Unfortunately not even the pet industry is without its scammers. If you are looking on-line for a new kitten, beware. If the price sounds too good to be true….. it is! Currently the price of a Maine Coon kitten can range anywhere from $2,000.00 to $6,000.00 depending on what area of the country you are looking in, anything less and it’s likely you are not dealing with a reputable breeder. There are a few things that you can do to protect yourself from being scammed.

1. Make sure the address that you are given really exists. It’s very common for a scammer to try and gain your trust by providing an address where you can come see the kitten once you have paid them a deposit. Save yourself time and gas money, use Google Earth to make sure the address isn’t an empty lot, empty building or residence for sale.

2. Find out how the seller expects payment. If the seller asks you to pay in gift cards…. it’s likely you are dealing with a scammer.

3. Find your breeder at a cat show. If you’ve never attended a cat show, it’s a great way to learn about what a Maine Coon should look like and to meet breeders and see their show and breeding cats.

4. Check to make sure the pictures on the sellers website aren’t stock photos stolen from other sites on the internet.

5. Be patient, your search for a Maine Coon kitten may take a little longer than you hope but making sure you are getting a healthy, well adjusted kitten is worth the wait.

6. Buy Now – Reserve Now buttons: They have kittens/puppies available right away. Often with the click of a button you can “purchase” a kitten/puppy. IT WILL NEVER BE AND SHOULD NEVER BE THIS EASY. This is a major red flag. Why this is a bad sign: 1) Reputable breeders screen their new adopters. They find out what type of kitten they want, what lifestyle they have and try to place an appropriate kitten with an appropriate personality with that new family. It is not first come first serve, but what is best for that kitten and that family. A new pet is NOT a grocery item to pull off the shelf and no responsible breeder will ever treat them as such. 2) Anyone selling anything in this way is selling it as a commodity. That’s fine for toiletries, groceries and even clothes. But not for living beings that require years of commitment. It shows already what they care about – not you, not the fake kittens they are “selling”, but the almighty dollar.

7. They are offering kittens at a way lower price than you have seen anywhere else: Prices such as $800-$1,200 dollars, and SURPRISE they might be having a sale even off of that! Remember the old adage “if it seems too good to be true, it often is.”. Scam or not, anyone who is having a “sale” on a cat or kitten is trading in a commodity. For money only. That is their goal. Period.