Dashing Coons is based in Ballwin, Missouri — in the St. Louis metro — and this is where the program lives. The queens are here, the kittens are born here, and local families are welcome to visit in person. Samuel runs the cattery himself, with no staff, no middlemen, and no outsourced care. If you call or text, you reach the person who raised the kitten you are asking about.

What does Dashing Coons specialize in?

The program is built around two things that are genuinely rare in the St. Louis market: black smoke and blue smoke European Maine Coons, and polydactyl (MCP) lines registered under TICA's Maine Coon Polydactyl designation. Black smoke and blue smoke kittens are born appearing nearly solid — black or dark gray — and develop a luminous silver undercoat over their first year that makes the coat look almost lit from within. Polydactyl Maine Coons carry the extra-toe trait that traces back to the breed's New England origins and is now recognized as its own TICA designation. Both are specialty lines that take deliberate breeding decisions to produce consistently, and they are the focus of what we do.

How is the cattery structured?

Dashing Coons keeps a maximum of three breeding females at any time. That cap is intentional. It means every queen gets direct personal attention, every litter is raised in the home rather than in a separate facility, and every kitten is handled daily from birth. Dashing Coons is based in Ballwin, Missouri, serving the St. Louis metro. Our sires and family support base are in southern Illinois, which gives the program access to strong European bloodlines without overextending what one person can manage well. Small is the point — not a limitation to grow past.

What documentation comes with a kitten from Dashing Coons?

Every kitten goes home with TICA registration paperwork, a written health contract, and DNA test results from the breeding cats through UC Davis VGL. The health contract covers the kitten against genetic conditions tested in the parent cats. Samuel stays reachable after the sale — Ballwin families who have questions six months in can call the same number they used to reserve their kitten.

Can I visit before I commit?

Yes, and it is encouraged. Ballwin is home base, which means St. Louis metro families can come meet the kittens in person, see the queens, and ask every question they have before putting down a deposit. If you are not ready to visit yet, a phone or video call is a good starting point. Samuel can show you the current litter on video and give you an honest picture of what is available and what is coming up.

To ask about availability or schedule a visit, call or text Samuel directly at 618-973-6926. You can also browse available kittens or check upcoming litters to see what is on the way.

Further reading: European Maine Coon Breeder — Ballwin, MO (St. Louis metro) · European vs. American Maine Coon · Black Smoke Maine Coons Explained · Polydactyl Maine Coons Explained · Health Testing Program