Individuals within any breed are fairly closely related with many characteristics in common -- the Maine Coon cat is no exception. This includes genetic strengths and weaknesses. Certain genetic health disorders may be more or less of a problem in a particular breed than in other breeds. For example, a breed may have a slightly higher incidence of gum disease than the cat population as a whole, but have a lower incidence of heart or liver disease.

    Genetic problems generally only affect a tiny minority of the breed as a whole, but since these problems can be eradicated by careful screening, most reputable breeders try to track such problems, both in their breeding stock and the kittens they produce. Breeders of Maine Coons are very fortunate because we're a relatively, cohesive group concerned as a whole for the protection and preservation of the breed. We have several forums in which we openly share information about affected cats and the Maine Coon cat in general -- the Maine Coon Breeders and Fanciers Association (MCBFA), the Maine Coon International magazine, and most recently, the internet, via the maine-coon list at fanciers.com and the mcats list on One-List. See the "Favorite Sites" page for direct links to these wonderful resources.     

    Although relatively free from genetic defects, the Maine Coon cat has been found to have two commonly inherited health problems -- hip dysplasia, which can on a rare occasion produce lameness in a severely affected cat, and cardiomyopathy, which can produce anything from a minor heart murmur to severe heart trouble. We would be happy to discuss these medical phenomena with you further and what we're doing to test and screen our breeding cats for these genetic anomalies.

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