Kats Kits · Farmington, Minnesota
Maine Coon Kitten Questions and Answers
Everything families ask Kat before they bring a kitten home: buying a kitten, the deposit, travel, health, and the Maine Coon breed itself.
Buying a kitten from Kats Kits
How do I reserve a kitten?
Call or email Kat and tell her which kitten you like and a little about your home. A $200 deposit then holds that kitten for you, and the balance is paid before your kitten leaves.
How much is a Maine Coon kitten from Kats Kits?
$700 for a pet kitten, male or female. Travel, if your kitten is coming to you, is quoted separately.
Is the deposit refundable?
No. The deposit is refunded only if Kat cancels the sale, so she is happy to answer every question before you pay it.
Can I move my deposit to a different kitten?
Not usually. A deposit holds one particular kitten, and choosing another is treated as a separate sale, though Kat can make exceptions.
What happens after I pay the deposit?
Stay in touch. Kat needs to hear from you in the 30 days before go-home day to arrange the pick-up or delivery and the final payment. If she cannot reach you, she may offer the kitten to another family.
How old are the kittens when they go home?
Ten weeks. They stay with Kat until then.
Do you ship kittens?
Yes. A kitten can fly with a flight nanny who carries it in the cabin, fly as airline cargo, or travel by ground transport. Travel is arranged with you and quoted for your route. Kittens can also go to Canada, and to Australia once its import rules are met.
Do you deliver near the Twin Cities?
Yes. Kat delivers in person to families within about an hour of Farmington, and can meet you at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International (MSP), about 30 minutes from the cattery.
Are the kittens registered?
Yes. Registration papers are sent once your vet confirms the kitten has been spayed or neutered. Allow six to eight weeks after that.
Do I have to spay or neuter my kitten?
Yes, before nine months of age. Seven to nine months is the usual window.
Can I show my kitten?
Pet kittens are not shown without Kat's written permission. If you are interested in showing, say so when you first get in touch.
Can my kitten go outdoors or be declawed?
No to both. Kats Kits kittens go to indoor homes, and are not to be declawed without the breeder's approval. Your vet can suggest alternatives such as nail caps and regular trims.
Is Kats Kits a registered cattery?
Yes. Kats Kits is listed on the American Cat Fanciers Association's Maine Coon breeder list, under Kat Doring in Farmington, Minnesota.
Where is Kats Kits?
In Farmington, Minnesota, in Dakota County south of the Twin Cities, about 30 minutes from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International (MSP).
How long has Kat bred Maine Coons?
Since the mid-2000s. Kats Kits has always been a small cattery, with every litter raised in Kat's home.
Does Kats Kits still breed Birmans?
No. Kats Kits bred Birmans alongside Maine Coons for many years, but today Kat breeds Maine Coons only.
What does the price of a kitten include?
Two rounds of the FVRCP kitten vaccine, a negative FeLV and FIV test, a written health guarantee, and registration papers once your vet confirms the spay or neuter. Every kitten is raised in Kat's home until it is ten weeks old.
Why are some Maine Coon kittens advertised for $300?
A purebred Maine Coon kitten from a registered breeder rarely costs that little. Very cheap listings are often mixed breeds, kittens without papers or health checks, or scams that ask for a deposit on a kitten that does not exist. Check the breeder on the registry's own website and talk to them before you pay anything.
Related: Prices · Available kittens · Kitten contract
Getting your kitten home
Can I fly to Minneapolis and take my kitten home myself?
Yes. Kat can meet you at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International (MSP), about 30 minutes from Farmington, and you carry your kitten home in the cabin in an airline-approved carrier under the seat in front of you. Book your kitten's place on the flight with the airline, as cabin spaces for pets are limited.
How does a flight nanny work?
A flight nanny is a person who flies with your kitten in the cabin, keeps it in a carrier under the seat, and hands it to you at your arrival airport, usually the same day. Your kitten is never out of their sight.
Can a kitten fly as airline cargo?
Yes, on routes and airlines that carry pets as cargo. The kitten travels in a pressurized, temperature-controlled part of the hold, and you collect it from the airline's cargo office. Airlines restrict pets as cargo in very hot or very cold weather, so dates can move.
How long does ground transport take?
It depends on the distance. A pet transport driver brings your kitten by road, often collecting and delivering other pets on the way, so a long trip can take a few days. Kat will tell you what to expect for your route.
