Maine Coon Kittens For Sale In Canada
Maine Coons are some of the biggest, fluffiest kitties you will ever find so it is no wonder people around the world are obsessed with this wonderful cat breed.
Here’s our guide for finding the best Maine Coon kittens for sale in Canada.
There are many options for sourcing a Maine Coon kitten in Canada. Not only can you purchase a kitten from several catteries such as Wildwater Maine Coons, SRmainecoons, Mythical Dream, Annapolis Valley Maine Coons, CoonAmor, or Newfie Lynx Maine Coon Cattery, but you can also rescue a Maine Coon or get a Maine Coon mix for less money.
If you want to purchase a Maine Coon of your own you need to be aware that some purchasing routes are definitely better than others.
Since there are so many places to purchase Maine Coon kittens, let’s start by looking at several factors you should consider before buying a Maine Coon cat.
Maine Coon Kittens For Sale In Canada
We all want to make sure our Maine Coon kittens live a long happy life, so here are eight vital tips and suggestions for you to follow when learning how to buy a Maine Coon kitten, successfully.
All these several factors should be kept in mind when buying or adopting a Maine Coon kitten in Canada:
1. Does The Kitten Have Papers?
Reputable breeders will often have their kittens registered with cat councils, such as:
- CFA
- TICA
These organizations not only set the standard for a certain cat breed but also ensure breeders are held to a certain ethical standard.
If the potential breeder has their cats registered with a cat council (such as those mentioned above), it is more likely that their Maine Coon kittens are bred and raised to be happy, healthy pets.
Unethical breeders do not have any standard they have to adhere to and will often breed as many kittens as possible, as quickly as they can, to make more money.
Whilst these kittens will typically be sold at a cheaper price than registered kittens, they are more likely to have socialization or health issues further down the line.
2. Are They Spayed Or Neutered?
Most of the time, when you purchase from a breeder, they will either have already fixed their kittens or have a requirement in the sales contract that the owner gets the kitten fixed themselves.
If you purchased a kitten with this spay/neuter clause, you will have to factor that additional cost into your budget.
This is the best age to neuter/spay a Maine Coon kitten.
If you want to keep your kitten intact whether to breed it down the line or have it compete in shows, you should talk to your breeder about this.
Many breeders only sell pet ‘quality’ kittens, and as such, will not allow their kittens to be bred or to compete in shows.
3. Is The Breeder Trustworthy?
While there is no way to 100% know if a breeder is trustworthy, there are a few clues you can look for when finding a breeder.
- Open Dialogue
An ethical breeder will typically have an open dialogue between themselves and the buyer.
After all, they want the best for their kittens so will be more than happy to answer any questions before or after the sale.
- Knowledgeable
If you have any questions about the care of your kitten, ask the breeder.
A good breeder is knowledgeable of their breed and is happy to talk about their kittens.
If they are unable to answer your questions, you should be a little suspicious.
- Interview
Some ethical breeders interview the purchaser (or ask them questions pre-sale) to gauge where the kitten is going.
For example, will the kitten live in a multiple pet home, and safe environment?
A reputable breeder will never just give a kitten over to the first person who pays the asking price.
If you go to purchase a Maine Coon kitten and the breeder does not ask you any questions about your home, they do not have their kittens’ best interests in mind.
- Selling Age
An ethical breeder will also not sell their Maine Coon kittens until they are at least 12-14 weeks old, and until they have had their shots.
If a breeder tries to get you to adopt a kitten earlier than that, ask if the breeder will hold the kitten for longer.
Should the breeder insist you take the kitten early, ask them why they are so insistent?
- Health Guarantee
Many ethical breeders offer a health guarantee against:
- Birth Defects
- Illnesses
- Infections
They will also perform genetic tests on the adult cats they are breeding to ensure they are not breeding illnesses or deformities into the breed.
Their goal as breeders is to improve the breed, not bring sick cats into the world.
If a breeder has not performed these tests, you should be wary of purchasing from them.
