Colorado Maine Coon Cat Breeders
With the popularity of this breed ever-growing, there are now tons of scammers out there trying to take your money.
So make sure you read our tips and tricks to buy a healthy pedigree Maine Coon kitten in Colorado.
Maine Coon Cat Breeders In Colorado
There are plenty of reputable Maine Coon breeders in Colorado. Some standouts are Colorado Maine Coons, Stordire Maine Coons, Rocky Mountain Maine Coons, Coonplay Maine Coons, Morningside Meow, and Star-Studded Coons. All of these catteries provide healthy, happy kittens to owners or families like you.
Maine Coons are known for their huge size, love of water, and happy disposition. It’s no wonder people are in love with this gorgeous breed!
However, the breed has grown in popularity over the years, making acquiring one an expensive investment since pedigree cats cost significant time and money to breed.
Therefore, the safest (and oftentimes the easiest) way to get a Maine Coon kitten would be to purchase from a purebred such as these (source 1).
Benefits Of Registered Breeders
There are a variety of benefits to purchasing a Maine Coon kitten from a registered breeder, including:
1. Cat Screening
A reputable breeder will only breed cats that have undergone several health and genetic screenings.
The goal of a breeder should always be to improve the breed of animals, not introduce more sick animals into the world.
2. Health Guarantees
Oftentimes, a reputable breeder will provide a health guarantee for the purchased kitten.
This means if it happens to pass away unexpectedly, you can receive a replacement kitten (instead of being out several hundred dollars along with a pet).
You are not going to get this with a breeder that sells their cats at super cheap prices, otherwise known as backyard breeders (BYB).
3. A Code Of Ethics
To remain a registered breeder of their specific type of cat, the breeder must follow a strict set of ethics while breeding and selling their cats.
Failure to abide by these rules means having their registration revoked.
Those codes of ethics include:
- Not breeding cats that are sick
- Not breeding cats with any physical deformities
- Providing a safe home for the kittens to grow up healthy and strong
- Making sure they go to a home that will keep them safe
4. Breeders Answer To The Cat Council
The cat councils set the code of ethics for registered cat breeders, maintain and update breed standards, and arrange cat shows. Breeders have to register all kittens they breed in the purebred registry.
Even after a family adopts a kitten, there will still always be a record of the cat.
There are several different cat councils, the most famous being:
Cat Fanciers Association (CFA)
Founded in 1906, the CFA aims to put the welfare of its registered cats first and foremost.
When looking for a Maine Coon kitten in Colorado, this cat council’s high standard for breeders makes it an excellent certification to look for when getting a kitten.
The International Cat Association (TICA)
Have the world’s largest genetic and household registry of cats. TICA aims to not only promote its current breeders but also expand the number of registered catteries around the world.
They maintain the same high standards for breeding as the other cat councils despite their aims for growth so breeders registered with them have a high chance of being reputable.
Federation Internationale Feline (FIFe)
The FIFe originally began in France but has expanded to 40 countries.
Just like the other cat councils, they aim to set high breeding standards for the registered catteries under them.
Any breeders registered with FIFe are most likely conducting an ethical cattery.
Where To Buy Maine Coon Cats
Other ways to buy Maine Coons, if not from a registered breeder:
1. Maine Coon Cat Rescue
These establishments typically have cats that families can no longer take care of. You’re more likely to find adult cats here since the kittens either get snatched up straight away or are less likely to be sent to a rescue in the first place.
Maine Coons released to rescue will sometimes come with papers, but this is not always guaranteed.
Maine Coon cats adopted through a rescue will typically be cheaper, but you are not going to receive the various benefits you would when purchasing a cat through a registered breeder.
It is unlikely that any genetic screenings will have been performed on the cat, therefore, you will not receive a health guarantee. There is also the possibility that the cat’s temperament might not fit with your family.
In addition, when purchasing a Maine Coon from a Maine Coon rescue center, you are not guaranteed to be receiving a purebred Maine Coon. Oftentimes, cats released to the rescue are some kind of mix.
While you will still get a cat that looks pretty much like a Maine Coon, Maine Coon mixes are typically smaller and often do not have the other physical characteristics that make Maine Coons, Maine Coons (source 1).
Here is a definitive list of all the Maine Coon Rescue Centers in the United States.
It should be mentioned that adopting through a rescue is better than purchasing a cat through a backyard breeder. Read on to discover why.
2. Backyard Breeders
Backyard breeders have no one to answer to but themselves, and potentially angry buyers. They are:
- Not registered anywhere.
- Do not have to abide by certain breeding practices e.g. genetically screening their cats.
- Do not have to provide a safe environment for the kittens.
Oftentimes a backyard breeder will sell their cats for a lot cheaper than a registered breeder, which is why people are lured to them. But cheaper prices come with risks.
For example, if your kitten has a physical deformity or gets sick, a backyard breeder is unlikely to offer you a replacement kitten or give you a refund.
Another reason to avoid backyard breeders is that there is no guarantee that the kitten will have been properly socialized because these unethical breeders operate like a kitten mill, birthing as many kittens as possible.
Maine Coon kittens are often kept in cages and not given the proper love and attention they need to become well-socialized kittens. Your kitten might therefore act:
- Anxious
- Aggressive
- Distrustful
- Shy
- Like they do not want to be handled or touched
This is the complete opposite of how a Maine Coon should act and just goes to show how poor breeding practices can make even the sweetest cat breeds scared or mean.
If you have been experiencing a mean Maine Coon cat, read this guide to help improve things for you.
Is there a chance that your backyard kitten will be fine? You may adopt a happy, healthy kitten, but not only are you gambling this will be the case you are also allowing unethical ‘breeders’ to keep making money off unethical breeding practices.
