Pricing Questions
People often ask why the price differences within a registered breed? Often times you've heard "You get what you pay for" In the case of all registered breeds Cats and Dogs, you what to do your homework and find a reputable breeder. You may find a Maine Coon kitten that is at the very low end of the price scale, however when your kitten does not grow into what you expect as an adult, or health issues arise... it can be risky for your pet, as well as costly in the long run.
Why do Champion Bloodlines matter? Dedicated breeders are those who spend a tremendous amount of time/money developing and improving the standards for which Maine Coons are intended. Finding breeders that are involved in showing their cats and working with the various clubs, they will be in the forefront of issues that effect their breed. These breeders are in communication with other breeders that have also worked hard and invested a great deal of resources to manage the health and well being of these cats. Yes your pedigrees will tell you a lot about the efforts put into years of dedication to a breed program.
Different Types of Breeders
It is important to know the differences between the different types of breeders, kitten/puppy mills, backyard breeders, and responsible-reputable breeders. All three types of cat/dog breeders can produce registered purebred kittens/puppies, but for a genetically sound pet of the highest quality, you should only buy from a responsible-reputable breeder.
Kitten/Puppy Mills
Kitten/Puppy Mills will create a litter for the sole purpose of making money. While these are typically thought of as large operations, the term kitten/puppy mill can apply to an individual as well. The kitten/puppy mill formula is simple, ...buy an registered male and an registered female, and start making kittens/puppies. Kitten/Puppy mills sell their kittens/puppies in pet stores, dog magazines, local newspapers, and have recently found their way on to the Internet. Also to give the impression of quality, kitten/puppy mills sometimes use the term, "champion blood lines" which may simply mean that one of the sixty four great, great, grandparents in the pedigree was a champion. Most kitten/puppy mills don't have the parents genetically tested. Kitten/Puppy mills produce registered pure bred kittens/puppies of poor quality in terms of temperament, ability, genetic soundness and physical conformation.
Back Yard Breeders
Like a kitten/puppy mill, in most cases a backyard breeder will produce registered pure bred kittens/puppies of poor quality. The difference between a kitten/puppy mill and a backyard breeder is that a backyard breeder is usually a nice person with good intentions. They create a litter of kittens/puppies because they think their pet is just wonderful, and that a litter of kittens/puppies would be so much fun for the kids! The backyard breeder will find an registered mate nearby and have a litter of kittens/puppies. Backyard breeders usually have no clue as to the standards for their breed. Some backyard breeders test for genetic diseases on the advice of their veterinarians, but most do not. Backyard breeders will sell the vast majority of their kittens/puppies by placing ads in the classified sections of local newspapers.
Responsible-Reputable Breeders
A responsible-reputable breeder creates a litter of kittens/puppies with a goal in mind TO IMPROVE THE BREED. More often than not, the responsible breeders will keep the "pick of the litter" to add to his breeding program, if he succeeds in what he intended to produce. A responsible breeder is familiar with the standard set by the CFA/AKC Clubs for their breed and adheres to breeding only cats/dogs that fit the standard. A responsible breeder does not breed cats/dogs with "severe faults". Responsible breeders study the breed with the intention to preserve the standards and work hard to eliminate genetic faults that would risk the animals health in any way. Testing for breed specific health risks is essential with any serious program breeder.