Frequently Asked Questions

SCHEDULE VET APPOINTMENT: You are going to want to schedule a vet appointment for your kitten/cat health check that you are required to have done within 72 hours of the kitten going home.

INTRODUCING YOUR CAT/KITTEN TO ANOTHER CAT: https://icatcare.org/advice/introducing-an-adult-cat-to-your-cat/ 

FEEDING: We currently feed a high-quality food. Royal Canin is our preferred brand/manufacturer. We use Royal Canin Mother & Babycat canned ultra-soft mousse in sauce for our kittens with Mother & Babycat dry available for free feeding as much as they desire. We add Instinct raw Kitten MEALS freeze-dried pellets twice daily as a treat starting at six weeks of age. Once kittens are approaching 16 weeks of age, we start introducing Royal Canin Kitten dry mixed with the Mother & Babycat dry at a 1:4 ratio increasing the kitten dry SLOWLY by 25% over a couple of weeks if no digestive issues arise. Maine Coons take much longer to mature thus we recommend keeping your kitten/cat on kitten food until they are at least 18 months old unless contraindicated by your veterinarian. *All OUR KITTENS/CATS ARE ON NUVET VITAMINS! We offer discounts and promos on Royal Canin food and NuVet vitamins. An email will be sent to you regarding the promos.

LITTER/LITTER BOXES: We use the IKITCHEN Stainless Steel Cat Litter Boxes and pine pellets for litter. IKITCHEN Stainless Steel litter box 23.5×15.5×4 (Kitten) and IKITCHEN stainless steel litter box 23.5×15.5×6 (Adult) We recommend you go to your local feed store where you can buy a 40# bag of pine pellets for $7 versus a pet store bag of pine pellets that can cost $20 for a 15# bag. If you do not want to use pine pellets, I recommend starting with one side of the litter box with pellets and the other half with your litter of choice. Remember these kittens/cats have only used pine pellets so be patient during the transition. Fragrances are detrimental.  

GROOMING: It’s very important to prioritize a grooming routine with your Maine Coon kitten or cat. Depending on the fur texture and type, some may need just a weekly combing while others may need to be brushed daily. Our new, and absolute favorite comb for daily grooming is Detangling Pet Comb for Dogs & Cats with Long & Short Stainless Steel Metal Teeth and it’s used for removing tangles, knots, and routine grooming. For the occasional bath, we use Nature’s Specialties Plum Silky Shampoo and waterless shampoo, as well as Chubbs Bars or when blow drying, we use The Original Happy Hoodie for Dogs & Cats. If your cat is prone to a greasy coat, pre-washing with Groomer’s Goop or a bit of Dawn dish soap before bathing will help.

NUVET FELINE POWDER SUPPLIMENT: It is required that each person buy a jar of NuVet directly from the company www.NuVet.com  or call them 1-800-474-7044 Order Code 491534.

We recommend that you sign up for automatic renewal so that you never run out. Your kitten was raised on this, and it is very important to keep their immune system boosted especially during transition, stress, being a kitten, and being an adult.

HEALTH INSURANCE: We recommend that you invest in pet insurance for your kitten. Your kitten will go home with free 30-day pet insurance through Trupanion. *The insurance will need to be activated by you 24 hours prior to or on the day of pick up. It is much more affordable to purchase insurance when they are young versus adult, as well as it being less likely there would be any conditions deemed to be “pre-existing” (which would NOT be covered under a policy) Veterinary costs add up very quickly and will NOT be paid by the breeder once kitten leaves the cattery for ANY reason. Costs of treatment for a “simple” upper respiratory infection can easily total $300-$600. Surgery for a femoral head fracture $2500-$5000. Health insurance $30-$75 per month, $400-$900 per year. The savings alone “IF” you had to seek vet care could be HUGE as well as a cushion on your bank account!

