Be prepared to pay $5,000 for a really good Maine Coon kitten

For years, I read on the Internet that the average price of a Maine Coon cat was about $1000-$1500. You will still see these prices on the Internet. In fact you will see cheaper prices but you can't be sure you are buying a purebred Maine Coon pedigree cat so be careful. There'll be no fears of this nature when buying from a reputable breeder.

Sassy Koons Maine Coon kitten that might cost $5,000. Image: Sassy Koons.

But the point I want to make today is that not infrequently you will see Maine Coon cats selling for $5000. This is about five times what we have seen in the recent past. And this is probably the accurate price for a good quality Maine Coon kitten because like all 'products' the price of Maine Coon cats is subject to market forces.

And the price is subject to the quality of the cat. If you select a really good quality Maine Coon cat breeder and their cats are in high demand because they are known for their quality plus the market is currently hot in terms of the popularity of the Maine Coon cat, the price goes up.

And one Maine Coon cat breeder which I didn't search for - I just bumped into them on the Internet - called Sassy Koons, say that the average cost of their Maine Coon kittens are between $3500 and $5000. Or as much as $6,000.

And they state that there are many factors which determine the price. Tellingly, they say that "The buyer of a kitten ultimately determines [the price of the kitten]"

This implies that if a kitten is very attractive and the customer is really to buy them, and the breeder realises this, they may raise the price and get what they can for the kitten. Or they may charge more because they provide a five year health guarantee. Combine the attractiveness of a kitten plus a five year guarantee and you push up the price tremendously.

At the moment, I'm told, that in the USA, there is demand for high quality Maine Coon kittens from reputable breeders. And you can tell that a breeder is reputable if they have a long waiting list and customers are paying reservation deposits in advance. Sometimes breeders have waiting lists of up to 2 years. Once again this indicates a high demand and once again it means the prices are pushed up.

A five year health guarantee as mentioned is remarkable and highly desirable because the Maine Coon cat, as you might know, is prone to inheriting several genetic diseases, the most serious of which is HCM which can shorten a cat's life. Hip dysplasia can make the cat lame and spinal atrophy can lead to the cat losing their athleticism which is a major part of a domestic cat's attraction.

So, this short note is a reminder that Maine Coon cats can cost $5000 which is a substantial investment. It will be quite a small sum compared to the lifetime costs particularly if you take out health insurance which you probably will for a Maine Coon cat. A further reminder that adopting a Maine Coon cat by purchasing him or her from a breeder is a big commitment leading to up to about 15 years of responsibility for their care.