Does my kitten need a health certificate to travel?
For flights, usually yes. Most airlines ask for a health certificate from a vet, typically issued within about ten days of the flight, and some states require one for a cat crossing state lines. Kat will tell you what your route needs.
How much does it cost to get a kitten to me?
It depends on where you live and how your kitten travels. Kat quotes travel for your route, so you know the full cost before you pay the deposit.
Is there a Maine Coon breeder near me?
If you live near the Twin Cities, Kats Kits is in Farmington, about 30 minutes south of Minneapolis and St. Paul, and Kat delivers within about an hour. If you live further away, your kitten can still come to you by flight nanny, airline cargo or ground transport.
How far is Kats Kits from Minneapolis?
About 35 minutes by car. Farmington is in Dakota County, south of the Twin Cities, and about 30 minutes from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International (MSP).
Is it better to buy a Maine Coon kitten from a breeder near me?
Closer is easier, but the breeder matters more than the distance. A well-raised kitten from a registered breeder a flight away is a better start than a cheap kitten nearby with no papers or health checks. Flying in to collect, or using a flight nanny, takes most of the problem out of distance.
Related: How kittens travel · Kittens near me · Kittens by state
Health
What vaccinations will my kitten have had?
Two rounds of the FVRCP kitten vaccine, already given before go-home day: the first at about 6 to 8 weeks and the second at 9 to 10 weeks. FVRCP protects against feline viral rhinotracheitis, feline calicivirus and feline panleukopenia (distemper). The last FVRCP booster and the rabies vaccine are due at around 12 to 16 weeks, and your vet will schedule them.
Are the kittens tested for FeLV and FIV?
Yes. Every kitten tests negative for FeLV and FIV before it leaves.
Are the parents health tested?
Yes. The parents are DNA tested.
What is the health guarantee?
Take your kitten to your own vet within 72 hours of bringing it home. If your vet finds it unwell, Kat takes the kitten back and either treats it and returns it to you or replaces it with a kitten of equal quality.
Is it normal for a new kitten to sneeze?
It can be. Moving house is stressful, and a kitten may have a runny nose, watery eyes or a loose stool for a short time. Anything that lasts more than a day or two should be seen by your vet.
Related: Health tests · Kitten contract · Lifespan
About the Maine Coon
What is a Maine Coon cat?
The only long-haired cat breed native to America, from the state of Maine. It is one of the largest domestic breeds, known for its tufted ears, thick ruff, long bushy tail and gentle, sociable nature.
How big do Maine Coon cats get?
Males usually reach 13 to 18 pounds and females 8 to 12, and many measure 30 to 40 inches from nose to tail tip. Size depends on the cat and its parents.
When do Maine Coons stop growing?
Usually between three and five years old. They grow quickly for the first year, then keep filling out slowly.
How long do Maine Coon cats live?
Typically 10 to 13 years, and many indoor cats live longer with good food, a healthy weight and regular vet care.
Are Maine Coons friendly?
Yes. They are known as the gentle giants of the cat world: sociable, patient and playful. Most like to be near their people rather than on a lap all day.
Are Maine Coons good with children and other pets?
Usually, yes. Their easy-going nature suits family life, and kittens raised in a busy home settle in easily. Tell Kat who is at home and she will say which kitten suits.
Are Maine Coons hypoallergenic?
No. No cat breed is, and Maine Coons shed. If someone at home has a cat allergy, spend time with a Maine Coon before committing.
Do Maine Coon cats shed?
Yes, a moderate amount, more in spring and fall. Brushing two or three times a week keeps the coat free of knots and cuts down the hair around the house.
Do Maine Coons like water?
Many do. It is common for them to paw at their water bowl, play with a dripping faucet or join you in the bathroom. Their coat is fairly water-resistant.
Are Maine Coons vocal?
They are chatty in their own way, with chirps and trills more than loud meows.
What do Maine Coons eat?
A good quality, high-protein cat food. Keep your kitten on the food it was eating at Kats Kits for the first weeks, then change gradually if you want to. Kittens stay on kitten food for their first year.
How can I tell if my cat is a Maine Coon?
Large size, tufted ears, a ruff around the neck, tufts between the toes and a long, bushy tail are typical signs. Only pedigree papers can confirm it, as many large long-haired cats look similar.
Are all Maine Coons polydactyl?
No. Extra toes run in some Maine Coon lines, but most Maine Coons have the normal number.
