If you own or are thinking about owning a Maine Coon, chances are you’ve heard the term “Pedigree Papers”, and for very good reason. Maine Coon pedigrees guarantee a cat’s purebred status, and is the only way to really know that your Maine Coon is really a Maine Coon.
Pedigree papers are provided and guaranteed by any one of the various cat registries, which a breeder will usually associate with and register the kitten with once they are born. These papers are particularly important because there are plenty of “backyard breeders” out there that will sell you a mixed-bred cat that looks very much like a Maine Coon, but isn’t.
What Are Pedigree Papers?
These documents trace the lineage of a cat to confirm their purebred status. The method is much like how you would document your own family tree; a purebred cats’ tree consists of their great-grandparents, grandparents, and parents, all leading down to themselves.
Maine Coon pedigrees almost always have at least three generations listed and will also usually have the name of the cattery associated with each ancestor as well as their color and pattern.
Here is an example of some pedigree papers belonging to a Maine Coon in Milwaukee.
How to Read Pedigree Papers
Pedigree papers usually present the lineage in a bracketed form, with the most recent cat’s name on the far left of the paper. The the right of that are their mother and father’s names, usually the father (sire) above the mother (dam). To the right of that are the grandparents’ names, and so on. These documents can either be in paper or digital form.
What Information is Listed
Cats will usually be listed with their name, registration numbers (provided by a registry such as Cat Fancier’s Association) and colors and patterns.
The cat’s name consists of the cattery they were born at followed by their given name (“cattery” + “name”). In a sense, their cattery name is like a person’s last name, although it’s written first for purebred cats.
They may also have their title listed, although these can change since the first printing of the pedigree papers.
Cat Titles
Many titles exist within the cat showing world, with just a few being listed below:
- Breed Winner (BW): The National Best of Breed winner according to CFA
- Champion (CH): The first title that a cat can compete for in the championship class. The specific requirements depend on the association.
- Grand Champion (GC, GRC, GCH, or Gr. Ch.): A cat must first become a Champion before it can begin to compete towards the title of Grand Champion. The specific requirements depend on the association.
- Distinguished Merit (DM): A title awarded by CFA or FIFe to female cats who have produced a certain number of awarded cats. For example, in CFA it’s awarded to females who have produced five CFA Grand Champions or Grand Premiers, and to male cats who have produced fifteen Grand Champions or Grand Premiers.
Certified or not?
Certified pedigree documents are signed or stamped by the organization the cat is registered with, while uncertified pedigrees are just publicly displayed information that are not necessarily guaranteed to be true.
Registration Papers Vs. Pedigree Papers
It’s important to note that there is a distinction between pedigree papers and registration papers. Pedigree papers simply show a cat’s lineage and prove their purebred status, while registration papers show ownership and can provide more information on the cat, such as vaccines and microchip number.
Oftentimes both of these are provided when a purebred cat is registered, however only the registered owner of the cat can receive duplicate copies of the registration papers, while anyone can technically obtain a copy of the pedigree documents.
Receiving Registration Papers
You’ll receive your registration papers from the breeder (only breeders can usually register a purebred cat). Many times your breeder will stipulate that the cat must first be neutered in order to receive the registration papers, which is often a stipulation of the cat registry that the breeder is associated with.
List of Cat Registries
Any one of these registries may register a purebred cat or provide pedigree papers. Click on each link below to see the Maine Coon breed standards of each registry:
- Cat Fancier’s Association (CFA)
- Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe)
- The International Cat Association (TICA)
- Australian Cat Federation (ACF)
- American Cat Fancier’s Association (ACFA)
- Governing Council of Cat Fancy (GCCF)
How Many Generations Does a Cat Need on Their Papers?
The significance of the number of generations on a cat’s papers depends on several factors.
Cats imported for breeding purposes need only three or so generation pedigrees registered with a cat registry.
Cats imported from outside the US that are not registered with the Cat Fanciers’ Association must have at least a five generation pedigree for most breeds in order to be registered for showing.
How to Obtain Pedigree Papers
You can get your cat’s pedigree papers from most registries that the cat is registered with by requesting the documents. You’ll typically have to pay a fee. Sometimes the breeder will also provide the papers, but they are not required to.
Keep in mind that these documents do not show proof of ownership like registration papers do, but are simply a way of knowing for sure that your cat is a purebred Maine Coon.
FAQs: Maine Coon Pedigrees
The answer to this question depends on a variety of factors, including the cat’s age, gender, breed, and color. Generally speaking, purebred Maine Coons can cost anywhere from $600 to $2,000. However, show-quality cats may cost even more. Additionally, the cost of a Maine Coon can vary greatly depending on the breeder and location.
Other factors that may affect the cost of a Maine Coon include Maine Coon pedigrees, health history, and whether or not it has been spayed or neutered. It’s also important to note that Maine Coons are kittens can cost significantly less than an adult cat.
The Maine Coon is a natural breed that evolved in the United States. Over time, various cat breeds have been used to create the Maine Coon, including the Norwegian Forest Cat, Siberian Cat, and the American Shorthair. As a result, the exact combination of breeds used to create the Maine Coon is unknown.
However, the two most commonly accepted breeds used to create the Maine Coon are the Norwegian Forest Cat and the American Shorthair. The Norwegian Forest Cat is a larger breed with a thick, long coat and tufted ears. The American Shorthair is a medium-sized breed with a short coat and pointed ears.
The combination of these two breeds has resulted in a larger cat with a long, fluffy coat, tufted ears, and an intelligent, loyal personality. The Maine Coon is also known for its large size and its ability to adapt to many different climates.
1. Silver Tabby: Silver tabby Maine Coons have a light grey coat with darker grey stripes, and sometimes a light white chest. They have a very unique look and are highly sought after.
2. Blue Tabby: Blue tabby Maine Coons have a light blue coat with darker blue stripes. This color is also quite rare, but it’s not as sought after as silver tabby.
3. Red Tabby: Red tabby Maine Coons have a light red coat with darker red stripes. This color is not as rare as the other two, but it’s still quite uncommon.
On the one hand, the Maine Coon is an officially recognized breed of cat by The International Cat Association (TICA) and the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA). This means that a Maine Coon is a purebred cat, with clearly defined physical characteristics, and a long and distinguished history.
On the other hand, the Maine Coon is not a “pedigree” cat. This is because, unlike most other purebred cats, the Maine Coon does not have a known ancestral line. It is believed to be a natural breed, which means that it has developed over time without any artificial selection or intervention. As a result, there is no official record of its pedigree, and no way to guarantee that a particular Maine Coon is “purebred”.
The most obvious way to tell a Maine Coon from other breeds is by its size and shape. Maine Coons tend to be larger and heavier than other breeds, with long, thick fur and a thick, bushy tail. A Maine Coon’s body should be rectangular in shape, and its legs are usually longer than other cats’.
Another way to identify a Maine Coon is by its coat. Maine Coons have a thick, luxurious coat that comes in a variety of colors. The most common color is brown, but they also come in black, red, cream, and white. Their fur is usually a bit longer than other breeds and is usually darker at the tips.
The Maine Coon’s facial features are also distinctive. They have a broad forehead, a strong jawline, and large, almond-shaped eyes. Their ears are usually tufted and their whiskers are long and thick.
Not only that, but Maine Coons are known for their intelligence and sociability. They are very affectionate and loyal to their owners, and are often called “gentle giants” due to their calm and gentle demeanor.
Finally, Maine Coon pedigrees can really only be determined by their pedigree papers, regardless of their physical appearance.
