One of the main things both
breeders and fanciers alike are concerned about is the health of their cats and
kittens. Healthy and happy kittens come from healthy and happy cats, pretty
obvious, huh?
It is unfortunately not quite as simple as it sounds though. Most breeds of
pedigreed cats have their own specific health issues - it is the downside of
many generations of breeding for looks and personality as opposed to the natural
selection method where only the fittest animals of any species get a chance to
procreate.
The Maine Coon Cat is probably luckier than many breeds of cat in that it seems
to attract people who are very passionate about it! Reputable breeders have for
nearly a decade been testing their cats for hereditary problems. We don't say we
have all the problems entirely licked though, as hereditary disease can be quite
tricky in that it may only become apparent (even using the best available
screening methods) in an older cat who has already passed on the defective gene
to its offspring.
The issues we refer to are Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) and Hip Dysplasia
(HD). The first problem, HCM, is by far the worst as it can result in kittens
and young cats dying of cardiac arrest. What can we do to improve this
situation? Well, the only option available to reputable breeders is to screen
their breeding cats prior to breeding and at regular intervals throughout the
cats life and if a problem shows up, then remove that cat from the breeding
programme by neutering the cat. Other breeders who are using progeny of the
affected cats should be advised of the results of the testing so that they too
have the knowledge to improve their own breeding programmes. Only by
acknowledging the problem will there be any improvement in the health of our
beloved Maine Coon Cats. This site does not attempt to replicate or plagiarise
information which already exists on the world wide web about these problems, but
instead, we have provided links to sites that our members have found useful in
researching the health issues of the breed. We hope that potential kitten buyers
will follow these links and choose to learn a little bit about Maine Coon cats
and their specific health issues prior to choosing a kitten or cat.
The breeder members of the United Maine Coon Fanciers Australia are all
registered breeders in varying Cat Councils of Australia and also overseas. This
simply means that kittens produced by the breeders are the offspring of
registered Maine Coon cats which have been judged to meet the standard of the
breed. However the UMCFA is not a policing agency, we are simply a group of
people who love Maine Coon Cats. We cannot guarantee the health of a kitten you
may purchase from a breeder listed on this website, however we will give you
some advice about choosing a kitten or a breeder you feel comfortable in dealing
with.
***Ask questions, specifically on health and temperament. You don't have to be
satisfied with a blanket answer, if you are concerned, ask more questions!
***Visit the cattery from which you plan to choose a kitten. This is important
for a number of reasons, but most importantly it will assist you to build up a
rapport with the breeder - she/he will be an invaluable resource for you to
glean information from about the breed. It also gives you an opportunity to
check out the general health and conditions under which your kitten was raised.
Be aware that if a cat comes from a sickly cattery, then it will probably bring
sickness with it and pass that on to your other pets.
***A general health check at your vets on the way home can be invaluable too in
the event that you do end up with a sick kitten.
INTERESTING HEALTH RELATED LINKS
Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
The Official Feline Hip Dysplasia Awareness Site
Friends of Maine Coon Cats - Maine Coon Health Screening Database
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