Health is the foundation of everything we do here. Breeding Maine Coons isn’t just about looks or size – it’s about producing cats that can live long, comfortable, healthy lives.

We don’t cut corners on health testing, and we don’t rely on assumptions just because they are asymptomatic that they are fine. We use a combination of genetic testing, clinical screening, and board certified cardiologists and radiologists, not to mention our amazing vet, to guide our breeding program. We also rely on our pet owners to keep us informed with the general health of their kittens.

Health Testing We Do

Our breeding cats are screened in multiple ways, not just once and not just in one format. This includes:

• • Multiple Cardiac screenings (echocardiograms) performed by a board-certified cardiologist
  • OFA hip radiographs evaluated by a board-certified radiologist
  • OFA Patellas certifying  our cats do not have patellar luxation
  • DNA testing for known inherited conditions seen in Maine Coons
  • Routine veterinary exams, bloodwork, and preventative care

Why are multiple echocardiograms important?

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most serious inherited disease in Maine Coons. It can exist without obvious symptoms for a long time, and cats can appear completely healthy while still having early heart changes. An echocardiogram is the only reliable way to properly evaluate the heart structure and function of breeding animals. We use a cardiologist because they typically have 3-4 years of additional education solely on hearts. They are gold standard for diagnosing cardiac issues which is important when evaluating breeding stock. These specialists can fill out the OFA cardiac forms for public record, however ultrasounds done prior to 1 year will not appear in the open database. As we we rely on cardiac clinics hosted by local dog clubs, sometimes the first echocardiogram may be done a bit younger than 1 year of age. HCM is a progressive disease; it can develop later in life. As per Pawpeds, hearts should be ultrasounds at years 1, 2, 3 and 5 if used in a breeding program. A normal scan today does not guarantee a normal scan in a year. Responsible breeding means tracking heart health over time, not relying on a single normal result. This is another reason that homes that purchase retired cats from our breeding program will be contractually be required to screen their hearts as per this protocol (at our expense).

But what about the DNA test for HCM?

The DNA test only covers one mutation for HCM. Just because a cat DNA tests negative does not mean they do not have or cannot develop HCM! This is why both genetic testing and physical screening matter — one does not replace the other.

Why hip radiographs?

Maine Coons are genetically predisposed to hip dysplasia. A large PawPeds study of over 5,000 Maine Coons showed evidence of hip dysplasia in 37.4% of cats — that’s nearly 4 out of every 10 cats.

Hip dysplasia is not just a “large dog” problem. In cats, it can cause pain, arthritis, decreased mobility, and subtle changes that often go unnoticed until the damage is already done. Many cats hide discomfort extremely well, so by the time symptoms are obvious, the condition may already be advanced. Radiographs (hip X-rays) are the only way to properly evaluate hip structure. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals provides an open, public database for these radiographs rated by them.

Unfortunately, the majority of Maine Coon breeders do not screen their breeding cats with hip radiographs. We believe that given how common this condition is in the breed, screening should be a priority if we want to improve the future of Maine Coons.

Why OFA patellas?  s

Patellar luxation (slipping kneecaps) is a heritable orthopedic condition that affects many cats, including Maine Coons. Maine Coons are considered one of the breeds at increased risk. While large breed-specific datasets are limited, the available data makes one thing clear: this is not a very rare condition.

Patellar luxation can cause pain, intermittent lameness, abnormal gait, and early arthritis. Some cats visibly “skip.” Others compensate well and show very subtle signs — until degenerative joint changes develop later in life. A cat appearing normal does not guarantee structurally normal knees. This test is easy for your veterinarian to check during a regular office visit, and submitting results to OFA allows easy public access to verify results.

 

DNA Testing

There are a few DNA (genetic) tests that apply to Maine Coons — those most notable are for HCM, Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (PKDef), Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).

• • HCM – Detects one known mutation, but cannot rule out other all HCM and other forms of heart disease. This is why we combine genetic testing with repeated echocardiograms.

  • PKDef – A hereditary anemia that can cause weakness and fatigue; carriers are asymptomatic but can pass it to kittens.

  • PKD – Causes cyst formation in the kidneys, which can lead to kidney failure later in life. There are other variations besides the one we have a genetic test for, and ultrasounding the kidneys is a great way scan for this disease in addition to the DNA test.

  • SMA – A degenerative neuromuscular disorder; cats may appear normal for months but will eventually lose mobility.

Genetic testing is just one piece of the puzzle — it helps us make informed breeding choices and reduce the risk of passing serious conditions to the next generation.

Our Philosophy

We believe in doing things properly. We’re open about what we do and why we do it. Health testing doesn’t guarantee cats will be healthy their entire lives — but it does help us reduce risk and make informed, responsible decisions for the kittens we bring into the world.

Our goal is simple: to produce Maine Coons that are not only beautiful, but structurally sound, medically stable, and set up for long, healthy lives as family companions. If you ever have questions about our testing, our protocols, or our cats, we’re always happy to have that conversation.