Registered Maine Coon Breeders
Let’s now take a look at some reputable Maine Coon breeders in Colorado, that you can trust:
Colorado Maine Coons
Based in Conifer, Colorado Maine Coons is a husband and wife duo breeding CFA and TICA-registered Maine Coons. They take special care in breeding, raising, and grooming their kittens.
They socialize all their Maine Coon kittens with other pets and children and house them in a safe, healthy environment until they can be sent to their forever homes.
This breeder has received accolades for having one of the healthiest breeding lines out there.
Colorado Maine Coons breed all different colors ranging from tortie to gray, to classic tabby markings. If there is a color you are in the market for, they probably have it!
Here’s how to contact them:
Telephone: 813-389-3788 Contact: Katerina Evers Website: coloradomainecoons.com Email: colaradomainecoons@gmail.com
Stordire Maine Coons
Based in Aurora, Stordire Maine Coons has over 20 years of breeding CFA and TICA-certified cats. This is an excellent choice for someone who has searched online for Maine Coon kittens in Boulder.
Stordire Maine Coons are show-quality, having won numerous awards over the years. The cattery only has a few litters every year, meaning they sell very few kittens at a given time.
Each kitten is socialized early and typically ready to go at 11 weeks.
All kittens from Stordire are vaccinated and given a health guarantee. They are disease-free and typically have to be fixed by the time they are 6 months old.
The cattery appears to breed mostly tabby-marked cats of varying colors (mostly brown and red). They do not currently have any white or gray sires or dames.
Here’s how to contact them:
Telephone: 757-232-7656 Contact: Romana Valentine Email: tordire@aol.com Website: stordiremainecoons.com
Coonplay Maine Coons
Operating out of Castle Rock, Coonplay Maine Coons has been breeding healthy CFA and TICA-certified cats for over 25 years.
They specialize in show-quality Polydactyl Maine Coons. These cats typically have extra toes, making their feet appear bigger.
Coonplay kittens have received:
- A vet check
- Vaccine
- Come with some pet food
- A care guide
- A month of free insurance
They are a closed cattery meaning you will not be able to visit the kitten before it is adopted to protect the cats from potential disease. You will be supplied with photos.
Coonplay has several different coat colors with different varieties of tabby coats along with black and white cats (source 1).
Here’s how you can contact them:
Email: coonplaymainecoons@hotmail.com Website: coonplaymainecoons.com
Rocky Mountain Maine Coons
Rocky Mountain Maine Coons is a cattery located in Idaho Springs. Specializing in CFA-certified, American, and European Champion bloodlines, their cats show quality and occasionally have polydactyl toes.
Rocky Mountain Maine Coons aims to share their love of the Maine Coon breed with as many people as possible.
The Maine Coon kittens are raised in a safe, loving environment, and the buyer is asked to share a little bit about themselves so the cattery has an idea of where their kittens are going.
Here is how you can contact them:
Website: rockymtnmainecoons.com Email: wildryno10@yahoo.com
Morningside Meow
Previously called Maine Coon Co., Morningside Meow is located in Colorado Springs, and sells CFA and TICA-certified cats. Morningside Meow has been breeding Maine Coons since 2019.
This cattery has a variety of colors including:
- Red and White
- Black and White
- Torties
- Tabbies
- Orange Tabbies
They are a closed cattery, meaning they do not allow visits with the kittens due to the risk of disease. They will send weekly photo and video updates once the purchaser places a deposit on a kitten.
Their kittens are socialized with children and dogs, so you can expect to receive a happy, friendly pet.
The Maine Coon kitten is given their first shot at 8 weeks and is tested for several illnesses before they are sold to a buyer.
To contact them, fill out the contact form on their website: mainecoonco.com
Star-Studded Coons
Based in Peyton, Star-Studded Coons is a family-run cattery. They are TICA registered and come with a health guarantee.
Their adult cats are given DNA testing before breeding, along with a heart echo test and hip x-rays.
All their kittens are:
- Well-Socialized
- Microchipped
- De-wormed
- Vaccinated
This breeder will wait until the kitten is at least 14-16 weeks old, before handing them over to their forever home. The buyer is required to have their kitten fixed before they are 8 months old.
Below are their contact details:
Email: starstuddedcoons@yahoo.com Website: star-studdedcoons.com
Cost To Buy
The cost to buy a Maine Coon cat can vary from anywhere between $450 to over $2500.
A show quality cat with a champion bloodline will be on the upper range of the price scale while a purebred Maine Coon that might not be show quality will be less (but still pretty expensive).
If you are purchasing Maine Coons for breeding, that often adds several thousand dollars to the cost because most catteries have a sort of ‘copyright’ on their cats that you are not allowed to break.
Sellers usually stipulate in their contract that purchasers must get their kitten fixed at a certain time. Others have their Maine Coon kittens fixed before they are ever sold to the new owners.
Maine Coon Rescue
The key benefit to adopting a cat from a Maine Coon Rescue center is that not only will you enjoy the benefit of a lower purchase price, but you are also giving a foster pet a home.
Maine Coon Rescues appear to be scarce in Colorado though, but you can still search for your new pet at Maine Coon Rescue.
Most Maine Coon rescue center cats are mixed-breed Maine Coons, but they still tend to have the breeds:
- Long Hair
- Large Size
- Friendly Features
Free Maine Coon Kittens
While it sounds too good to be true, it is possible to find free Maine Coon kittens for free. However, the process can take a long time, so you’ll need patience.
For more information, check out our article “10 Places To Find Free Maine Coon Kittens“. We have more information there.