Adopting a Maine Coon in London: rescues, rules and costs

The count under the short answer is live: it shows every Maine Coon and Maine Coon cross listed with us in London and within about 35 miles, and each profile links to the rescue. Pedigree Maine Coons rarely reach the general cat rescues around London, so a low count, or none, is the honest picture. The GCCF, the UK pedigree cat registry, says each of its affiliated cat clubs has a welfare officer who keeps lists of older or rescued cats that need homes.

Often through no fault of their own. The Maine Coon Cat Club says the reasons vary, from an allergy to cats in the household to emigrating or the breakdown of a marriage or partnership. It says most of the cats it posts have no known medical or behaviour problems, though occasionally they do, and that some need a home with no other animals or children.

Neither route publishes a set fee, so ask. What Strawberry's fee buys is clear: its homepage says all its cats are neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, and flea and worm treated, with 5 weeks' free insurance, and its adoption page says lifetime insurance is a requirement for every cat it rehomes. With a cat from the club's page, ask the owner what vet work has been done.

With a bought kitten, ask the breeder the same; Cats Protection gives £200 to well over £1,000 for a registered pedigree. Running costs are the same either way: PDSA puts the minimum at £79 a month.

The GCCF calls the Maine Coon generally a healthy breed, affected by two hereditary conditions. One is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a thickening of the heart muscle that can lead to heart failure; there is a DNA test for HCM in Maine Coons, and breeding cats can have a heart scan. The other is hip dysplasia, for which there is no simple gene test, though breeding cats can be X-rayed.

• Early heart disease can be silent. International Cat Care says genetic defects linked to cardiomyopathy have been recognised in Maine Coons, that cats may show no signs early on, and that a vet may pick up early signs, such as a heart murmur, during an examination, one reason it advises a check-up at least once a year.
• What the rescue checks. Strawberry Persian and Pedigree Cat Rescue says each cat has a vet check when it is vaccinated, but that it doesn't DNA test, scan or X-ray every cat, so ask what is known about the one you like.
• Joints. PDSA lists hip dysplasia, patellar luxation (a slipping kneecap) and HCM as problems Maine Coons are prone to.
• Weight and coat. The GCCF says Maine Coons can tend to become overweight, and PDSA says the coat needs daily attention to reduce knots and tangles.

Space matters more than garden. The GCCF says Maine Coons are high energy and, because of their size, need plenty of room to play, with a very strong climbing frame; it also says they are slow to mature, taking up to four years, and bond well with another cat or the family dog. PDSA says they love being around people but prefer running around on the floor to curling up on a lap.

Strawberry Persian and Pedigree Cat Rescue only rehomes indoor-only cats: it will rehome to a flat, but windows stay closed and there is no balcony access unless the balcony is fully cat-proofed. With a cat from the club's page, ask the owner how it has lived so far, indoors only or with a secure outside space.

Rescue Maine Coons are adopted, not sold: you apply for a particular cat, the rescue decides which home suits it best, and you pay its adoption fee. The Maine Coon Cat Club says it is very rare for a kitten to need a new home, so expect an adult.

If you decide to buy, Cats Protection suggests a breeder registered with a breed association such as the GCCF, and seeing the kitten with its mother at home rather than buying from a video or social media advert. The GCCF says there is a DNA test for HCM in the breed, so ask for the parents' results. Report a suspected scam advert to Report Fraud, which replaced Action Fraud.