ESN (EARLY SPAY/NEUTER): There is NOT enough concrete evidence indicating that it is detrimental to the health of the kitten, OR that it is beneficial to the kitten’s health to postpone spaying/neutering until 6-9 months old (the recommended age, which for a Maine Coon is still considered ESN due to their slow maturity). What has been learned is that the growth plate of the Femoral Head closes between 9-12 months in an intact cat versus 12-18 months in an altered cat. There have been a very small percentage of femoral head growth plate fractures reported later in life, that can be attributed to ESN. The likelihood of this happening can be greatly decreased if the cat is kept at a healthy weight (NOT allowed to become overweight). Added weight puts strain on the cat’s joints. Growth plate fractures, when they do happen, are often the result of a traumatic injury, such as jumping/falling from a great height.  The BUYER is advised to monitor the kitten/cat’s activities to minimize the risk of this kind of injury. BUYER is aware that NO kitten/cat leaves HolyCoonz cattery without being spayed/neutered so if this is something you feel strongly against HolyCoonz cattery is NOT the cattery for you. HolyCoonz feels the risks of NOT doing ESN outweigh the risks of a possible femoral head fracture. Buyer understands that HolyCoonz/Terri Brock WILL NOT be responsible for ANY veterinary costs incurred by the buyer, should the kitten/cat endure a fracture of the femoral growth plate later in life, EVEN if it is deemed to be the result of ESN.

Spaying and Neutering | Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine

WHAT ARE THE BEST TYPES OF TOYS, TREATS, TUNNELS, CAT TREES, CARRIERS, AND BEDS FOR MY KITTEN/CAT? Our kittens/cats really enjoy some of the following:

• Cat Tree King
• FEANDREA Cat Tree 33 inch
• PAWZ Road Cat Tree 35 inch Wooden Cat Tower
• PAWZ Road Large Cat Tree 46 inches
• Pawz Road Large Cat Tree 51 inches
• SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post
• MAU Pets Modern Cat Tree 46 inches
• Henkelion Collapsible Large Dog Cat Carrier
• SturdiBag Pet Carrier Large
• IKITCHEN Stainless Steel litter box 23.5×15.5×4 (Kitten)
• IKITCHEN stainless steel litter box 23.5×15.5×6 (Adult)
• Cozy Cat Cave Bed
• Love’s Cabin 24in Cat Bed
• Luckitty Cat Tunnel Bed Tube
• Cat Toy Variety Pack with Pop-up Cube Tent
• Luckitty Geometric Straight Cat Tunnel
• Plastic Springs
• Crinkle Balls
• Sparkle Balls
• Soft Kitten Pompon Balls
• Catnip Soft Pillow Tubes
• Retractable Wand Toy with 9pc Feather Refill
• Cat Wand Feather Stick
• Smartcat Ultimate Scratching Post
• Corrugated Cardboard Cat Scratcher
• Catstages Tower of Tracks
• CatIt Senses 2.0 Super Circuit

***NOTE: Toys with feathers, stuffing, or strings etc. should only be given for play under watchful supervision ONLY!!!

Yes, registered with both The International Cat Association (TICA) and The Cat Fanciers Association (CFA).

TICA Voluntary Code of Ethics

Yes. We prefer that all kittens be picked up in person, from the cattery, on their scheduled pickup date but understand there are instances when this is not possible.

ALL delivery and transportation of our kittens is the financial responsibility of the new adoptive parents and will be discussed and paid in full prior to kitten leaving cattery. This is an additional fee added to the price of your kitten. We offer Pet Nanny Courier Service if needed. Transportation to local airports (within 2 hours) can be provided. Orlando International Fort Lauderdale International
and Palm Beach International Airports are currently the airports we can deliver to.

All kittens must be transported via Pet Nanny or by adoptive family IN CABIN on airplanes!

HolyCoonz is a small in-home Maine Coon Cattery that produces a small hand full of adorable kittens each year. Please See the Kittens for sale Page for the most up to date Information

Absolutely! All HolyCoonz breeding cats have been DNA tested and are NEGATIVE (Not at risk) for HCM, SMA, and over four dozen other different gene mutations commonly found in feline breeds, including PKD, and PKDef. Results of this health screening, in addition to OFA Advanced Cardiac and Hip screening results, can be viewed for each of our breeding cats by clicking the corresponding links found under each of our King’s and Queen’s profile pages.

