Does anyone know where I may find a show-quality Brown Mackerel or Classic with white male, who is approximately 8-12 weeks old now or will be by Xmas. I am willing to consider anywhere in the country based on price, quality of stock, availability, etc. I am anxious to find one and have had no luck locally, please respond asap.

Thank

-- Anonymous, December 01, 2000

Answers

Hi and good luck finding your Maine Coon. Here are some suggestions. I know you want one by Christmas, but please don't rush, because it is very important to check out the breeder. You can find breeders names at the TICA.org website. I'm not sure if CFA lists their breeders. Also try getting the annual issue of CATS USA. I think that's what it's called. It has breeder's listings. It is so important that you do your research. What part of the country do you live in? Do you have any other Maine Coons? If not, be careful buying a show quality cat. What one breeder calls (and charges for) a show cat may be entirely different from another. Most breeders who sell a cat to someone who has not shown before will want you to show your first cat as an alter. Do you want to show TICA or CFA? The standards for each differ slightly. If you are buying a whole male and will not be neutering him, make sure both testicles have descended, or if they haven't, put a contingency in your contract. Many breeders will not release their kittens until they are 12 weeks old. That is for their safety. There are also certain lines that often have health problems. I don't mean to scare you. I want you to end up with a happy healthy cat. The best way to ensure this is to learn as much as you can and visit many breeders even if they don't have what you're looking for now. I hope you find exactly what you want.

-- Anonymous, December 02, 2000