We stand behind every kitten we raise. Health is the foundation of our breeding program — from genetically screened parents to veterinary care in the first weeks of life — and our written health guarantee puts that commitment on paper. On this page you’ll find exactly what we guarantee, what we ask of you as an adopter, and what to expect in our adoption contract, so there are no surprises at any point.
Before any kitten leaves Maine Coon Kitten Corner, they receive:
A complete veterinary examination and health certificate issued shortly before going home, age-appropriate vaccinations with full records, deworming on a veterinary schedule, and a written, signed copy of our health guarantee and adoption contract.
Our breeding cats are TICA registered and screened for the genetic conditions relevant to Maine Coons, including HCM (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy), SMA (spinal muscular atrophy), and PK Deficiency. Healthy parents are the first and most important health guarantee any kitten can have.
72-hour general health guarantee. We guarantee your kitten is in good health at the time they go home. You have 72 hours to have your kitten examined by a licensed veterinarian of your choice — and we strongly encourage you to do so. If your vet finds a serious pre-existing health condition during this exam, you may return the kitten for a full refund or a replacement kitten.
One-year genetic health guarantee. We guarantee your kitten against life-threatening congenital or genetic defects for one year from their date of birth. If a licensed veterinarian diagnoses such a condition within this period, we will offer a replacement kitten from the next available litter. Written veterinary documentation is required.
What the guarantee does not cover. Like every responsible cattery, our guarantee has reasonable limits. It does not cover common, treatable kitten issues (such as parasites or upper respiratory infections that can appear with the stress of rehoming), illness or injury resulting from accidents, neglect, or improper care after the kitten leaves us, conditions caused by failure to follow veterinary guidance, including keeping up with vaccinations, or FIP (feline infectious peritonitis) diagnosed more than 30 days after pickup, as this condition can be triggered by environmental stress beyond any breeder’s control.
No cash-refund-after-time policy. Beyond the initial 72-hour window, our guarantee is fulfilled through a replacement kitten rather than a refund. Veterinary costs incurred by the adopter are not reimbursed, which is standard practice among ethical catteries.
A guarantee is a two-way commitment. To keep your guarantee valid, we ask every adopter to:
Take your kitten to a licensed veterinarian within 72 hours of arrival for a wellness check, keep your kitten current on vaccinations and routine veterinary care, keep your kitten strictly indoors (or in a secure catio / supervised outdoor enclosure), spay or neuter your kitten by the age stated in your contract and provide written proof from your vet, never declaw your kitten — declawing voids the guarantee and violates our contract, and feed a quality diet appropriate for a large, slow-growing breed.
Every adoption is finalized with a signed contract. Here’s a plain-language summary of what it includes:
Pet-only adoption & spay/neuter agreement. All kittens are sold as pets, not for breeding. TICA registration paperwork is released once we receive proof of spay/neuter from your veterinarian.
Return-to-breeder clause. If at any point in your cat’s life you can no longer care for them — for any reason — the cat must be returned to us or rehomed with our written approval. Our kittens never end up in shelters. Ever.
No resale or transfer. Your kitten may not be sold, given away, or transferred to a third party, pet store, laboratory, or breeding operation.
Deposit and payment terms. The contract restates the deposit and balance terms exactly as described on our Adoption Process page.
Health guarantee terms. The full legal wording of everything summarized on this page.
You’ll receive the complete contract to read before placing your deposit — we want you to sign it because you’ve read it and agree with it, not because you’re rushed on pickup day.
Some websites promise the world; scam sites in particular love offering “lifetime money-back guarantees” they’ll never honor. Ours is built to be honest and enforceable: healthy screened parents, a vet check before pickup, an independent vet check after pickup, a genuine one-year genetic guarantee, and a lifetime safety net that ensures no kitten of ours is ever abandoned. That’s a guarantee we can actually keep — for every kitten, every time.
Have questions about any term before applying? Reach out through our Contact page — we’re happy to walk you through the contract line by line.