How Much Does It Cost To Adopt A Maine Coon Cat

How Much Does It Cost To Adopt A Maine Coon Cat

Maine Coon cats are large cats with a lot of personality.

They have a lot of energy and need plenty of space to run around and get exercise.

Maine Coons are also very intelligent, so they will need mental stimulation to keep them happy.

They’re popular cats and constantly come in the top listings as favorite cat breeds, but they can be expensive in purebred cat form.

Professional breeders put in a lot of work, but many prefer the idea of adopting a Maine Coon rather than going for the new kitten.

So, how much does it cost to adopt a Maine Coon cat?

Adopting a Maine Coon will be between $50 to $350 per cat which is considerably cheaper than a purebred kitten. Kittens tend to be towards the $100 to $350 range with adults over 3 years being anything over $50. Most adopted cats will be mixed Maine Coons and will come from professional adoption centers.

There are Maine Coon cats for adoption in shelters and rescue centers all over the United States.

Many adoptable Maine Coons can be from private sellers through online connection services, such as adoptapet.com.

As a popular breed, there’s always going to be Maine Coons who need homes.

A lot of Maine Coons end up in shelters because their previous owner didn’t understand how big they get or just couldn’t give them the attention they needed.

Despite having been abandoned, Maine Coons are very friendly and love to play with people.

So before you adopt one make sure you’re prepared for the costs involved.

How Much Is An Adopted Maine Coon

A purebred Maine Coon kitten can easily be in the $1200 to $1600 range.

With a purebred, a new owner will know exactly what they’re getting.

Maine Coons are popular for their intelligence, size, and love of attention.

Whilst adult Maine Coon cats can cost over $1200-$1600, often mixed Maine Coons will be lower in price.

Many purebreds come with a hefty price tag but Maine Coons have a reputation for being one of the most expensive cat breeds to adopt, so it is no surprise they demand higher prices than other cats on the market.

You will be pleased to know that an adopted Maine Coon is considerably cheaper.

The costs involved are reflective of a few things, namely the age and desirability of the Maine Coon, plus the level of professional adoption.

A typical cost structure for a Maine Coon adoption would be under $250 for a kitten, $150 for a cat between 1 to 6 years old, and $50 for a cat over 7 years.

I went to adoptapet.com and did some quick searches for adoptable Maine Coons.

Here’s what I found.

• brown tabby, male, 6 years ($135)
• brown tabby, male, 8 years ($105)
• calico, female, 10 years ($50)
• tabby, female, 3 years ($50)
• gray and white, female, 4 years ($85)
• fawn, female, young adult ($50)
• calico, female, 4 years ($250)
• chocolate, female, 3 years, ($85)

Private citizens tend to be around $50 to $100 and professional adoption centers will charge around $250 to $300.

The professional adoption centers have often rescued a cat, vaccinated, checked, and cared for the Maine Coon so are just recouping their costs.

How Much Is An Adopted Maine Coon Kitten

A Maine Coon kitten available for adoption will be between $100 to $350.

They are slightly more than you’d adult cats, presumably as kittens have a higher demand than an already grown cat.

Again, I went to adoptapet.com and put in ‘kitten’ as the parameter.

These are some of the Maine Coon kittens that I found.

• blue silver mix, female, 8 weeks ($350)
• chocolate, female, 5 months ($150)
• orange/red tabby, male, 10 months ($250)
• black, male, 12 weeks ($85)
• fawn tabby, male, 12 weeks ($150)
• black, male, 5 months ($100)

As you can see it varies a lot.

Maine Coon kittens will be between $100 to $350. It depends a lot on what state you’re in and where you’re looking as well as how cute they look.

Is It Cheaper To Adopt A Maine Coon

Yes, it’s cheaper to adopt a Maine Coon than to buy a purebred from a private or professional breeder.

While a purebred assures no dilution of the breed a Maine Coon for adoption is likely to be a mix.

Mixed Maine Coon kittens can be around $600 to $900 if they are from a private seller, so the cost of adopting a Maine Coon is definitely cheaper.

Factors That Affect Adoption Cost

Many Maine Coons come from professional shelters or breeders meaning you are likely to pay more than if you adopted from a small shelter.

There are many non for profit shelters that advertise their Maine Coons.

The age of the Maine Coon will also affect the cost as Maine Coons. 

Kittens are more desirable than those cats that are between 1 and 6 years old.

Another thing that affects how much it costs to adopt a Maine Coon is its desirability.

If it’s a rarer color then it may be more expensive for adoption but this isn’t always guaranteed, just make sure you do your research before adopting one.

While adopting a Maine Coon mix means that you can’t be sure of the cat’s heritage, it does mean that you are likely to pay considerably less on adoption fees than if the kitten happens to be a purebred.

Pros And Cons Of Adopting A Maine Coon

Maine Coons are a popular cat breed so it won’t be hard to find a Maine Coon for adoption.

There are lots of Maine Coon rescues that advertise Maine Coons.

Let’s go through the pros and cons.

Pros Of Adopting A Maine Coon

A Maine Coon for adoption will cost considerably less than buying one from a private seller.

It is probably going to be a Maine Coon mix which means that you won’t have to pay as much for it as if it was of the purebred form.

You can adopt Maine Coons in States where there are no Maine Coons breeders so you can try out different breeds and see what works best for your needs without having to travel too far.

By adopting a Maine Coon you are giving financial support to cat rescue, while at the same time possibly saving a life.

You are also less likely to get a kitten as an adult or senior cats are much more prevalent.

They have gone through their destructive youth phase, but many people want to see a kitten mature and grow up.

You can still get kittens through adoption, but there might be more demand for them.

Cons Of Adopting A Maine Coon

Maine Coons from adoption centers are more likely to be mixed breed Maine Coons.  

This means that the Maine Coons won’t be as purebred

It’s not unusual for a Maine Coon in a shelter to have experienced trauma, like being aggressively pursued by young children or their previous owner has died.

They also might have been placed for adoption because of issues like not getting on with another animal, or peeing in the house.

An adopted Maine Coon is also more likely to be older.

If you want a kitten as you get a new cat then it might be harder through an adoption center.

They are kittens available though.

The cat also might be initially quite shy as it carries over any reasons for it being in the adoption center.

Conclusion

While adopting Maine Coons might cost less than those Maine Coon breeders it is important to research before you adopt any Maine Coon.

If possible, visit a shelter or two so you can meet Maine Coons for adoption in person.

It is less likely that Maine Coons from a shelter will be purebred Maine Coons, but it could happen.

Maine Coons adopted from centers will cost a lot less than from professional breeders or private sellers, but you can give one of the best breeds of cat a new home much more cheaply.

Maine Coons from adoption centers will typically be anything up to $350 and occasionally even free if the cat is old enough, say over 7 years of age.

Adopting a Maine Coon is a great way to give an unfortunate cat a new home and you can possibly save a life, but be aware of the issues before you commit.

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