How to Choose a Reputable Maine Coon Breeder in Virginia
When searching for Maine Coon kittens that are for sale in Virginia, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by options. Sadly, not all breeders follow ethical practices — and choosing the wrong one can lead to a kitten that grows into a cat with health, temperament, or even trust issues.
At Heritage Springs Maine Coons, we believe that informed adopters make the best kitten parents. Whether you’re working with us or another breeder, here’s how to make sure you’re choosing a reputable Maine Coon cattery you can trust.
1. Look for TICA or CFA Registration
Any responsible Maine Coon breeder will be registered with a recognized cat association, like TICA (The International Cat Association). This ensures your kitten has a traceable pedigree and that the breeder meets basic ethical standards. This is important for a couple of reasons. First, when you are buying a Maine Coon kitten, you want to know for sure your kitten is pure Maine Coon- you can only know that for sure if you can see the pedigree of the parents. Second, and even more important, the breeder needs to compare pedigrees of breeding cats to ensure there is no in-breeding which can cause health issues and even death.
We proudly register every kitten through TICA — and we’re happy to provide registration paperwork and guidance for first-time adopters.
Also, in order for a Maine Coon to be included in our breeding program at Heritage Springs, the cat must have a pedigree going back at least 5 generations.
2. Ask About Health Testing
Reputable breeders health test their adult cats for conditions like:
HCM (Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy)
SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy)
PKDef (Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency)
At Heritage Springs, all of our breeding cats (and their parents) are DNA tested and cleared for common hereditary conditions. In addition to being cleared from the genetic traits that cause HCM, SMA, and PKDef, our breeding cats receive echocardiograms each year to ensure their hearts are healthy and they are not in danger of passing HCM onto their kittens. Our breeding cats see a Veterinarian that specializes in feline medicine at least annually and are kept up to date on all of the core vaccines.
Our kittens receive all of their initial vaccines before they go home as well as a clear bill of health from the same feline specialist that sees our breeding cats.
3. Prioritize Socialization and Environment
Kittens should be raised in a home environment with regular handling and early exposure to people, sounds, and routines.
Our kittens are raised in our home with daily enrichment and socialization. While we don’t offer in-person visits, we provide Zoom meet-and-greets so you can see your kitten and get to know them before adoption.
4. Ask About Adoption Policies
A reputable breeder should:
Require an application
Ask about your home and goals
Provide a written health guarantee
Offer lifelong support for your kitten
We carefully screen each home and provide support before, during, and after adoption to make sure our kittens are going to the most loving and appropriate homes. This is good for both the kitten and you! I hear sad stories all the time from breeders who place kittens with people only to have them returned in a month or 6 months for reasons that could have been caught early with a bit more discussion.
Looking for a Trusted Maine Coon Breeder in Virginia?
At Heritage Springs Maine Coons, we combine health, heart, and high standards to raise kittens you’ll love for a lifetime.
View our Available Kittens or Submit an application to get started.
