Pet overpopulation is a rising issue. Every pet deserves a loving home. When you make the decision to add a new kitten to your household, you can make the decision where to get a kitten from and what type of kitten to choose. If you have chosen to get a Maine Coon kitten, you are likely choosing them for their giant personalities and other distinctive characteristics. Reputable breeders focus on genetics and producing pedigree animals that are healthy. You can view the parents and often go back multiple generations to make sure they are free from genetic defects. Remember a reputable breeder focuses on quality over quantity. Most breeders love the characteristics and want to promote these distinctive traits. The all mighty dollar is not what drives most breeders. Their love and passion for sharing these cats with others is usually why they have chosen to selectively breed their cats. There are around 3.2 million cats in US animal shelters. While around 100,000 of these cats will be reunited with their owners, 2.1 million will be adopted and sadly around 530,000 cats will be euthanized. This is based 2019 Shelter Animals Count data. Most cats are surrendered due to no fault of their own, however many have behavioral or health issues that ultimately lead them to the shelter as a last resort. When you adopt from a shelter you unfortunately get little if any information about the parents and important traits that can be highly heritable, such as personality characteristics are left to complete chance. Genetic health issues are another problem and it can be like rolling the dice when you choose an animal without this critical piece. While there are many pets available for little to no initial cost, there is no such thing as a free pet. Pets need proper veterinary care, quality food and other creature comforts. When choosing a pet you are making a big decision and regardless of the upfront cost, there will be costs involved to care for them. People who are unable to afford veterinary care and other necessities should not take animals home that they will knowingly be unable to provide proper care for. There is sometimes a stigma attached to purchasing a purebred pet vs. adopting a shelter or rescue animal. If you have narrowed down your selection to a Maine Coon kitten, then you have certain characteristics you desire in your new companion. Selecting a breed that meets your criteria and standards is something you can take pride in. How to find Maine Coon Kittens near me will help you find a reputable breeder. Most shelter animals are surrendered by their owners or are picked up roaming around. We tend to pay for things we see value in and selecting a pet is no exception. By researching and making an educated decision you can choose what type of kitten is best suited for your household. If there are certain characteristics you desire, then a purebred animal may be the best fit. Most owners of purebred animals do not surrender their animals to shelters. Selecting the right animal for their household is something they put valuable resources into. A 2015 study found that only 5% of shelter dogs were purebred (forbes.com). While not every purebred animal spends its entire life with one family, most will never end up for adoption in an animal shelter. Backyard Breeders are a hot button issue and in many cases need to be stopped. If someone is putting out low cost, poor quality animals they are not an advocate for the breed or pets in general. People that overbreed, have unsanitary living conditions and disregard genetic/health issues should be stopped. Purchasing animals from these types of breeders only rewards their disregard for animal welfare and perpetuates the cycle. When you see purebred animals being advertised below their value this should be a red flag. If you are able to visit the breeder in person or at least FaceTime them, this will give you more insight into the living conditions of their animals. If someone is unwilling to show you the parents or where the kittens are housed they may be hiding poor and overcrowded living conditions. Tips to Avoid Fraud When Purchasing a Maine Coon Kitten is another helpful resource. While many scammers have increased their false pricing, some will still try to defraud people with offers that sound too good to be true. Many of these scammers steal pictures from reputable websites and falsely pass them off as their own. Always do your homework and be cautious when engaging with the online community. “Adopt Don’t Shop” will continue to be a controversial issue and can be heatedly debated. When you choose to purchase a Maine Coon kitten from a reputable breeder you are taking a positive step to promote educated pet ownership. Savvy Cats strives to place all our kittens into loving, caring homes. Educating owners to increase their pet’s wellbeing is important and we will continue to share articles that will provide both enrichment to cats and owners alike.