picked up. Any that is left over, we throw out.

You will have to call around to find who carries it. Here in Virginia Beach, it can be bought at DoggStuff on Bird Neck Road (757-422-8166) or Central Meats on Kempsville Rd (757-547-2161). We do not know how much your kitten will eat so you will have to experiment. The Raw Diet comes in a sausage-like roll that can be thawed enough to cut it into patties that can be refrozen until needed.

We follow feeding the Raw Diet with Fancy Feast Kitten canned food. We leave this canned food down for the night.

Important!

It is my hope that if you get one of my kittens, you keep it on the same quality foods it is on now. Maine Coons are big cats, and need all the nutrition they can get to grow and develop for about 4 years before reaching maturity. At one time we were told to keep our dogs on grainless foods until the larger dogs started coming down with cardiomyopathy. Evidently the potatoes and legumes used were part of the problem. We don't know if the same research will come to be for big cats too, but right now, I'm switching to dry foods that have grains. The foods above don't have grains in them that caused problems with dogs. Nutrition news is always ongoing as it is with humans.

Vitamins

We also give our cats Kitty Bloom VM900-3 with Taurine and Kitty Bloom Super Lysine. once a day, which helps with their immune system and eye health. Yes, our cats eat very well!!

Finally, we recommend the Catit or Dogit Water Fountains as the best we've used. I order from Amazon!

When can I reserve a kitten?
You may reserve a kitten after it is born with an initial deposit of $400.00. Contracts and second deposits are accepted after kittens have had their first vet check at around 7 to 8 weeks.

When can I come over and visit my Makanacoon kitten?
To keep our kittens healthy, we do not allow visitation until the kittens have had their first distemper around 9 weeks of age. We do send out digital photos of a kitten. Often times kittens are placed before they arrive, as we keep a waiting list. Rarely are kittens available for someone to come over and pick out their choice. This is why I always ask what a person wants in color or sex, and try to keep in touch via email and photos.

When can I take my kitten home?
Each kitten gets two vet checks, numerous wormings, and two distemper shots before leaving for their new home at 12 weeks of age. Please note that a third distemper and rabies should be given around 16 weeks of age by the new kitten buyer's vet.

Do you ship kittens?
No, we are unable to ship kittens. You MUST pick up your kitten in person at the cattery. Although we can send digital photographs of your kitten by email (in addition to the photographs that appear on our web site), you have the right to examine your kitten in person before receiving it, in order to verify that it is the healthy kitten you expect from Makanacoon Maine Coon Cattery. We put our "no shipping" policy in place so that we comply with the letter and the spirit of USDA/APHIS regulations for pet breeders under the Animal Welfare Act.

Can we meet halfway?
Due to constraints on our time, we are not able to commit to traveling to meet people picking up kittens. You must pick up your kitten in person at the cattery.

When can I register my new kitten with the Cat Fancier's Association?
Once a kitten is altered, around 6 to 7 months, and we receive either a copy of the alter bill from the vet or a vet's note, we will send you the blue slip for that kitten. You will need to fill out the blue slip and send it to the Cat Fancier's Association with a one time fee of $17.00 to have your kitten registered.   It is extremely important for you to register your kitten, or it will never be listed under the parents' names as an offspring, nor will it be listed under your name.  

Will my kitten get along with my dog and other cats?
Our kittens are handled every day from 2 weeks of age on, are raised with a dog, and so are very balanced and socialized by the time they leave our cattery.   They also get to socialize with our other Makanacoon kitties so they are very well-adjusted with other cats as well.

What kind of litter do you use?
Makanacoon kittens are used to clumpable litter.  We use Dr. Elsey's Ultra Precious Cat Multi-Cat Litter. This litter has no perfumes or deodorants, and is in a blue bag.

Why does the contract state that I can't declaw my kitten?   I don't want my furniture to be scratched.
Makanacoon kittens are NEVER to be declawed.   Did you know that declawing doesn't mean that the nails are removed?   Rather, the END DIGIT of EACH TOE is CUT OFF!!  Can you imagine having the end digit of each of your fingers cut off just so you don't scratch a piece of furniture?!