4. How Healthy Are the Kittens?
Jumping off of the previous point, when you first see your potential kitten, make sure you do a quick once over and search for any of the following:
- Body
Can you feel, but not see the kitten’s ribs? If so, that means the kitten is a healthy weight.
If its ribs are visible, that means they are being underfed by the breeder and likely have not been taken care of properly.
- Ears
Are the kitten’s ears clear and free of any excess wax?
A kitten’s ears should never be dirty, even if they have played outside.
- Eyes
Are the kitten’s eyes clear and free of any redness or discharge?
If the kitten seems reluctant to be in lighted areas, that can suggest issues with their eyes as well.
Click here to learn more about the Maine Coon eyes, what they look like, and potential health issues you might encounter.
- Nose
Is the kitten’s nose soft, a little damp, and free of discharge when you touch it?
Or, is it dry or crusting?
Does the kitten’s nose seem to be running, as if it has a cold?
- Skin/Coat
Are the kitten’s skin and coat free of sores and bald patches?
Is their coat shiny and thick?
Is there any dandruff or fleas?
- Nails
Are the kitten’s nails well-maintained? Or do they appear overgrown?
- Attitude
How does the kitten react when you approach it? Is it curious and excited to see you? Or does it run and hide or act aggressively?
These are signs of a sick or poorly socialized kitten (source 1).
If you come across kittens that appear to be sick or injured while you visit them, consider contacting animal control or another animal welfare organization near you.
5. Has The Kitten Received Any Flea Treatments?
Some breeders give their kittens a few months of flea treatment, whereas others opt to keep their kittens inside and free of fleas in the first place.
If you are worried about your potential kitten having fleas, ask the breeder if they have had issues with fleas in the past. A reputable breeder will be upfront and honest.
If the breeder starts dodging the question or claiming they have no idea, that is when you should be suspicious. This is because they are either not watching their kittens closely or they are being dishonest.
6. How Was The Kitten Socialized?
When you first meet your potential kitten, it should be playful and curious.
A poorly socialized kitten will be shy, scared, or even aggressive when it comes into contact with people or animals it doesn’t know.
But why does this matter?
Well, not only does it make the transition from the cattery to its forever home smoother, but it also leads to the cat being happier and more confident in the long run.
At the bare minimum, a kitten should be comfortable around new people. Many catteries will also make sure their kittens are comfortable around other pets or even dogs.
If you have any pets at home, make sure you find a breeder who has already gotten their kittens acclimated to them to make the transition easier.
You might be wondering if Maine Coon kittens are good with dogs if so read my article here
7. What Are The Breeding Facilities Like?
An ethical breeder will typically keep their kittens in an environment similar to the one they’ll have at their forever home. This means no cages.
Many breeders will keep the kittens in their own homes, opting to dedicate a space solely to the kittens. This allows them to better acclimate to strangers and other pets.
If you find that your potential breeder is keeping their cats in cages for extended periods, you should not purchase from them.
Kittens should be allowed to play and roam around while they are growing so they can become more social and coordinated.
Without this crucial playtime, the kittens are likely to become shy, and clumsy, and might not even develop the correct muscle or bone strength needed by the time they are eventually adopted.
This can lead to injuries that they otherwise would not have gotten.
By not purchasing from unethical breeders we can, hopefully, over time, limit the number of people taking advantage of animals by voting with our wallets (or by reporting breeding operations that aren’t treating their animals right).
8. Can You See The Kittens’ Parents?
Most breeders will have the parents of their litters on site. So, before you purchase a kitten you might want to have a look at the parents.
With a gestation period of around 68 days, it is technically possible for a female Maine Coon to have up to 3 or 4 litters a year. However, this is not healthy for the female Maine Coon cat.
A female cat that is not given enough time to recover between litters will be underweight at best and might even have a shortened lifespan due to the taxing nature of pregnancy.
So, take a look at the parents of the kittens, especially the mother. Does she seem healthy? Or is she already pregnant with another litter?
