FREQUENTLY
QUESTIONS
ASKED
-
Please familiarize yourself with the questions on our FAQ page and the terms of the High Country Maine Coons Pet Contract. If you are in agreement with ALL the contractual terms, you may submit a Kitten Request Form.
Completed Kitten Request Forms are reviewed and kept on file. A $500 Non-Refundable holding fee will be required after the vetting process is complete.
Holding fee instructions will be given after vetting. We do NOT keep a wait list or take holding fees for future kittens.
**Holding fees are applied to the cost of the kitten. Holding fees are NOT refundable.
-
After proper vetting is completed, kittens are offered to those individuals/families who we feel will best meet the requirements of our cattery. This is usually done at approximately 8 weeks of age. Occasionally, we will hold a kitten βunder breeder observation,β this kitten is being evaluated for future use within our program.
-
The adoption fee for a kitten is $2900-$3200. We are responsible, home-based breeders and when determining the cost of a kitten, we must figure in the cost of acquiring parents with breeding rights which come from reputable lines and pedigrees. The comprehensive cost of a kitten may include but is not limited to, regular vet checks, vaccinations, microchipping, blood tests, genetic testing, hip X-rays, and echocardiograms (with a feline cardiologist) to determine parents as negative for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM). Additional expenses include proper housing, a raw food diet, toys, cat trees, litter, grooming supplies, cleaning equipment, etc. Kittens will be sold with a Purchase Contract/Agreement. Upon picking up your kitten, we will formally sign the contract.
From time to time, we will retire a program cat. Cost of a retiree is $1800. We believe cats within our program deserve to spend the greater part of their life as the center of a family (usually between 3-5 y/o). They will be spayed/neutered and listed on our website.
-
Kittens are available to be picked up between 12 - 14 weeks of age. The remaining balance is due IN CASH or cashiers check on the day of pick up OR by Zelle at least 3 days prior to pick up.
When your kitten leaves, we will give you their veterinary record, microchip information, and take-home gifts.
Please arrive with a hard-sided carrier to safely transport your kitten home. Airport rendezvous's at the Colorado Springs (COS) or Pueblo (PUB) Airports will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
-
We offer a limited health guarantee as part of the sales contract. In order for the guarantee to remain intact, the kitten MUST be examined by your vet within 72 hours of leaving our home. Our cats/ litters are tested for FIV/FeLV, and all kittens leaving our home will be negative. We ask that your kitten not be given the vaccination for those diseases as from that point forward, the cat will always test positive for them. All our breeding cats have been DNA tested for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), and Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (PKDef) through Optimal Selection. Kings and Queens receive their heart echocardiograms (EKG) from a feline cardiologist to ensure they do not have any indicators forHCM.
-
No one can predict what size a kitten will become as an adult; however, it is well documented that the weight range for males is normally between 15 - 20 pounds and females 9 - 15 pounds. Maine Coons are a slow-developing breed and typically do not reach their full size until 4 - 5 years of age.
-
The ride home, new faces, and a new home can be very overwhelming for your new kitten. It will adjust much better if allowed to do so gradually.
We recommend putting the kitten in a small quiet room or bathroom with its bed, food, water, and litter box. Let your kitten stay in there for a minimum of 5-7 days until it has adjusted to that room and the new faces coming and going into it.
Over the next few days, bring your kitten out into the living areas for short periods of time. Remember, it is a kitten (a baby), and there is a lot of change going on. As your kitten begins to free roam, remember that it will need a litter box easily accesspible to wherever it is allowed to roam.
We require that you watch the Jackson Galaxy videos posted at the bottom of our The Breed page. Introductions to new family members (the two and four-legged kind) is a delicate situation with your new kitten, and a traumatic first experience can greatly delay integration into the new family.
-
Regular teeth brushing is very important to keep your cat happy and healthy. Yes, it might seem strange since most people donβt do this, but it is extremely important for your cats teeth. If you cannot do it daily, several times a week is highly recommended. Make sure the toothpaste is xylitol free.
We recommend using enzyme toothpaste daily or several times per week minimum and some sort of a chlorhexidine mouth rinse or dental water additive. These things will assist and possibly prevent juvenile gingivitis, which is not uncommon in Maine Coons.
Start teeth brushing right away so as to build up a tolerance for it later. if you have never brushed a cats teeth, there are many YouTube videos available and we can show you when you pick up your kitten on βGotcha Day.β
Remember that Maine Coons are the slowest growing of the domestic breeds. It is not uncommon to see some redness around the teeth and on gums even at 12+ months old.
Here are links to a few effective products. Always consult and/or inform your veterinarian of your home dental care routine.
Virbac CET Enzymatic Toothpaste
-
This is a great information about cats dental health and what we can do to keep our cats teeth and gums healthy. This video is an informative and well spent 15 minutes.
We are always available to answer any questions you might have. If we don't know the answer, we will find it from our numerous resources in the cat world.
If you have questions, please feel free to drop us an email or a call.
Our/your kittens will always be a part of our family, and we ask that you send photos of their growth and progress.