According to an article published by CBS News in 2017, “Meet the most expensive cat breeds in America”: In the United States, prices for a Maine Coon cat can range anywhere between $1500-$4000, with a total yearly maintenance cost of approximately $980 (including food, a few toys, and excluding grooming services).

COVID has increased the costs of everything from food, grooming, vetting, importing, etc. You should expect kitten prices to cost more now than in 2017. I have seen Maine Coon kittens sold for less and for a significantly higher amount. BEWARE of catteries claiming pedigree kittens are available below the national average price range! Most times these listings are scams.

Just because a kitten or cat costs more does NOT automatically guarantee they come from breeding pairs who’ve undergone proper health screening prior to producing a litter!

Regardless of the price, DO NOT SETTLE for a breeder who only performs DNA testing!

Before deciding on purchasing any kitten be sure to do your research. Learn what to look for in a reputable breeder, ask questions and take your time. Remember this is a lifelong commitment for you and your new furbaby.

All our kittens are born in our home and are treated as part of the family. They do have their own kitten nursery where they will live with their mother until it is time to go to their forever homes.

As part of our family, our kittens receive the highest quality care possible. We follow a strict breeding program/schedule to produce healthy, outgoing kittens that conform to the breed standard.

We consider all kittens equal. All our kittens are $3450 and are sold as PET/SHOW ONLY. No additional pricing will be added or subtracted based on gender, color/pattern or whether polydactyl or standard.

We do allow an occasional kitten to be adopted with restrictive breeding rights. We will only allow our kittens to be used for breeding purposes by an experienced and reputable breeder that we have an established relationship with.

No one can guarantee that your kitten will never have a medical problem. A responsible breeder is committed to following a breeding program that uses specific practices that are evidence-based, which will increase your chances of adopting a healthy, happy, well-adjusted kitten.

HolyCoonz is a registered cattery that follows a strictly ethical, evidence-based breeding program. We use selective breeding practices that include genetic and DNA health screening as well as OFA echocardiogram and Hip dysplasia testing.

A reputable cat breeder will be:

• Registered with a cat association
• Parents of the kittens are certified
• Willing to let you visit the cattery and meet the parents and kittens.
• Ask you a lot of questions
• Answer and encourage questions
• Screen their cats for inherited diseases including cardiac echo and hip dysplasia. DNA testing is NOT enough
• Guarantee the health of their kittens
• Follow strict ethical breeding practices
• Make sure their kittens are spayed/neutered

We are acutely aware of the pet overpopulation problem and vast numbers of unwanted cats and kittens. With this said we at HolyCoonz breed for quality rather than quantity and support our local shelters.

This is a question that is strictly personal and in no way meant to offend non purebred animal lovers and owners. There are gorgeous loving healthy non purebred kittens and cats. All animals deserve a warm, safe, loving, nurturing home.

Health, size and body type, coat length, personality and other traits are unknown until the kitten matures. Even their color can change in some cases. Purebred kittens on the other hand develop into cats with highly predictable traits based on their parents and pedigree. Through selective breeding programs you can have a much clearer picture of what your kitten’s health, look, and temperament will be like once they mature. Buying a purebred can help take a lot of the guess work out.

So, in short PREDICTABILITY is the main reason people opt for a purebred kitten or cat.

We currently feed a high-quality food. Royal Canin is our preferred brand/manufacturer. We use Royal Canin Mother & Babycat canned ultra-soft mousse in sauce for our kittens with Mother & Babycat dry available for free feeding as much as they desire. We add Instinct raw MEALS freeze-dried kitten twice daily as a treat starting at six weeks of age. Once kittens are approaching 16 weeks of age we start introducing Royal Canin kitten dry mixed with the Mother & Babycat dry at a 1:4 ratio increasing the kitten dry SLOWLY by 25% over a couple of weeks if no digestive issues arise. Maine Coons take much longer to mature thus we recommend keeping your kitten/cat on kitten food until they are at least 18 months old unless contraindicated by your veterinarian. *All OUR KITTENS/CATS ARE ON NUVET VITAMINS! We offer discounts and promos on Royal Canin food and NuVet vitamins.

YES! All kittens will be spayed or neutered prior to their scheduled pick up date.

