PrairieBaby: F.A.Q.

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=140 BGCOLOR="#9966CC" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="00300a20ezthtv.png"> <div> <B><IMG SRC="0077d7d0.gif" border=0 width="125" height="125" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#9966CC" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial Rounded MT Bold" ><A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby: HOME"><U><IMG SRC="00f96140.gif" border=0 width="150" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></FONT><A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby: The Maine Coon"><U><IMG SRC="01096140.gif" border=0 width="150" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby: Maine Origin Authentic"><U><IMG SRC="01196140.gif" border=0 width="150" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby: F.A.Q."><U><IMG SRC="01296140.gif" border=0 width="150" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby: Our Goals"><U><IMG SRC="01396140.gif" border=0 width="150" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby: Health Info"><U><IMG SRC="01496140.gif" border=0 width="150" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><A HREF="id7.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby: Our Family"><U><IMG SRC="01596140.gif" border=0 width="150" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><A HREF="id8.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby: Our Males"><U><IMG SRC="01696140.gif" border=0 width="150" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><A HREF="id9.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby: Our Females"><U><IMG SRC="01796140.gif" border=0 width="150" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><A HREF="id10.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby: Nursery News"><U><IMG SRC="01896140.gif" border=0 width="150" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><A HREF="id11.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby: Kittens for Sale"><U><IMG SRC="01996140.gif" border=0 width="150" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><A HREF="id14.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby: Previous Kittens"><U><IMG SRC="01a96140.gif" border=0 width="150" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><A HREF="id12.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby: Contract"><U><IMG SRC="01b96140.gif" border=0 width="150" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><A HREF="id13.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby Foundation Projects"><U><IMG SRC="01c96140.gif" border=0 width="150" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><A HREF="id16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PriairieBaby: Links"><U><IMG SRC="01d96140.gif" border=0 width="150" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><A HREF="http://guestbook.mycomputer.com/guest.html?u=prairiebaby&b=1" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://guestbook.mycomputer.com/guest.ht"><U><IMG SRC="01f96140.gif" border=0 width="150" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><IMG SRC="02096140.gif" border=0 width="150" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=340 BGCOLOR="#CC99FF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> PrairieBaby<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Comic Sans MS" > Maine Coon Cats</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Questions and Answers</div> <div> By: Judith Schulz</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <U>How is the Character of the Maine Coon Cat?</U></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="8515dc40.jpg" border=0 width="349" height="196" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Maine Coon cats are known for their gentle and easygoing temperament. They are generally very affectionate, smart and social. Males and females can be equally loving. Despite of the information in some books from the pet store we find our Maine Coons to be LAP CATS. The average Maine Coon gets along well with other pets, including dogs. Most of them are excellent with children. It should be no problem keeping two cats of the same gender  together, especially if they are spayed/neutered. </div> <bR> <div> <U>How big do Maine Coons get?</U></div> <bR> <div> Size and bodyshape varies, depending on the genetic bloodlines. Our breeding females range between 11and 14 pounds; the breeding males between 16 and 22 pounds. If a cat is whole (not spayed or neutered), it will most likely not reach it's full weight due to restlessness during mating season. Also, often the lack of coat due to hormonal changes will make it look smaller. A spayed/neutered pet will almost always look bigger and can be several pounds heavier. A neutered male can easily go up to 18 and even up to 25 pounds. Maine Coons that weigh 30 pounds are simply a myth, unless the cat is heavily overweight. Remember that breeders and fishermen have a lot in common when it comes to *size discription* :-) It should be mentioned here also that unevenness in coat, the long bushy tail and also the rectangular body makes the Maine Coon look larger and heavier than it really is. Maine Coons don't reach their full size and weight until they are 3 to 5 years old. We at PrairieBaby like big cats but we don't breed Mountain lions. Extremely large and long cats are often more proned to joint problems and to us health is more important than looks. </div> <bR> <div> <U>I have an adult dog/cat. Can I get a Maine Coon kitten?</U></div> <bR> <div> As previously mentioned, Maine Coons are bred for their social and easygoing temperament. There should be no problem introducing a new kitten to a household with older pets. We gladly give advice on how to get your pets aquatinted with a new kitten. The character of your pet is of course a deciding factor but I am sure our kitten would try hard to be accepted.</div> <bR> <div> <U>How do I care for my Maine Coon?</U></div> <bR> <div> Maine Coons are easy-care cats. Their coats usually don't mat. Combing them with a narrow spaced comb once a week is sufficient. It is not necessary to declaw a Maine Coon kitten. They are easily trainable to use a scratching post. Maine Coons are active and playful but not high strong. Keeping their claws short helps in the process of training them. If a cat is spayed/neutered bathing is not necessary but a bath once every few months with a mild oatmeal based shampoo will keep the coat nice and shiny and will give you the feeling to have a *nice clean cat* in case your bed is their bed. Bathing a Maine Coon is not hard at all because Maine Coons are easily handlable and the breeder gets them used to water at early age.</div> <bR> <div> <U>Are Maine Coons hypoallergenic?