My
name is Grace Cox. I live in Loganville, Georgia, which is about 30
miles east of Atlanta. I have been showing and breeding Maine Coon cats
since 1994. I am a member of CFA's Maine Coon Breed Council and
actively show my cats in CFA.Maine Coon cats are gentle and friendly, and love just about everyone. They make wonderful companions, and get along well with dogs, kids and other cats. I tell people they are like having a Golden Retriever in a cat suit. My cats and kittens are part of my family and have run of the house. When I get cold at night, I just throw on another cat!
My breeding cats are heart ultra sounded regularly, and have been DNA tested for cardiomyopathy. Although a breeder cannot guarantee 100% against cardiomyopathy, I am dedicated in the effort to lower the incidence of HCM in our breed and am diligent in my efforts to produce healthy cats.
Kittens stay with mom until 11-12 weeks of age. Kittens are fully vaccinated for their age & go with a spay/neuter agreement. They are litterbox trained, eating solid food and using a scratching post when they leave.
You may wonder why kittens stay so long with Mom. There are lots of things a kitten must learn in those 12 weeks to make them extraordinary companions. Socialization is important to start in the first weeks, and with the help of my grandkids, Hunter & Abbey [pictured with the kitten, Liberty], we handle them often during this time.The kittens live exclusively in my bedroom for the first 5 weeks.They follow by example, and Mama Cat teaches them good litterbox habits and the scratching post, while the grandkids and I work on "People Skills 101".
In weeks 6-12, although the kittens are still mainly in my bedroom, they are given more room by allowing them into other parts of the house to explore their surroundings and adapt to everyday sounds and activities. With Mama Cat's help, kittens learn "Cat Manners", and how to interact appropriately with other cats, dogs and people. After week 7, I encourage visitors to come and play with the kittens. This helps the kittens adapt to people they are unfamiliar with, and in the end, all this effort and love pay off and make for confident, outgoing kittens that want to be handled and loved.