Our kittens leave vaccinated, spayed or neutered, microchipped and guaranteed negative for FIV and FeLV. We show you how to keep claws short and provide the scratch pad they need, so you won't have problems with your furniture. (See What's included with our kittens.)

We raise kittens with three guiding principles: socialization, early handling and environmental enrichment. Our kittens are loved and handled from the day they are born. While they're with us, they're held, hugged and played with constantly.

The kitten at right has just had breakfast and is being weighed.

Every kitten is weighed twice a day the first four weeks so we know the mother is producing enough milk and every kitten is gaining weight. As soon as their eyes open we start trimming claws, as competition at the milk bar can be fierce!

Kittens stay with their mom and littermates in our bedroom until they're vaccinated. then they run around our house, which is a playground of toys and climbing places. At 16 weeks, when they're self-confident and ready, they go to their new home.

Hopefully, your kitten will be with you for 15 to 20 years, so these weeks with their first family are worth it!

Applying for a Windwalker kitten

We are a small cattery and only have three or four litters a year. We work with you to see that the personality of your kitten matches your home environment and lifestyle.

We evaluate kittens for show or pet quality when they are 12 weeks old, then we check with people that have a kitten from us already, and then we review email requests we've received. You may email us and introduce yourself. The more you tell us about yourself, your home, your family and other pets, the better we can match the personality of the kitten to your home.

Please do not be offended if we ask you lots of questions, as our kittens go to people with whom we share similar values and priorities about pet ownership.  We are happy to answer your questions as well. When the kittens are available, we invite you to our home to see our cats. (If you just want to see lots of Maine Coon cats and kittens, we suggest you go to a cat show. Maybe we'll see you there!)

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You'll want to take your kitten home in a medium-sized carrier. (Your cat will be in a carrier whenever it is in a car, so buy a size carrier that will last.) Every kitten leaves here with the food it's been eating, a favorite toy, a pad with the smells of home and buddies, nail clippers, brush, and toothbrush.   (See What's included with our kittens.)

Your kitten will not need another vaccination until it is one year old, and then it will have immunity for life. It's very important that you clearly understand this, (see Vaccination Guidelines).

We don't ship cats in cargo, so if you would like one of our kittens, and you don't live close to us, we will discuss arrangements for travel or refer you to a Maine Coon breeder closer to your home.

When you take one of our kittens, our understanding with you is that it is with you for life. If things change and you can't keep your cat, let us know and we'll help you find it another home. Please call us if you have a question on your cat's behavior or health.

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We breed Maine Coons because we want to protect and preserve this wonderful breed.  We want our kittens to live long healthy lives so our breeding males and females are screened for two genetic conditions found in some Maine Coons: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) and hip dysplasia (HD). All our breeding cats are negative for the cMYBPC-3 mutation, (see our Health and Personality page).

Of course, the best way to ensure your cat lives a long time is to keep it indoors with you, so we have an indoor-only requirement.   Declawing, which is amputation, is not allowed.   (If you have questions, here is a page of information and links on early spay and neutering and declawing.)

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A couple of years ago, the Whole Cat Journal had an excellent article about The Stages of Kittenhood. The week most of interest to you is the week you may come visit or select your kitten. Here is the article text:

For some reason, most kittens seem to undergo a personality change at 11 through 12 weeks and become shy and antisocial, no matter how friendly they were previously. Those that were playful and affectionate suddenly don't want to be picked up and prefer their littermates to their human companions. Half playfully, they may run away and hide, seemingly inviting chase. To chase and attempt to catch the kitten however is a mistake. Instead, it should be picked up as often as possible when available, then put down and handled again later.

Unfortunately, this shy stage at 11 or 12 weeks coincides with the time many kittens go to their new homes. How can a new owner win the confidence of a kitten that is going through its timid period? The quickest way is to sleep with it. Even if they initially hide under the bed, after a night or two, they will climb up and snuggle.

Kittens that struggle against being held may be given a spinal massage: stretch the kitten full length along your lower arm with legs dangling and tail extended. (If the tail curls under pull it out and straighten it.) Then stroke the kitten along its spine from head to tail, lightly increasing hand pressure towards the tail. This has a very relaxing effect. Continue until the kitten purrs. Some will resist this at first, but if the stroking continues, almost all will eventually relax and purr. Once they purr, resistance is gone and he will be easy to pick up and will enjoy being held.