If this is the case you definitely should not purchase from the breeder because they are treating their cats like tools, not pets (source 1).
Where To Buy Maine Coon Cats In Canada
There are several different options when it comes to where to buy Maine Coon cats in Canada.
Some options are better than others so here is a quick breakdown:
Rescue / Animal Shelter
While it is not super common, there are times when a Maine Coon is put up for adoption at an animal shelter or rescue.
You are probably least likely to find purebred Maine Coon kittens for sale here, but it is a more ethical place to buy a Maine Coon kitten in Canada, rather than seeking out a backyard breeder.
Registered Breeder
This is your best bet if you are looking for a purebred Maine Coon.
Registered breeders will stick closely to the breed standard of their particular cat and will register each kitten with their cat council of choice.
Most catteries also offer health guarantees so if your kitten gets sick or (god forbid) passes away, you will get your money back or even a replacement kitten.
To help prevent the above situation, registered breeders do a genetic screening of all the cats they breed along with health checkups of all the kittens.
Typically, breeders will screen and look out for the following illnesses that the Maine Coon cat breed is prone to:
- Hip Dysplasia: Poor development of hip joints; leads to dislocation of the ball and socket joint. Learn more here.
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Thickening of the muscular walls of the heart; forces the heart to work harder. For more information, click here.
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy: Spinal cord and muscular deterioration; believed to shorten Maine Coon’s lifespan. Watch out for these symptoms.
- Polycystic Kidney Disease: Kitten is born with cysts on the kidneys; increases with age and can cause kidney failure. These are the warning signs.
But, with all these extra checks comes a hike in the price.
Purebred Maine Coon kittens will cost a lot more than one you adopt at a shelter or purchase through a backyard breeder.
But, what if you do not want to pay that expensive price? Is a backyard breeder that bad?
Backyard Breeder
Typically, yes. A backyard breeder is that bad.
The first question you should ask is why these breeders are selling their kittens cheaper in the first place.
With all of the tests, vaccines, and health screenings kittens have to get, it is incredibly expensive to prepare kittens for sale.
A backyard breeder is likely circumventing these expenses by just not taking their kittens to the vet in the first place!
Because of this, backyard-bred kittens will typically not be as healthy as their registered counterparts, oftentimes being more likely to develop the above genetic illnesses.
These types of ‘breeders’ also will not give a health guarantee for their kittens. So, if you get a sick kitten, you are sadly out of luck.
Purchasing from a backyard breeder is cheaper, at first.
However, do not forget that you will also have a far higher chance of paying expensive vet bills, or worse, having a kitten that ends up dying.
Considering the risks of buying these kittens contributing to unethical breeding practices, it is just not worth it to buy kittens from unregistered places (source 1).
How Much Are Maine Coon Kittens In Canada?
So how much are Maine Coon cats in Canada? … Well, that depends.
If you are looking for a Maine Coon to keep as a pet, you will have to pay at least 1000 dollars.
This price accounts for the medical and genetic tests mentioned above along with the kitten’s first few shots, and a rehoming fee.
If the kitten was already fixed by its breeder, this cost is factored into the price as well.
If you are looking for a show-quality cat or if you are looking to purchase breeding rights, the price will essentially double or triple.
This is due to any number of factors including whether or not the kitten has ‘rare’ traits such as a certain eye or coat color, or the titles of the kitten’s parents.
Breeding rights are not instantly included when you purchase your kitten. This is partly to prevent the backyard breeder situation mentioned previously.
If you want to start breeding Maine Coons, you will likely have to be mentored by veteran cat breeders before a registered breeder will even consider letting you buy breeding rights to their cats.
Registered Maine Coon Breeders In Canada
Important Notice: Maine Coon Central makes no representations or warranties with respect to the breeding or business practices of any of the companies listed within this article. Maine Coon Central strongly recommends that an individual’s transactions with breeders be undertaken with the same caution and due diligence, as would be devoted to any important business matter.