Spay/Neuter guidelines as per the Cat Fancier Association (CFA):

The existence of homeless/unwanted cats is one of the major problems involving companion animals in the United States. The Cat Fanciers’ Association, Inc. (CFA), has reaffirmed its commitment to reducing the number of cats euthanized in this country. Breeders of pedigreed cats have encouraged the neutering and spaying of pet cats for many years as part of responsible animal care.

Surgical altering is currently the only foolproof and permanent method of birth control for cats. A spay is the surgical removal of the uterus and ovaries of a female animal. A female cat’s risk of getting mammary cancer is reduced when she is spayed before her first heat cycle, which can occur as young as 4 to 5 months. Neutering is the surgical removal of the testicles of a male animal. Neutering a male kitten before 5 months generally prevents the development of mating behavior such as spraying urine to mark territory.

We also consider it the responsibility of conscientious breeders of pedigreed cats to take all appropriate steps to ensure that animals placed by them, not specifically intended to be used in a recognized breeding program, be altered before any opportunity to mate. Pet stores, rescue groups and any others who place cats should also ensure similar sterilization compliance.

Pedigreed cat breeders have used sterilization contracts and follow up for over 30 years, with a high rate of success.

HolyCoonz currently accepts Cashier’s check, Venmo, Zelle, and Cash. Cash will only be accepted at the time of pick up.

Each kitten is evaluated prior to leaving the HolyCoonz nursery to determine proper health and socialization before being turned over to its new adoptive parents. This timeframe may vary from kitten to kitten, but the approximate age of departure will be between 12-16 weeks of age. Don’t worry there is still a lot of cute kitten play left to experience. Maine Coon kittens are slow to mature. They don’t achieve their full growth expectancy until 4-5 years of age!

Both TICA and CFA ethics state a breeder should keep their kittens till at least 12 weeks of age. This ensures the kitten will be emotionally and physically ready for its new home. Allowing a kitten to leave younger than 12 weeks can compromise its emotional well-being and immune system for its entire life.

All our fur family members are seen by a licensed veterinarian at an AAHA-accredited, full service veterinary hospital.

With each wellness visit, kittens will receive a physical exam, age-appropriate vaccines, fecal test, and preventative dewormer (as needed).

Before leaving the cattery, each kitten will be fully vaccinated (age appropriate), microchipped, and spay or neutered. They will also be FIV/FeLV and heart worm tested.

Because we always want to keep the best interest of the kitten in mind, if there is a reaction to a vaccination, a kitten becomes unwell, or complications with the spay/neuter surgery, the scheduled pick up date may be adjusted accordingly.

No.  Not at this time

For the health and safety of our family, cats, and kittens HolyCoonz is a CLOSED CATTERY. This means we do not offer or accept stud services and we only allow in-home cattery visits for approved applicants and by appointment only.

For those approved applicants who are not local to us and are interested, we are more than happy to schedule a time in advance for a video call for virtual visits.

Once a kitten is reserved, we’ll also be sure to provide photo and video updates so that you don’t miss out on seeing your kitten mature and grow.

Y

1.How long have you been breeding cats?

Breeding animals isn’t as straightforward as it may seem. Finding a breeder that has years of experience in breeding gives you an idea of their knowledge base and what type of resource they may be to you if you take one of their kittens home. Finding an experienced breeder can give you peace of mind that this isn’t someone who jumped onto a popular breed bandwagon 6 months ago to make a quick buck. You may also ask the breeder if they have only bred this breed or if they breed or have bred other breeds of cats or other animals.

2.How many litters do you have at a time?

If the breeder has more than 1–2 litters at a single time, they may not be a good option for you. Responsible breeders limit the number of litters they have at a time, as well as the number of litters they breed annually. “Kitten mills” and irresponsible breeders will breed every female every chance they get.

3.How often do you breed your queens?

The number of litters isn’t the only important number. Finding out how frequently the breeder breeds each queen can give you an idea of the type of care the cats are receiving. If you’re talking to a breeder who has 8-week-old kittens and the queen is already pregnant again, that’s a red flag and it’s best to avoid that type of breeder. A responsible breeder that cares for their cats won’t breed them every single time they go into season.

