PrairieBaby Maine Coon Cats
Interested in Working with Foundation Lines?
This page deals with questions and concerns I have been asked by other breeders over time.
Q: What are peoples' goals as foundation breeders?
We breed with foundation to broaden the effective population of the existing Maine Coon breed. The Maine Coon is still a hardy and strong breed of cats. However, like in most purebred species, the gene pool in our breed is relatively small, which has led to several immune system-related and genetic problems. We bring in carefully selected North American foundation cats to widen the gene pool and improve hybrid vigor. The aim is not to create mixed breed cats, but to introduce a little outcross blood into the Maine Coon breed.
Q: How does a foundation breeding program work? Do I need lots of cats?
It depends on what is intended. If a person simply wants to freshen up the gene pool in the breeding program, there aren't many cats needed at all. Since some foundation breeders keep the foundation content in their cats very high, a couple of Maine Coon foundation cats can go a long way for somebody who works with show lines and wants to keep things small. People who purchase a couple of foundation cats don't have to become foundation breeders :)). They can produce decent looking offspring if they breed an outcrossed cat to their show cats. It is a misconception that if people include foundation lines into their program they will have to greatly expands their Cattery. If a person intends to work mostly with outcross, yes there needs to be a Cattery expansion.
Q: I am willing to start out crossing but I am worried that I will lose the good type I have worked for so hard! Is this true?
Like most people, you might think that bringing in foundation will destroy the beautiful type of your cats. Let me encourage you with this: Don't look at the pictures of cats of foundation breeders who are mostly working with new lines. This is not the way your own kittens will look when you breed these cats to top show lines! The show cat will most likely win the majority of the battle over the foundation cat when it comes to type. Most of our Maine Coons are so inbred/line bred that they carry most of their "good type" genes homozygous and this means that these genes are strong enough to produce good-looking kittens, even when mated to an outcross.
Yes, breeding is hard work, but if you are discouraged in your breeding program at this point, I am sure with a few little changes you could find *joy in breeding* again. If you decide to hang in there, an outcross breeder would be willing to help you to put together a reasonable outcross program with just a little bit of fresh blood. This way you can maintain your good type.
Q: Are we creating a separate Breed?
Definitely not! We breed with foundation to broaden the effective population of the existing Maine Coon breed. The intention is not and has never been to create a separate breed. All new foundation lines should be integrated into the general gene pool at one point in time. The reasons why some foundation breeders keep a *small* percentage of their foundation cats separate for a while are:
1. Many breeders who inquire about foundation lines have only cats from common pedigrees. These breeders often cannot register an F2 or F3 in their country. They need cats from higher generations. By the time a full foundation cat reaches fourth generation (F4), its outcross value is still 100 % and most beneficial for their breeding program.
2. Developing new lines from scratch is a special challenge that some breeders find very rewarding.
3. Extra security. While some cats from a new line get integrated relatively quick, it is wise to keep a few cats of that same line separate for a while because of the HCM issue for example. *
Q: Do you do the same screening that you do on your pedigrees, or more? Less?
Yes we do. Like previously mentioned in another part of this article, it can take some time to get a line tested through for hearts, kidneys and joints, but eventually we intend to have all the lines tested. Most of us are less concerned about HCM in our foundation cats than in our regular Maine Coons, but it can happen of course..
Q: Would you remove a foundation cat from your breeding program for the same reasons that you would a registered cat, or would you be more or less tolerant of things?
No easy answers here I am afraid. Breeding and especially foundation breeding sometimes means we have to "work with undesirable traits". If we don't we will have nothing left to breed from. I don't let others judge me for I "should" or shouldn't do. Every situation is different. I try to use common sense and keep an open mind. I am personally more tolerant when it concerns type in my first generations or I could not do what I am doing. I would say No - we aren't more tolerant when it concerns health and temperament. When we select who is being kept for breeding, the same principles apply as in regular breeding. Some problems/traits can be worked with , other's can't or shouldn't. But......these are individual decisions and depend on the overall quality and value of the cat. A breeder who outcrosses on a consistent basis might be more willing to work with beauty faults or minor health problems, since the chances to breed away from them are much higher. Just for an example, gingivitis can be worked with if all your other cats have perfect gums and teeth.
There are no clean lines in our breed or any other breed. There are no clean lines in foundation cats. Please see the article on Inbreeding Tests in Foundation lines. Here is the link to an article on test breeding in new lines:
revised on May 04, 2003!
New pictures as of February 2004!
This is a private list for people working with foundation and part foundation. We are presently only accepting members who are actively working with newer foundation lines and who test for HCM and HD.
(This is a public list where people can post and view pictures of foundation/part foundation cats)