1. Can you verify the registration and cattery name?
A serious cattery registers its cattery name with one of the associations — WCF, CFA, TICA, FIFe. Your job is not to hear the words "we have papers" but to obtain the certificate and number and check them yourself. This one step filters out a large share of problematic sellers.
2. Are there genetic test reports for both parents?
For Maine Coons, the tests generally considered essential include the MYBPC3 (A31P) mutation associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), and pyruvate kinase deficiency (PK Def). Many catteries add polycystic kidney disease (PKD).
The report should name the testing laboratory, the date, and the cat's identity details — and ideally it exists for both parents. A report covering only one parent is worth half as much.
One caveat: a negative genetic result is not a lifetime guarantee. In the case of HCM, the known mutation explains only part of the risk, which is why responsible breeders also run periodic cardiac ultrasounds on their breeding cats. So beyond asking "was genetic testing done?", ask "when was the last echocardiogram?"
3. Are vaccination and deworming recorded in writing?
The common schedule is core vaccination at around 8, 12 and 16 weeks, with boosters thereafter as your vet advises. Deworming schedules vary by cattery but often begin at four to six weeks and repeat monthly. These are widely used practices, not a universal rule — follow your own veterinarian.
Whatever the protocol, each shot's date, vaccine type and batch number, along with the deworming product and date, should be on paper rather than delivered as a verbal "everything's been done."
4. Can you see the cat, the parents, and where they live?
This is the most effective check of all. A cattery that welcomes you onto the premises and a seller who only sends retouched photos and agrees to hand the cat over on the street below are not in the same risk category. Once there, look at whether the space is clean and ventilated, whether odour has built up, whether litter boxes are being maintained, and whether the cats are unusually fearful or unusually frantic around people.
You should also at minimum meet the mother. Photos and papers for the father are acceptable, but a seller who will not let you near either parent should be ruled out.
5. What does the contract actually say?
A decent transfer contract covers at least: the cat's identity (breed, colour, sex, date of birth, microchip number), the parents' details, whether the transfer is pet or breeding quality, the health clause and its exclusions, whether neutering is required, how an infectious-disease observation period is handled, and how to reach the seller afterwards.
Here is a counter-intuitive rule of thumb: a contract that spells out what it does not cover is more trustworthy than one that simply promises health. The former means the breeder has thought about where responsibility ends; the latter tends to be unenforceable when something goes wrong.
6. Ask specific questions and gauge the answers
Try these: "Which genetic tests were run on each parent, and what were the results?" "Which litter is this, and how many kittens in it?" "How many meals a day is it eating now, and what food?" "What were the last few weights?"
Someone who actually cares for these cats daily will answer immediately, often without checking notes. If every question is rerouted into reassurance — "don't worry, it's definitely healthy," "you'll be completely satisfied" — take note.
7. Red flags
Walk away if any of the following appears: no certificate can be produced, or it does not survive checking; pressure to pay in full up front with no documentation; a price clearly below the market average for that tier; refusal of live video or in-person visits; a kitten with obvious eye or nasal discharge, diarrhoea, or extreme lethargy that is dismissed as nothing; or a request for a private transfer with no written contract.
About our cattery
PishPish Cattery is a WCF-registered Maine Coon breeder located in Tiereke Village, Tuoyibaoledi Town, Shaya County, Aksu Prefecture, Xinjiang. We keep eight breeding cats: our stud Nicolas Volkov Praid, and females LiLi, Sofiye, PALMIRA, Timi, Klara and Luna. Every cat has a verifiable growth record covering weight, vaccination and deworming, and every pedigree can be traced. We ask that you see the cat before terms are discussed; visits are by WeChat appointment, and the transaction takes place in person with no online payment option.