4.How many times do you breed a queen before she retires?

An alternative to this question is, “at what age do you retire your queens?” Even cats with high-quality pedigrees or titled show wins aren’t going to be used as breeding factories. Most good breeders breed a queen a handful of times over a period of a few years and then retire her and get her spayed. A breeder who breeds a cat as much as possible through her entire usable breeding life is not looking out for the wellbeing of their cats.

5.How old are your queens when you breed them for the first time?

As often as we see stray cats having kittens as young as 6–8 months of age, this isn’t a healthy option, and a responsible breeder knows this. Most cats don’t reach full maturity until 2–5 years of age. A cat under 2 years hasn’t had time to fully prove herself, so the breeding is occurring either solely because of her pedigree or to get the most out of her usable breeding time.

6.Are there genetic disorders or birth defects commonly associated with this breed?

Knowing what types of disorders might commonly occur in the breed you’re interested in will help you have a base knowledge of if a breeder is giving you good information or not. Some cat breeds are prone to congenital disorders and deformities. The development of a congenital disorder or deformity doesn’t indicate a bad breeder on its own. Even the best breeders can have a sickly or malformed kitten.

7.What kind of health testing do you do?

Health testing is a set of specific tests performed by a veterinarian to rule out genetic disorders in the breeding pair. This is to remove carriers of disorders from the gene pool, decreasing the likelihood of a disorder continuing in a breed. The breeder and the breeder’s veterinarian should know the types of testing that should be performed for the breed. Many breeders use Embark testing, which is a useful tool for ruling out some problems, but Embark tests are not all-inclusive and cannot replace specialty diagnostics performed by a veterinarian. Use caution with a breeder who only uses this type of testing and bypasses veterinary testing.

8.How old are your kittens before they go to new homes?

Oftentimes, good breeders will keep kittens from 12–16 weeks before sending them to new homes. This allows plenty of time for proper socialization and weaning, as well as to monitor for the delayed onset of any health problems. Kittens can go to homes as early as 8 weeks if fully weaned, but many veterinarians recommend waiting until they are at least 10 weeks old. Keep in mind that there are some restrictions on air travel and interstate travel for animals, especially those under a certain age, so make sure to check the laws before purchasing a kitten in another state.

9.Are your kittens vaccinated and dewormed before going to their new homes?

Depending on the age of the kittens when they go to homes, they should have had anywhere from 1–3 sets of vaccines and deworming. A kitten that is over 12 weeks of age that has not received any vaccinations is concerning and may indicate a lack of medical care.

10.Do your kittens see a veterinarian before going to new homes?

Follow up the vaccination and deworming question with this question. Many people purchase dewormers and vaccines from farm supply stores and administer the vaccines on their own. The only vaccine that this cannot be done within most areas is the rabies vaccine, which is typically administered no earlier than 6 months of age. If the breeder is doing the vaccinations and deworming on their own at home but not having a vet check the kittens over at any point, that’s a big red flag.

11.Have you had any medical issues come up with this litter?

Finding out if any problems have arisen with the kitten you’ve picked or their littermates will give you an idea of the overall health potential of the kitten. If kittens in the litter have congenital defects or birth defects, this can be concerning. If they have experienced multiple deaths in the litter, bouts of infectious disease, or significant parasite issues, then proceed with caution.

12.What type of health guarantee do you provide?

Most breeders will provide some type of health guarantee. Even bad breeders often provide this to cover themselves. Health guarantees cover the overall health of the kitten, usually for a few days after taking them home, and they cover specific types of problems over a specified period of time. So, if you take your kitten home and it dies or becomes gravely ill that night, you should be covered under the health guarantee. If your vet detects a heart arrhythmia when your kitten is a year old, you may or may not be covered. Make sure to understand the breeder’s and the purchaser’s responsibilities with these guarantees.

13.Do you offer refunds or replacements?

There are several reasons you may need a refund or replacement for a kitten. Whether the kitten died, or you have ended up in a position where you can no longer provide for the kitten, the breeder should be able to tell you if they can or can’t provide a refund or replacement.

14.What does your breeder’s contract include?

