S
shelby
Guest
I know you are excited. I was a wreck waiting for my first F1 to arrive;>) Let us know when he is born. I hope there is a male in the litter;>)
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Considering buying an F1 kitten - does anyone know this breeder?
Wyldthingz
Savannah Super Cat
I know I am late coming into this thread but I have to say that as a breeder and pet owner- temperament is everything. I would rather have a homely, sweet F1 than one I chose because of it's color or pattern and it is a B..... Now as a breeder, I have to consider all of that. My advice is always to go with the one with the sweetest nature. I had a friend who always said of horses "It costs as much to feed a good one as a bad one." Once you get what you get, you are committed. Go in with your eyes WIDE open.
Logan, check out my girl Shere Tani on my Queen's page, her mother was a Maine Coon: http://www.jasirisana.com/cactus_run_shere_tani_of_jasirisana_a1s_f1/#savannahs
Yes, I've seen some Serval-Maine Coon crosses. Looks-wise I'm not as much a fan as with other crosses but it does give good consistent size and frame...but in terms of personality I have been told again and again by owners how mellow they are for F1s so there is a definite advantage there
Logan, there are some health issues for which some Maine Coons are predisposed (not all, some) but you should have a discussion with the breeder regarding feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), spinal muscular atrophy, hip dysplasia, and polycystic kidney disease. The breeder should be willing to discuss if these health issues have occurred in her/his breeding cats or in their kittens and whether the breeder is screening for these issues & how the screening is done.
Trish Allearz
Moderator
Oh heck yeah- ensure the cat is tested for HCM- not just DNA tested, but scanned as well. (Momma- obviously not kitten).
No offense, but if I was getting an F1 whose Momma was a Maine Coon, I'd want all of my bases covered in regard to HCM. While all breeds can get it, those predisposed- better to be forewarned.
Very true, I should have mentioned that. I HCM screen ALL my breeding cats in any case but I know not all breeders do... but in the case of the Maine Coon, HCM is well-documented so yes you'd want to ask about that!
Deborah mentioned a number of other diseases, and it would be good to know that your breeder has considered all of those and hopefully done some vetting. Now in cats we don't tend to do the screening for hip dysplasia that they do in dogs..although it IS possible. I had Monkey screened once by a specialist that does OFA screening... because at a cat show (this was early in our new breed program's progress) a vet had said that for a cat that was tall and narrow this might well be an issue...and they felt that Monkey's hips were narrow (she is a tall lean kitty). So I got her tested...and she was perfect ;-)
Deborah mentioned a number of other diseases, and it would be good to know that your breeder has considered all of those and hopefully done some vetting. Now in cats we don't tend to do the screening for hip dysplasia that they do in dogs..although it IS possible. I had Monkey screened once by a specialist that does OFA screening... because at a cat show (this was early in our new breed program's progress) a vet had said that for a cat that was tall and narrow this might well be an issue...and they felt that Monkey's hips were narrow (she is a tall lean kitty). So I got her tested...and she was perfect ;-)
L
Logan Fuller
Guest
Thanks for the tips, I'll ask about the tests! I know that this breeder has a reputation for healthy / well socialized cats, and often shows the Maine Coon mother in cat shows. She also gives a lifetime guarantee on all kittens she breeds for inherited genetic defects (though the hope, of course, is that it never has to come to that).
Showing a cat does not prevent HCM ;-)
A lifetime guarantee on genetic disease is great of course, most contracts guarantee for a certain number of years only. Realize though that this should not take the place of testing the breeding cats, as you as pet owner is still going to have to care for that kitten with HCM, most pet owners are not going to be able to return that kitten to get a replacement...and vet care for HCM is expensive. I've got a Savannah with a serious heart valve defect and he requires similar care (expensive medications and regular cardiac ultrasounds and blood tests) and I could have bought a couple F1s in the ten years of his vet care. With appropriate care and early diagnosis a cat with HCM can live for some years, I think Donna Lawver's F1 Guy lived for 10 years with HCM before succumbing. So although it is nice to know you'd have a replacement, this is something many don't think about.
A lifetime guarantee on genetic disease is great of course, most contracts guarantee for a certain number of years only. Realize though that this should not take the place of testing the breeding cats, as you as pet owner is still going to have to care for that kitten with HCM, most pet owners are not going to be able to return that kitten to get a replacement...and vet care for HCM is expensive. I've got a Savannah with a serious heart valve defect and he requires similar care (expensive medications and regular cardiac ultrasounds and blood tests) and I could have bought a couple F1s in the ten years of his vet care. With appropriate care and early diagnosis a cat with HCM can live for some years, I think Donna Lawver's F1 Guy lived for 10 years with HCM before succumbing. So although it is nice to know you'd have a replacement, this is something many don't think about.
L
Logan Fuller
Guest
I think I may have phrased that incorrectly. I meant simply that she has a reputation for very healthy cats, so she likely has had them tested - I will still be checking to be sure first thing on Monday, though! I don't think I would be in the right frame of mind to be looking for a replacement for at least several months if my pet was to tragically die of a genetic disease, so the guarantee would more be to help cover vet costs.