If you are looking for breeders in a specific area, click on one of the links below to jump to that location:
Ontario
If you are looking for Maine Coon kittens for sale in Ontario, here are some good choices:
Wildwater Maine Coons
Cattery Name: Wildwater Maine Coons Registration Body: CCA (Canadian Cat Association), TICA (The International Cat Association) Address: Bolton, Ontario Contact: Fill out the contact form on the website Website Address: wildwatermainecoons.com
Based in Ontario, CA, Wildwater Maine Coons live with their breeders in their house.
The kittens have been raised around the family dog and as such are used to big dogs.
The cattery has mostly tabby Maine Coons in both brown and red, along with the occasional tortoiseshell color.
You can view countless pictures of their past litters on their website.
SR Maine Coons
Cattery Name: SRmainecoons Registration Body: CFA (Cat Fanciers Association), TICA, CCA Address: Niagara, Ontario Email: Sabrina@srmainecoons.com Contact Name: Sabrina Website Address: www.srmainecoons.com/index.html
These are some of the most beautiful Maine Coons I have ever seen. I suppose this makes sense since the SRmainecoons cattery breeds cats that have won accolades up to Supreme Master Grand Champion for their cats!
This cattery has imported its sires and queens from all around the world, including Greece, Germany, England, Poland, and Ukraine.
All of their cats are tested for hypertrophy cardiomyopathy and are DNA tested as well.
They also have a YouTube channel where they upload videos of their kittens along with their show cats.
British Columbia
If you are looking for Maine Coon kittens for sale in British Columbia, here are some breeders:
Mythical Dream
Cattery Name: Mythical Dream Registration Body: TICA Address: Victoria, BC Contact: Fill out the contact form on the website Website Address: https://mythicaldream.ca/home
Mythical Dream is a cattery specializing in European Maine Coon cats.
Established in 2020, their kittens grow up in the same home as the owners and are handled daily from birth.
They have kittens in the coveted black smoke coloring along with polydactyl kittens (kittens with extra toes) available for sale.
Their sires and dames were imported from Russia and Ukraine.
Nova Scotia
If you are looking for Maine Coon kittens in Nova Scotia, here are some breeders:
Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia
Cattery Name: Annapolis Valley Maine Coons Address: Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia Email: lizzcochrane@hotmail.com Website Address: www.facebook.com/annapolisvalleymainecoons/
Operating on Facebook, Annapolis Valley Maine Coons are based in Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia. At the time of checking this breeder did not have a website.
This business appears to primarily breed the black and silver smoke color in their kittens along with the occasional silver tabby.
They announce through their Facebook page when they are taking adoption applications so follow their account to receive updates.
If you are looking for Maine Coon kittens for sale in Halifax, this would be a great option for a nearby breeder, too!
Vancouver
If you are looking for Maine Coon kittens in Vancouver, here are some breeders:
Coon Amor
Cattery Name: CoonAmor Address: Vancouver, CA Contact: Fill out the contact form on the website Website Address: https://coonamor.com
CoonAmor is a small cattery based in Vancouver, Canada.
Their cats have shown in Asia, North America, and Europe and they breed North American Maine Coons.
They mainly have brown and red tabbies, but occasionally have an all-black or a tortoiseshell kitten as well.
Newfoundland
If you are looking for Maine Coon kittens for sale in Newfoundland, here are some breeders:
Newfie Lynx Maine Coon Cattery
Cattery Name: Newfie Lynx Maine Coon Cattery Registration Body: TICA Address: Newfoundland, CA Contact: Contact through Facebook Website Address: https://www.facebook.com/people/Newfie-Lynx-Maine-Coon-Cattery/100063456425486/
Newfie Lynx is a cattery located in Newfoundland, CA.
They primarily have the black smoke color variety along with a black and white tuxedo coloring, brown tabby, and tortoiseshell coloring as well.
They primarily post on Facebook.
Smaller breeders may not have websites, so you might want to give them a call. Or even better, plan a visit to see what they can offer.
