OUR STANDARDS
Our cats’ health and welfare come before every breeding plan.
PLANNING A LITTER
A CONSIDERED BEGINNING
Our breeding family is small. Every cat lives with us as part of our home, allowing us to know their health, character, development and individual habits closely. Litters are not planned to a fixed timetable. The queen’s maturity, physical condition, recovery and welfare determine when, or whether the time is right. No cat remains in a breeding role when their health or wellbeing tells us otherwise.
Owning both a male and a queen does not make a mating automatic. Health results, blood-group compatibility, pedigree, degree of relatedness, temperament and conformation are considered together. If those factors do not support the welfare of the cats or the litter they may produce, we do not proceed.
HEALTH & GENETICS
BEYOND WHAT CAN BE SEEN
Good health cannot be judged by appearance or pedigree alone. Our breeding cats are DNA tested through Laboklin, and those results are considered alongside blood group, veterinary history, physical condition and the health information available behind their lines. Blood groups are established before mating because certain combinations can place newborn kittens at risk.
DNA screening includes HCM1/HCMmc, SMA and PKDef, together with the additional inherited conditions covered by the Laboklin XXL panel. The HCMmc test identifies one recognised Maine Coon mutation; a clear result cannot exclude every form of HCM, and hip dysplasia cannot be ruled out through a DNA panel. Cardiac ultrasound and hip assessment are therefore treated as separate parts of breed-health screening, with individual results stated only once they have been completed.
Our breeding cats are also blood tested annually for FIV and FeLV. Core vaccination status, parasite control and routine veterinary care are reviewed before breeding and managed with our vet according to the individual cat. No result is presented as a lifetime guarantee, and copies of the parents’ relevant health records are available to those considering a kitten from that litter.
BREEDING DECISIONS
WHAT WE BREED FOR
Colour, size and polydactyly contribute to appearance, but none takes priority over health, temperament or sound, functional structure. We do not breed for maximum weight or exaggerated features. A Maine Coon should be substantial and recognisable without sacrificing balance, movement or comfort.
A pedigree is examined for more than names and titles. We look at how lines repeat, the health information available behind them, the degree of relatedness and whether the two cats complement one another without compounding the same weakness. Our aim is a sound, well-balanced Maine Coon with strong breed type and a steady, companionable nature.
THE QUEEN AND HER LITTER
PREGNANCY & EARLY LIFE
The care of a litter begins with the queen. During pregnancy, we watch her appetite, body condition, comfort and behaviour closely, adjusting her nutrition, routine and nursery as her needs change. Any departure from what is normal for her is taken seriously and discussed with our vet. Near birth, she has warmth, quiet and privacy in familiar surroundings without being removed from the life of our home.
After birth, the queen and each kitten are checked frequently. We record weights, watch feeding and development, and seek veterinary advice promptly if progress stalls or the queen appears unwell. During the earliest days, handling is limited to what care and monitoring require. As sight, hearing and mobility develop, the kittens are introduced gradually to gentle handling, household sounds, play and the normal rhythm of our home, never forced beyond what they are ready for.
PLACEMENT & LIFELONG CARE
CHOSEN FOR THE LIFE AHEAD
We are not looking for a perfect household on paper. We want a safe, committed home whose everyday life suits the kitten in front of us. Placement is never decided simply by who enquires first. We take time to understand each kitten as they develop and to speak openly with the people hoping to welcome one.
Temperament, confidence, activity level, need for company and the realities of the home are considered together. The right match matters more than speed, colour or convenience.
That responsibility is reflected in our written contract and does not end on collection day. We remain available throughout each cat’s life for practical advice and support. If circumstances change and a Tycoon Manor cat can no longer remain in their home, we ask to be contacted before another home is sought. We will always help to keep a cat bred here safe.
