Health & Transparency
Understanding Maine Coon health, from genetic screening to everyday veterinary care.
Health and transparency sit at the centre of responsible Maine Coon breeding. This page explains the conditions most relevant to the breed and how health information is shared for each of our cats and kittens.
Our health standard
The care we aim to complete before homecoming, provided as applicable to each kitten's individual records. Those records are shared with each family, and only documented items appear on a kitten's profile.
Please have your kitten examined by a licensed veterinarian within 72 hours of arrival. If veterinary offices are unavailable because of a documented closure or emergency, book the first available appointment and keep a record of it.
The exam establishes your kitten's condition shortly after arrival and is required to keep the health guarantee active. We recommend including a fecal (stool) test. To avoid over-vaccination during a stressful transition, please avoid further vaccinations in the first 10 days unless your veterinarian recommends them.
General breed education
An overview of conditions commonly discussed in responsible Maine Coon breeding. This is general information, not a test result: any result for a specific cat appears only on that cat's profile when it is documented.
HCM is a thickening of the heart muscle and the most common heart disease in cats. In Maine Coons, a gene variant (MYBPC3-A31P) has been associated with the condition and can be identified with a DNA test. Because HCM can also occur without this variant, echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) screening by a veterinary cardiologist is used to look for signs of the disease.
SMA is an inherited condition that affects the nerves controlling the muscles of the trunk and limbs, usually becoming noticeable in the first months of life. It is inherited recessively, and a DNA test can identify carriers so that affected kittens are not produced.
PKDef is an inherited condition affecting red blood cells, which can cause intermittent anemia. It is inherited recessively and can be identified with a DNA test.
Patellar luxation is a condition in which the kneecap slips out of its normal position. It can be graded from mild to severe (grades I to IV); higher grades may need surgical correction. Larger breeds can be predisposed, and a veterinarian can assess the knees during routine examinations.
Hip dysplasia is an abnormal development of the hip joint that can affect larger breeds such as the Maine Coon. Radiographs (X-rays) evaluated by specialists are used to screen breeding cats.
Everyday care
Each kitten's profile shows how they come home: altered before homecoming, intact under a pet agreement, or with alteration required by contract. The kitten's own record and your written agreement always apply.
Breeding rights are granted only by written agreement. Without one, every placement is a pet / companion placement.
Every kitten comes with a 12-month health guarantee against serious congenital or hereditary conditions that materially affect quality of life, diagnosed by a licensed veterinarian, subject to the terms of our Health Guarantee.
The information on this page is general educational guidance about the breed and is not a substitute for advice from your veterinarian.
Your next chapter
Tell us about your family and the kitten you are hoping for. We read every application personally.