The breeder should be able to tell you what both of you are contractually obligated to do. Many good breeders have anti-declaw clauses that void health guarantees if a declaw is performed on the cat. These contracts also typically include spay/neuter requirements, or the specifics of the arrangement if you are purchasing a kitten with breeding rights.

15.Do your breeding cats have pedigrees/notable bloodlines?

You may not know what the notable bloodlines for your breed are, and most people won’t expect you to. However, if the breeder can provide you with some information or documentation on the bloodlines of their cats, this can indicate they have genetic diversity in their breeding program and that they have a focus on carrying on the breed standard.

16.Do your breeding cats have titles of their own or in their pedigree?

Cats that have show titling are often great candidates for breeding programs. Breeding a cat simply because you like that particular cat isn’t a responsible way to breed. Breeding should be done to breed standard, and titled parents indicate that a breed standard breeding has occurred.

17.Is your cattery registered with any cat clubs?

There are multiple breed clubs, national cat clubs, and international cat clubs. Familiarizing yourself with these, like the Cat Fanciers’ Association and the International Cat Association, will help you know if the registration is legitimate. Pretty much anyone can set up a breed or cat club, so making sure the club your breeder is registered with is a recognized governing body of standards will help give you an idea of if they’re breeding responsibly or not.

18.Do you sell kittens to or through pet shops or marketplace sites?

If the answer to this question is yes, it’s a huge red flag. Responsible breeders care where their kittens go, and they want to vet homes. Selling to pet shops indicates the breeder is attempting to make a profit, not look out for the wellbeing of the cats and the standard of the breed. If the breeder is selling cats through local marketplaces to anyone who wants a cat, be very cautious. If they are vetting buyers, this may just be a marketing technique. However, it’s often a questionable way to handle things.

19.Are the mother and father of the litter onsite at your cattery?

This is another question that helps root out breeders who are in it for the money. Many breeders own or co-own both parents, allowing them to give you plenty of information on the parents. Sometimes, breeders will breed out into another breeding program, and this isn’t always a red flag. If neither parent is onsite, this is a concern.

20.Is it possible to tour your cattery?

21.Can you provide pictures of the litter’s queen and the whelping area?

If the breeder turns you down for a visit to the cattery, ask for pictures. Seeing the environment that the queen and kittens are being kept in can give you a great idea of the overall environment of the home or breeding facility. Keep an eye out for pictures that look staged or are taken or cropped at unusual angles. This can also give you a chance to see if the queen appears happy and well-fed or stressed and sickly.

22.Are the kittens socialized with people or other animals?

Many catteries raise kittens “underfoot” in their own homes. This is a wonderful opportunity for kittens to develop social skills with humans and other animals. Many breeders have other pets, so your kitten may have experience with other cats or dogs before it comes home with you. A kitten that is under-socialized or that has lived its life in a cage will likely be unhealthy and difficult to manage.

23.What type of food do you feed your kittens?

Now that the hardest questions are out of the way, here’s an easy one. It’s important to your kitten’s transition into your home that you keep the food the same. Some breeders will provide a sample, bag, or cans of food when you take your kitten home. Others will have specifics in the contract about what you should feed the kitten per the health guarantee. At the very least, you need to know what food the kittens have been receiving so you can be prepared at home to make the transition as easy as possible on your new family member.

24.How long have the kittens been weaned?

Your kitten should have been weaned and eating softened solid or hard solid food for at least a couple of weeks when you take it home, which is another reason that many breeders wait until kittens are 12 weeks or older to send them to homes. If you take home a kitten that is 8 weeks old, it may have just been weaned, or may not be fully weaned, which can be stressful for both of you.

25.What type of cat litter do your kittens use?

Cats can be very picky about litter, so if the kittens are used to a specific litter, then it’s a good idea to keep with that litter, at least during the adjustment period. If your kitten is used to shredded paper litter, and you take it home to clay litter, your kitten may rebel and refuse to use the litter box properly.

Conclusion

It’s important to have answers to most of these questions before you fully decide to purchase from a specific breeder. It’s also important to be able to pick out red flags. Many people who discover they are dealing with a hoarder or kitten mill will go ahead and purchase the kitten, either because they are already attached, or they feel bad about leaving the kitten in that environment. Unfortunately, this is the type of thing that bad breeders bank on. They don’t care why you bought the kitten; they just care that they got money for it. This feeds the cycle of bad breeding and only hurts more cats and kittens.

