Kats Kits · Farmington, Minnesota
Maine Coon Health Testing
The parents of every Kats Kits litter are DNA tested, and every kitten is vaccinated, tested for FeLV and FIV and covered by a written health guarantee before it leaves Kat's home.
This page explains what Kats Kits does, the health conditions breeders screen Maine Coons for, and the questions worth asking any breeder about health.
What Kats Kits Does for Every Kitten
- DNA tested parents. The cats behind every Kats Kits litter are DNA tested.
- Two rounds of FVRCP vaccine, at about 6 to 8 weeks and 9 to 10 weeks, against feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and panleukopenia.
- A negative FeLV and FIV test before the kitten goes home.
- A written health guarantee. Your own vet examines the kitten within 72 hours; if it is unwell, Kat takes it back and treats it or replaces it.
- Ten weeks at home with Kat, so a kitten is weaned, eating well and used to handling before it travels.
The guarantee and the rest of the terms are in the kitten contract. The last FVRCP booster and the rabies vaccine are due at around 12 to 16 weeks, after your kitten comes home.
Which Health Problems Do Breeders Screen Maine Coons For?
Maine Coons are a sturdy breed, but a few inherited conditions are known in it. These are the ones breeders most often screen for:
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a thickening of the heart muscle and the most common heart disease in cats. A DNA test detects one known Maine Coon mutation, and many breeders also have their cats' hearts scanned by a veterinary cardiologist, because the DNA test does not catch every case.
- Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), an inherited condition that weakens the muscles of the hind legs in young cats. It is not painful, and a DNA test identifies cats that carry it.
- Hip dysplasia, a malformed hip joint that is more common in large breeds. It is screened with X-rays rather than a DNA test.
- Polycystic kidney disease (PKD), which causes cysts in the kidneys. It is far more common in Persian-type breeds than in Maine Coons, and is screened by DNA test or ultrasound.
- Pyruvate kinase deficiency (PK deficiency), an inherited form of anemia with a DNA test available.
Our guide to Maine Coon lifespan covers these conditions and what they mean for an owner.
What Can a DNA Test Tell You?
A DNA test looks for a specific gene mutation. For each condition, a cat comes back as clear (no copies), a carrier (one copy) or affected (two copies, for recessive conditions such as SMA). A carrier does not usually have the disease itself, and breeding a carrier to a clear cat avoids producing affected kittens.
What a DNA test cannot do is rule out every health problem. It only finds the mutations it tests for, which is why heart scans and hip X-rays exist alongside it, and why a vet check after you bring your kitten home still matters.
Questions to Ask Any Maine Coon Breeder About Health
- Are both parents DNA tested, and for which conditions?
- Have the parents had heart scans or hip X-rays as well?
- Which vaccinations will the kitten have had, and when are the next ones due?
- Has the kitten been tested for FeLV and FIV?
- Is there a written health guarantee, and what does it cover?
- At what age does the kitten go home? Ten weeks or older gives a kitten time to grow and finish its first vaccinations.
More checks are on the kittens near me page, under how to judge a breeder.
Keeping Your Maine Coon Healthy
Good health does not stop at the breeder. Book the 72-hour vet check before your kitten arrives, keep up with the remaining vaccinations, and spay or neuter before nine months. After that, a yearly check-up, a healthy weight and good dental care do more for a long life than anything else. Feeding is covered in what Maine Coons eat, and grooming in shedding and grooming.
Questions About 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.
Ask About a Kitten
Call Kat on (651) 463-4780 or email katskitscattery@aol.com. Kat is happy to answer health questions before you decide.