So, I got this idea in my head, right? I really wanted a Maine Coon. You know, those big, fluffy cats. Awesome personalities. And since I’m here in Indiana, I figured, gotta find a cattery close by, or at least in the state. Made sense, didn’t it?
The Search Begins
First thing I did, like anyone I guess, was hit the internet. Typed in “Maine Coon cattery Indiana” into the search bar. Boom. A whole list popped up. Looked easy at first, but man, it wasn’t. Some websites, I swear, looked like they hadn’t been touched since the dinosaurs roamed the earth. All clunky and hard to find anything. Then others, they’d have these amazing looking cats, but then you’d see “no kittens available” or a waitlist a mile long. Frustrating, I tell ya.
I spent a good few evenings just sifting through sites. Made a list, crossed some off. Some just didn’t give me a good feeling, you know? Like, pictures were blurry, or not much info about the parent cats or their health. Red flags for me.
Making Contact – The Real Test
Okay, so I had my shorter list. Then came the part where I actually had to reach out. Sent a bunch of emails. Some catteries, they got back to me super quick. Others? Crickets. Like, days would go by. I’m thinking, “Hello? Are you even still in business?” It’s a bit of a pet peeve, bad communication. If they can’t email back, how are they with their cats, right?
Then I tried calling a couple. Some folks were really nice, happy to chat. Answered all my questions. And believe me, I had a lot. Stuff like:
- What health tests do you do on the parent cats?
- Can I see pictures of the parents?
- How are the kittens socialized?
- What kind of food are they on?
You know, the important stuff. Some breeders, it felt like I was interrogating them. They’d give short answers, or act like I was bothering them. Nah, not for me. If you’re passionate, you’ll talk about your cats, right?
Narrowing It Down
After all that, the list got even shorter. It really came down to who seemed genuine. Who actually cared about where their kittens were going. Some places, it felt like they were just trying to make a quick buck. I wanted a breeder who loved the breed, who was doing it for the right reasons. You can usually tell by how they talk about their animals and their process. Lots of pictures, videos, clear answers – that’s what I was looking for.
I found a couple that I really started to vibe with. They were open, shared tons of info, and just seemed like good people who truly loved their Maine Coons. It wasn’t just a transaction for them. They asked me questions too, which I liked. Showed they cared where their kittens ended up.
Finally Finding “The One” (Well, the Cattery!)
It took some digging, not gonna lie. More effort than I thought it would be. But eventually, I did connect with a cattery here in Indiana that felt right. They were transparent, answered everything, and you could just tell their cats were well-loved and well-cared for. It was a relief, actually. All that searching paid off. They weren’t the flashiest, maybe didn’t have the fanciest website, but the substance was there. The communication was great, and they were happy to show me everything I asked about, even if it was just through video calls and lots of photos because of how things are sometimes.
So yeah, that was my journey trying to find a Maine Coon cattery in Indiana. A bit of a slog, but worth it to find someone you trust. If you’re looking, just be patient and ask a ton of questions. Don’t settle for the first one you find unless they really knock your socks off with how good they are. Good luck with your own search!