</U></div> <bR> <div> If you are allergic to cats we would not recommend adopting a Maine Coon kitten. Even though they don't shed excessively they can cause a reaction. I am allergic to cats myself and find that the Maine Coon breed bothers me less than short haired cats. We do not sell kittens on a trial basis. We invite you to visit us and spend the day with our cats to find our if there is an allergic reaction.</div> <bR> <div> <U>At what age can a kitten be adopted?</U></div> <bR> <div> We consider 12 to 16 weeks the proper age for a Maine Coon kitten to be ready for it's new home. The Maine Coon is a slowly developing breed and needs this time with mom and siblings in order to become the gentle and easy going pet you read about in the magazines. A kitten at 12 weeks of age should be easy to handle and trusting to it's owner. At times we keep a kitten even longer than 16 weeks. </div> <bR> <div> Please note: Since we run an in-house Cattery, we are not open for casual visits. Buyers are welcome to pick up their kittens and can be given a tour during this time. We would kindly ask that people visit local cat shows to find out how Maine Coons look like. Thank you.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <U>Are males more affectionate than females?</U></div> <bR> <div> If a cat is spayed/neutered, being affectionate has nothing to do with gender. Both sexes of this lovely breed are equally loving in their temperament. Sometimes males appear more "goofy" or "clownlike".</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="452d6a10.jpg" border=0 width="214" height="161" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> PrairieBaby Firefurperson in a bucket<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> living in Winnipeg with Snowfurperson and Paul</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <U>What is different at PrairieBaby Cattery ?</U></div> <bR> <div> 1.) We provide <U>individual registration papers</U> for each kitten, not only the blue slip like most catteries. </div> <bR> <div> 2.) The ancestors of each kitten from our Cattery are tested for Heart (HCM),  Hip (HD) and Kidney (PKD) problems also. </div> <bR> <div> 3.) Our Cattery is Vet certified Felv/Fiv negative. We have done hundreds of Felv/Fiv tests over the past 20 years. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id62.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="cat gym"><U>Cattery </U></A></div> <bR> <div> 4.) A kitten from us already comes spayed/neutered. Our vet gives us a special rate. This saves the buyer money and also the hassle to care for the kitten after surgery. PrairieBaby takes over the risk for the procedure until the kittens leave our house. We keep boys for one week after the neutering and girls two weeks after the spaying. We have had phenominal results with early spay/neuter.</div> <bR> <div> 5.) Our kittens are raised by a stay home mom. This means that they are being handled frequently and accustomed to everyday noises in an average household, including noisy children. And.....we don't spend every other weekend at the show hall which gives us plenty of time for our children and cats. </div> <bR> <div> 6. You will find us brag about the temperament of almost each kitten we offer. The reason for this is that we only keep cats for breeding with  exceptionally loving and sound characters. </div> <bR> <div> 7.) We do not save on food costs. We feed a VERY high quality raw food and commercial diet. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <U>How much do Maine Coons cost?</U></div> <bR> <div> The price for a Maine Coon pet/show kitten from a reputable breeder runs anywhere between $ 600 and $ 1000. The price can depend on the geographical area of the breeder, the  quality and color of the kitten, the titles of the parents and health testing history of the bloodlines.  </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Here are our <A HREF="id168.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="prices"><U>Prices</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <U>Do you have retired breeding cats available for a reduced price?</U></div> <bR> <div> Sometimes we have adult cats available for a loving retirement home. Our price for a retired breeding Maine Coon cat ranges anywhere between $ 300 and $ 500, depending on quality, age, titles and color. This price includes the vet checkup, vet-certified health guarantee and the spaying/neutering. Even though we <U>strongly</U> discourage people to vaccinate an adult cat, we will vaccinate upon request for no extra cost.  </div> <bR> <div> <U>Please note: A one year old cat is considered an</U> <U>older kitten and not a retired breeder. </U></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <U>Is this a healthy breed of cat?</U></div> <bR> <div> Yes. The Maine Coon cat is still one of the healthier breeds around. There have been problems with immune related diseases, hearts, kidneys and joints. Those problems can be greatly reduced if the breeder works with outcrossed pedigrees, avoids inbreeding and does the necessary testing on a regular basis. Please find out more about health on our <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby: Health Info"><U><U>Health Info</U></U></A></FONT> page. Read about the future of our breed on the Heritage Site on our<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PriairieBaby: Links"><U><U> Links</U></U></A></FONT> page. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <U>When buying a kitten, what should I watch for?</U></div> <bR> <div> A reputable breeder only sells<U> registered</U> kittens with a sales <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id12.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby: Contract"><U><U>contract</U></U></A></FONT><A HREF="id12.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby: Contract"><U> </U></A>and a written health guarantee. When inquiring about a kitten make sure to find out as much as possible about the age and health history of ancestors of the kitten you are buying. Ask for HCM and HD (and preferrably PKD) testing of parents and stay away from litters where only some kittens in the litter survived or where kittens seem weak or sickly. Make sure that the breeder has a responsible outcross program in place and is not breeding just for show wins. A good breeder will want to get to know you first and will ask you questions about your family and living circumstances. He will be willing to answer all your questions. Make sure the breeder you purchase from does have some show and breeding experience, in order for you to get proper advice and experienced after- care. </div> <bR> <div> Try to visit the cattery if at all possible because web pages don't always reflect the true circumstances at the cattery, especially when it comes to hygiene. Make sure you are allowed access to all living quarters. If you can't visit make sure to get references of people who have purchased kittens from the breeder and who have been to his home. Stay away from cheap backyard breeders who sometimes offer kittens at a very low price and sometimes without papers. Costs have to be cut somewhere. Most times it's the food, health care and quality of breeding stock. You will most likely have to pay more in the long run for high vet bills or even loss of the animal. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <U>What Colors do Maine Coons come in?</U></div> <bR> <div> Maine Coons come in all colors, the Brown tabbies being the most popular ones. Please go on our<A HREF="id14.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby: Previous Kittens"><U> </U></A><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id14.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby: Previous Kittens"><U><U>Previous Kittens</U></U></A></FONT> page to find out more about colors. </div> <bR> <div> <U>How old do Maine Coons get?</U></div> <bR> <div> The average age span in Maine Coon is no different than in other cats. It can run anywhere between 8 and 18 years of age. However, early deaths have been recorded due to various genetic and immune related diseases. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <U>What is required of the purchaser</U></div> <bR> <div> It is up to you to provide plenty of love and attention, good nutrition, excersise and veterinary care for your kitten. Declawing is not allowed and if the kitten goes outside it has to be either kept on a leash or in an outdoor inclosure. If nobody is home all day, kittens can only be adopted as a pair. If unforeseen circumstances require that you cannot keep the kitten any longer, we want to be notified and will try to assist in an adequate re-homing. You are required to send pictures and a yearly update on the development of our kitten. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <U>Can I have a litter of kittens with my Maine Coon cat?</U></div> <bR> <div> We understand the desire to raise a litter of baby kittens. However, responsible breeding is<U> so much more</U> than putting two cats together. One has to carefully study pedigrees, genetics, health and the standard of the breed. There are far too many Maine Coon breeders around these days and many mistakes are being made which can be very harmful to the breed. In some countries it is almost comparable with a multi level market system. People buy Maine Coon cats, often right at the show hall, and right away sell offspring to breeders before even having the slightest clue about the breed. We call this "the blind leading the blind". </div> <bR> <div> If breeders don't shy away from necessary costs, breeding is a very expensive and time consuming hobby. Also, if a breeder sells a breeding cat, this cat is carefully chosen. Pets sometimes don't meet the standard close enough to be used for breeding. Not only conformation plays a crucial role, also the line combination and temperament of the cat. A breeding cat is much more expensive than a pet and if somebody wants to start a breeding program he should not try to save on the price for a good quality breeding cat. We strongly discourage people from breeding with a cat they have purchased with a non-breeding agreement. </div> <bR> <div> We sell our cats already spayed/neutered for the protection of the breed and to prevent irresponsible breeding. Breeding cats are released on occasion to established catteries who test for HCM and HD (and preferrably PKD) and who are interested to fight genetic problems in our breed. In rare cases we might decide to sell to new breeders if we see potential and if we have time to mentor and to build a relationship. We recommend showing an altered cat for a while to get to know the standard of the breed before starting a breeding program. </div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Please read more about Maine Coon cats on our link </FONT><A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby: The Maine Coon"><U><U>The Maine Coon</U></U></A><U> </U></div> <bR> <div> Please view our guestbook for references. </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *** Help the Maine Coon Breed - Support <A HREF="id13.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby Foundation Projects"><U>Foundation</U></A> Breeders! ***</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#663399" FACE="Arial" >Oh and by the way..........</FONT>There is an enormous difference between animal “welfare” organizations, which work for the humane treatment of animals, and animal “rights” organizations, which aim to completely end the use and ownership of animals. <B>Learn the truth:</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.animalscam.com/peta_7things.cfm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.animalscam.com/peta_7things.c"><U><U>http://www.animalscam.com/peta_7things.cfm</U></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Any more questions? We are here for you. Just ask! <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mailto: judithschulz@tbaytel.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto: judithschulz@tbaytel.net"><U><IMG SRC="b2d49490.gif" border=0 width="73" height="73" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="id87.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="kitten raising"><U>How are the Kittens raised</U></A>?</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id12.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby: Contract"><U>Kitten Contract</U></A></div> <bR> <div> Pictures of our <A HREF="id62.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="cat gym"><U>Cattery </U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id88.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="kittens for sale"><U>Pet Kittens for Sale</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id91.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="breeding kittens"><U>Breeding Kittens </U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id165.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="references"><U>References from 2006</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id54.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="hcm testing"><U>Testen Sie auf HCM?</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id90.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="retired breeding cats"><U>Retired Breeding Cats</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id10.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PrairieBaby: Nursery News"><U>Nursery News</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>