Articles & resources for maine coon enthusiasts

One of the first questions Maine Coon breeders get from hopeful pet buyers is, “How much do your Maine Coon kittens cost?” That’s understandable! No one wants to get their heart set on the cute kitten of their dreams until they are sure they can afford it.

The average price for a pedigreed Maine Coon kitten in the United States is between $2,200 – $4,900.

The actual price depends on several factors, including:

• Where the breeder is located and the availability of Maine Coons in that part of the country (Maine Coons have become the most popular breed in the country, with demand frequently exceeding supply)
• The quality of the kitten’s bloodlines, including the parent cat’s pedigrees and titles (their success in the show ring)
• The amount of money invested in genetic testing and health testing of parent cats to ensure healthy kittens
• The cost the breeder incurs for prenatal care and emergency delivery services, if required
• The extent of the health guarantee offered by the breeder to protect you in the event your kitten should become ill

• The living situation of the cats and kittens in the breeder’s care (are they living in a well-lit, well-ventilated, temperature-controlled, and clean space)
• The quality of food, vitamins, and supplements provided to expectant and nursing cats and weaning kittens in the cattery
• The amount of time the breeder invests caring for and socializing the kittens to develop an excellent temperament
• The amount of care the breeder takes to match the right kitten with the right family and living situation (some breeders will sell a kitten to anyone who can pay for it, offering a lower price to compete against ethical breeders)
• The quality of the adoption experience — the communication, photos/videos, and information provided from the time the kitten is born until it goes home
• Whether or not the kitten has been microchipped by a veterinarian and if lifetime registration and/or recovery service is included
• Costs associated with early spay and neuter, if done while in the breeder’s care 00
• What is included in your go-home package, if anything (food, litter, toys, grooming supplies, TICA or CFA registration, etc.)
• The breeder’s knowledge of the breed and their availability and willingness to answer questions
• The quality and extent of support provided by the breeder for the rest of the cat’s life

Some breeders, like Maine Street Coons, charge one set fee for every kitten, while others have flex pricing. Prices with these breeders typically vary based on the kitten’s gender, the titles held by the parents, the kitten’s color, and whether the kitten is polydactyl. If you are working within a set budget, be sure to ask the breeder about any traits or characteristics that impact price and what types of kittens will be available to you at the price point you’re comfortable paying.

Run, don’t walk away from any advertisement, social post, or website offering purebred Maine Coon kittens for less than $2,000. We can assure you that anyone posting kittens for less than $2,000 is either (1) running a complete scam and there is no kitten or (2) cutting some significant corners that are putting cats and kittens in harm’s way and that will end up costing you more in heartache and healthcare expenses than you want to imagine.

We talk to adopters every month who have recently been scammed by ruthless and cunning individuals promising them a kitten that didn’t exist in exchange for a large deposit or upfront payment. Some of these scams are pretty sophisticated, taking credit cards, providing fake pedigrees, showing forged registration documents, and even sending bogus travel itineraries. It always breaks our hearts to see people taken advantage of — and it always brings to mind the old saying, “If it sounds too good to be true, it is.”

Ethical breeders do not depend on breeding cats to make a living; we don’t do it to make a profit. We are financially and emotionally invested in the health and well-being of the breed. We invest personal funds to take great care of our furbabies and do this time-intensive, labor-intensive work because of the tremendous joy our cats bring to our lives. We are emotionally invested in ensuring every kitten thrives, and the breed remains healthy for current and future generations. Our paychecks come in the form of happy, healthy kittens and delighted adopters.