Where Can I Adopt A Maine Coon Cat?
Maine Coons are a gentle-natured cat breed that became famous for being the biggest non-hybrid domesticated cat breed in the world.
Don’t let their huge size scare you though, as these regal-looking felines are exceptionally loving and friendly.
Adopting A Maine Coon Cat
Maine Coon cats can be adopted from a variety of places, including cat shelters, Maine Coon rescue centers, registered breeders, and online social media e.g. Maine Coon Facebook groups. Adopting is a far cheaper option than buying a Maine Coon, though it is likely the adopted cat will be a Maine Coon mix, rather than a purebred.
With the average price tag of a pedigree Maine Coon kitten sitting at an eye-watering $1,000, it’s not surprising that demand for adopted Maine Coons is high.
Below are five places you can adopt a Maine Coon cat:
To give you better clarity over the pros and cons of each, read on to discover the potential pitfalls you need to watch out for when learning where to adopt a Maine Coon kitten.
1. Cat Shelters
Approximately 3.2 million cats end up in U.S. animal shelters each year, of which a staggering 530,000 are euthanized (source 1).
Adoption gives a cat a second chance at a happy, loving life. It also helps eradicate backyard breeders who make a living by breeding Maine Coon kittens in dire living conditions, with little care for the welfare of the cat.
Cat adoption fees in the USA range between $15 – $200 for cats aged between 1-7 years old. Kittens between 2 and 11 months old will cost more but are still a bargain at $100 and $200.
Downsides of adopting
- Unlikely to find a purebred Maine Coon in a cat shelter.
- Many people are on the lookout for a “cheap” Maine Coons, so competition is rife.
- No pedigree paperwork, nor proof of lineage.
- No cat medical history records.
- Most likely a Maine Coon mix
- Shelter staff unable to identify Maine Coon cats
Staff in cat shelters are often not trained to identify particular cat breeds, so may not realize they are housing a Maine Coon cat! Therefore, explain upfront what you are looking for (breed traits, etc).
If the staff spot a cat of the description provided, they are likely to contact you to arrange an adoption.
You should also make regular visits to your local cat shelters to see for yourself what cats are currently available.
2. Maine Coon Rescue Centers
Maine Coon rescue centers are a great place to find both Maine Coon mixes and purebred Maine Coon cats that need a new forever home. These organizations are few and far between though, so you might have to travel some distance to adopt.
Your nearest Maine Coon rescue centers are as follows.
You can adopt a Maine Coon for between $400 and $700 from a Maine Coon rescue center. Whilst this is pricier than a cat shelter, remember that you may have to wait years for a Maine Coon to appear at your local cat shelter.
By comparison, Maine Coon rescue centers only deal with cats with a Maine Coon lineage. The volume of Maine Coon cats cared for by Maine Coon rescue centers is relatively low though so you will still have to wait for a suitable cat.
Additional benefits of using a Maine Coon Rescue Center
- The cat will be microchipped
- Maine Coon will be dewormed
- Veterinary costs up until adoption are covered
- Maine Coons are spayed/neutered
- Vaccinated
Another benefit of adopting from a Maine Coon rescue center is that the cat is likely older so their Maine Coon personality is far easier to see. This enables potential owners to select a cat that suits their lifestyle.
3. Registered Maine Coon Breeders
Registered Maine Coon cat breeders are associated with selling expensive purebred Maine Coon kittens, but should not be discounted when trying to adopt a Maine Coon.
Registered Maine Coon breeders will sell their older retired pedigree breeding cats to loving homes, from time to time, at a substantially reduced price. Why not ask your local Maine Coon breeder if they are selling any of their older Maine Coons.
If none are available, ask to be put on a waiting list for when they do place their older Maine Coons up for adoption.
The price of a retired pedigree breeding Maine Coon tends to vary, depending upon which breeder you speak to.
These older cats will have:
- Proven pedigree genetics
- Been fed a high-quality diet
- Had regular vaccinations
- Screened for common Maine Coon health disorders, like these
4. Online Facebook Groups
The rise of social media has resulted in a deluge of Facebook groups all dedicated to the Maine Coon cat breed.
Whilst many participants post pictures of their much loved Maine Coons, you will also find groups where owners and breeders are happy to share their love and knowledge of this pedigree cat breed.
Many breeders have also set up online Facebook pages to advertise their available kittens or sell their older retired breeding cats.
As with everything online you need to be extremely vigilant since backyard breeders and criminals lurk within these online groups and may try to trick unsuspecting buyers by listing adverts labeled ‘Maine Coon Free To Good Home‘.
Be careful trusting advertisements such as these since cats of this breed are very expensive, and owners rarely give away their much-loved Maine Coon kitten or cat for free.
The scam in this particular situation occurs when the purchaser goes to collect the ‘free Maine Coon cat’. The seller unscrupulously pulls on the heartstrings of the purchasers, telling them the kitten is no longer available.
Then, as if by magic they have an ‘alternative cat’ you could adopt, but for a small fee.
5. Backyard Breeders
This is NOT a recommended route to adopting a Maine Coon kitten or cat. I must list it though since you will likely have encountered it online, without even knowing!
With the average Maine Coon kitten costing $1,000 it is no surprise that unscrupulous individuals have jumped on the bandwagon to make a quick buck out of the unsuspecting purchasers.
These breeders have no care for their breeding cats and often raise their kittens in poor living conditions. Their simple goal is to breed as often, and as many kittens as feasibly possible to maximize the amount of money they can earn.
Criminals prey on the hearts of unsuspecting buyers, advertising their kittens or cats as needing loving homes to move into urgently, due to no fault of the current owner i.e:
- Owner died
- House Move
- Cat not settling into a multi-cat household
They will often lure purchasers in by listing their kittens at substantially reduced ‘bargain’ prices which tends to get a lot of attention from individuals looking to adopt a ‘cheap’ Maine Coon kitten or cat.
It can be difficult to spot a backyard breeder, so make sure you ask these questions.