Do you wonder why we are so against declawing of cats? Think we're being too harsh when we will not sell to anyone that plans to declaw? Check out this information (courtesy of The Volunteer Auxillery for Animal Shelters, Inc.) and you might feel differently.

Declawing: Do You Really Understand What This Means?

Declawing:

• Declawing is not a "simple"surgery
• To declaw your cat, the bone, nerve, joint capsule, collateral ligaments, and the extensor and flexor tendons must all be amputated
• 10 separate, painful amputations of the third phalanx up to the last joint of each toe are performed
• Complications from surgery include: excruciating pain, damage to nerves, hemorrhage, chronic back and joint pain as shoulder, leg, and back muscles weaken
• People say "my cat wasn't in pain". The truth is, cats often do not shown pain because it is a sign of weakness
• Declawing is illegal in several countries, including Japan, Australia, England, and most of continental Europe Psychological & Behavioral Complications:
• Most cats are so shocked by declawing that their personalities change
• Cats who were lively and friendly become withdrawn and afraid
• Deprived of their primary means of defense, cats become nervous, fearful, and/or aggressive, often resorting to their only remaining means of defense, their teeth
• A declawed cat frequently resorts to biting when confronted with even minor threats
• Balance is affected by the inability to grasp with their claws
• Some cats stop using their litter box because of the pain associated with scratching in the litter after a declawing procedure. This means they will find a more comfortable place to go..i.e.- your rug, carpet, blankets, etc.
• Removing the claws makes a cat feel defenseless. The constant state of stress caused by a feeling of defenselessness may make some declawed cats more prone to disease. Statistics:
• 50% of cats will come out of the operation with immediate medical or behavioral complications for 2- 3 weeks, and 30% will have complications for the rest of their lives
• 90% of the cats with litter box aversion are declawed cats
• 80% of declawed cats that are surrendered to shelters are euthanized because they have a behavioral problem
• 70% of cats turned into shelters for behavioral problems are declawed
• Many declawed cats surrendered to shelters are surrendered because of behavioral problems which developed after the cats were declawed. Ultimately this results in euthanasia

What should we do with our kitten when we take it home?
When you get a Makanacoon kitten, please do not put them immediately with your other animals.  New babies need at least a week to get used to a whole new environment.  Best place for them is in a bedroom where they can get used to a small area, and sleep with someone at night.  Never put them in a room by themselves at night where they get no human contact.

Makanacoon kittens are litter trained by 5 weeks of age, so they don't have to be kept in a bathroom.

Should I get one of those kitty condos/scratching posts?
Absolutely!  As babies, our kittens are trained by their moms to scratch on small cat trees that are put in the rooms they spend their first 9 weeks in.  If you are able to, get your new kitten a nice cat tree.  It will be their furniture to scratch on and climb in.

I'd like to see what a Maine Coon looks like. Can I come over and visit?
We welcome visits from serious potential buyers, but not from people who just want to see what a Maine Coon is.   There are Cat Shows available, and some wonderful books on Maine Coons that will give anyone a great perspective on this wonderful breed.  

Contacting Makanacoon Cattery
Because of a hectic schedule and a 24/7 job raising Maine Coons, it is not possible for me to always get back to you immediately, or send photos immediately on request.  Please be patient.  Reminders are always welcome if you don't hear from me immediately.

 By Phone: 757-495-6222.

 By Email: makanacoon1@gmail.com

What do Makanacoon kitten owners think of their kitten?
Please go to our Home page and scroll down to the bottom where it says, "Click Here, Sign My Guestbook". Once you read the comments from the Guest Book entries, you'll understand how happy our kitten buyers are to have one of our kittens. The Guest Book contains many, many entries from people that came from out of town or out of state to get one of our kittens. These are people who never saw their new baby kitty until they arrived here.

We encourage anyone who gets one of our kittens to put an entry in the Guest Book about your new kitten. Things like how the kitten adjusted, or how easily it became friends with the dog or other pets in the new home, or how friendly the cats in our home acted, or how clean our cattery was.. ..are all topics that other people like to read about. And we always enjoy hearing how our kitties adapted to and are doing in their new homes!

Mahalo (thanks),
Pat Taylor