Yes. HolyCoonz has partnered with Trupanion to provide 30 days of coverage with no obligation (be sure to visit Trupanion website for more details – some restrictions may apply).

If you’re looking for a furry new family member online, chances are good that you’ll find a scam. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) estimates that 80 percent of sponsored search links for pet sales may be fraudulent, advertising animals the supposed sellers don’t own.

Pet scams hook consumers with adorable photos and heart-tugging tales of critters in need of forever homes. Sometimes the crooks impersonate breeders, creating slick websites that offer popular breeds at steep discounts. Or they post ads on social media or online marketplaces like Craigslist, posing as pet owners forced by personal or financial circumstances to put a beloved pet up for “free” adoption to a loving family willing to cover shipping costs.

If you respond, they’ll ask due-diligence-type questions about your home situation and experience with pets, but the only query they really care about is whether you’ll wire a payment. They’ll direct you to a website for a transport company (also bogus) so you can track your nonexistent pet’s progress, which will invariably be delayed by contrivances requiring more money, such as insurance or a special travel container.

The swindlers are betting that your emotional investment in the anticipated pet will keep the payments coming, into the hundreds or even thousands of dollars. If you become suspicious, they may resort to threats, claiming the animal will die or you’ll be charged with animal abandonment (a real crime but one that does not apply in situations like this). Don’t get caught in their trap!

The asking price is far below the normal rate for a popular breed (pedigree Maine Coons average between $1500-4500 USD for pet, and upwards of $6000-8000 USD with the right to breed).

The person offering the animal insists on shipping and rebuffs offers to collect the pet in person.

Emails from the seller or the shipping company have poor spelling and grammar.

The seller requires payment by money transfer that does not have a dispute option (such as Western Union or MoneyGram), gift card or prepaid debit card.

The shipment is continually held up by demands that you wire more money for, say, insurance, pet food, veterinary care, or a special crate.

All our HolyCoonz Maine Coon breeding cats are descendants of carefully selected Eastern Europe Maine Coon bloodlines and have very high standard pedigrees. Our kittens are raised in our home, so they receive plenty of attention, affection, stimulation, and socialization. They are kittens that are suited for multiple pet households, children, and used to the everyday bustle of life.

The Federal Trade Commission (online https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#crnt or by calling 877-382-4357)

The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx

If the scam occurred online:

The BBB Scam Tracker https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker

PetScams an online watchdog that catalogs and reports on pet-related fraud  https://petscams.com/report-pet-scam-websites/

You can also check sellers’ emails and websites against lists of suspected scammers maintained by PetScams and the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (https://www.ipata.org/pet-scams), a trade group for companies that ship animals.

AVAILABLE: Adoption applications are being accepted for this kitten.

HOLD: Kitten is on hold for someone – It is unlikely the kitten will become available again.

RESERVED: Contract signed, reservation fee paid – It is unlikely the kitten will become available again.

SOLD: Contract signed, paid in full – Kitten is now spoken for.

EVALUATION: Under breeder observation – Kitten is NOT available at this time.

STAYS: Kitten will stay in the cattery for future showing and/or breeding work.

Be skeptical of deep discounts.

Do a reverse-image search for pictures of a specific animal you are considering buying or adopting.  Copy and paste text from a sales site or ad into a search engine. If you find matching images or text on multiple sites, you’re probably dealing with a scammer.

Do search for the seller’s email and web address to see if the person has been the subject of complaints and check the seller’s name against watchdog lists of suspected scammers (links below).

Don’t be swayed by authentic-looking websites. Scammers swipe photos, videos and testimonials from legitimate pet sites and create detailed web pages for fake transport companies.

Don’t deal with an advertiser or seller who doesn’t provide a phone number or will communicate only by email or text.

Don’t deal with someone who won’t take payment by credit card, which offers you far greater protection in case of fraud or dispute.

Don’t believe threats that the animal will suffer, or you will face criminal charges if you don’t continue sending money.