Related: What is a Maine Coon · How big they get · Personality
Maine Coon colors
What colors do Maine Coon cats come in?
Almost every color and pattern: black, blue, red, cream and white, in solid, tabby, tortoiseshell, smoke, shaded and with-white versions. The breed standards do not accept chocolate, lilac, cinnamon, fawn or pointed colors like a Siamese.
What is the most common Maine Coon color?
Brown tabby, the classic wild look of black stripes on a warm brown coat, is the color most people picture, and it turns up in many litters.
What is the rarest Maine Coon color?
There is no official ranking. Colors that need the same recessive gene from both parents, such as solid blue, cream or a true solid black, turn up less often, but how common a color is in a litter depends on the parents.
Can you tell a kitten's adult color at ten weeks?
Mostly. The base color is set at birth, but tabby markings can soften, a smoke undercoat can show more as the coat grows, and the full adult coat takes two years or more to come in.
How much is an orange Maine Coon kitten?
An orange Maine Coon kitten from Kats Kits is $700, and a $200 deposit reserves one.
Are orange Maine Coons always male?
No, but most are. The red color gene sits on the X chromosome, so a male needs one copy and a female needs two. Orange females exist; there are just fewer of them.
Is an orange Maine Coon the same as a red one?
Yes. Breeders and the breed standards call the color red; most people call it orange or ginger. Cream is the paler, dilute version.
Can an orange Maine Coon be solid with no stripes?
Almost never. Red cats nearly always show some tabby markings, even when they are faint, which is why most orange Maine Coons are described as red tabbies.
How much is a black Maine Coon kitten?
A black Maine Coon kitten from Kats Kits is $700, and a $200 deposit reserves one.
What is the difference between a black and a black smoke Maine Coon?
A solid black is black right down to the skin. A black smoke has a white or silver undercoat under the black tips, which shows when the coat parts or the cat moves.
Why is my black Maine Coon turning brown?
Sunlight. A black coat can take on a reddish, rusty tint when a cat spends a lot of time in strong sun. It is harmless and the new coat grows in black again.
What eye color do black Maine Coons have?
Gold, copper or green. Blue eyes only occur in white cats or cats with a lot of white.
How much is a blue Maine Coon kitten?
A blue Maine Coon kitten from Kats Kits is $700, and a $200 deposit reserves one.
Is a blue Maine Coon gray?
Yes. In the cat world, gray is called blue. It is the dilute form of black, which gives the coat its soft blue-gray tone.
What is the difference between a blue and a silver Maine Coon?
Blue is the color of the hair itself. Silver is a separate gene that takes the warm color out of the undercoat, so the roots are white. A cat can be both: a blue silver tabby.
How much is a tortoiseshell Maine Coon kitten?
A tortoiseshell Maine Coon kitten from Kats Kits is $700, and a $200 deposit reserves one.
Are tortoiseshell Maine Coons always female?
Almost always. The pattern needs two X chromosomes, one carrying red and one carrying black. Male torties do exist, but they are very rare and usually sterile.
What is the difference between a tortie, a torbie and a calico?
A tortie has patches of black and red, or blue and cream. A torbie is a tortie with tabby stripes as well. A calico is a tortie with clear areas of white.
Do you have calico Maine Coon kittens?
Not at the moment. A calico is a tortoiseshell with white, and when Kat has one it will be on the available kittens page.
How much is a polydactyl Maine Coon kitten?
A polydactyl Maine Coon kitten from Kats Kits is $700, and a $200 deposit reserves one.
Is polydactyly harmful to a Maine Coon?
No. The extra toes come from a natural gene and the cat walks, climbs and plays normally. The extra claws do need trimming, as they can curl round into the pad if left.
How many toes does a polydactyl Maine Coon have?
It varies. A normal cat has 18 toes, five on each front foot and four on each back foot. A polydactyl usually has one or two extra on the front feet, and sometimes on the back feet too.
Will a polydactyl kitten have polydactyl kittens?
It can. The trait is dominant, so a polydactyl cat bred to a cat with normal feet usually passes extra toes to around half of the kittens. Kats Kits pet kittens go home on a spay or neuter agreement, so this only matters to breeders.
Related: All colors · Orange · Polydactyl
Still Have a Question?
Call Kat on (651) 463-4780 or email katskitscattery@aol.com. Kat is happy to answer anything before you decide.