Maine Coon kittens are among the most searched-for breeds online — which also makes them one of the most frequently used in pet scams. If you have been researching kittens and something felt slightly off about a listing, trust that instinct. Scammers have gotten good at looking real: professional-looking websites, stolen photos from legitimate breeders, even fake TICA certificates. The good news is that a legitimate breeder is easy to verify if you know what to ask for.

Dashing Coons is based in Ballwin, Missouri, serving the St. Louis metro. Our sires and family support base are in southern Illinois. We keep a maximum of 3 breeding females under direct personal care. This guide is written from that perspective — not to sell you on us, but to give you the tools to vet any breeder you talk to, including us.

The 5-point checklist: what every buyer should demand before sending money

These five things separate legitimate programs from scams and corner-cutters. A real breeder will pass all five without hesitation. If any one of them produces resistance, excuses, or deflection — stop the conversation.

Demand a live FaceTime or video call showing the actual kitten

This is the single most effective scam filter. Ask for a live, unscripted video call where you can see the specific kitten you are considering — moving, interacting, in its real environment. Not a pre-recorded video. Not photos. Live. Scammers cannot produce a kitten they do not have. A real breeder will schedule this without hesitation and will show you the parents too.

At Dashing Coons: We do live video calls on request — FaceTime, Google Meet, whatever works for you. You will see the kitten, the mother, and the room they are raised in. No scripts, no delays.

Verify the cattery is TICA-registered

The International Cat Association maintains a searchable registry of registered catteries at tica.org. Look up the cattery name yourself — do not just take the breeder's word for it. TICA registration means the breeder has agreed to operate under a published code of ethics and that breeding records exist. It is not a guarantee of perfection, but it is a meaningful baseline that scammers cannot fake.

At Dashing Coons: Dashing Coons is TICA-registered. Look us up on tica.org. If you cannot find us or the name does not match, ask us directly — we will walk you through it.

Ask for parent health documentation

Every breeding cat in a responsible program should have documented DNA health testing — at minimum for HCM, SMA, and PKDef. Ask what the parents have been tested for, when the testing was done, and whether you can see the reports. A breeder who tests will answer this clearly and specifically. Vague answers ("they're healthy"), deflection, or claims that testing "isn't necessary" are red flags. You are buying a cat that may live 15 years — the health of the parents matters.

At Dashing Coons: Every breeding cat at Dashing Coons is DNA-screened through UC Davis VGL / Optimal Selection for HCM, SMA, and PKDef. Our panels are being refreshed as part of our 2026 health program. Dated reports are shared with serious buyers on request — just ask.

Expect realistic pricing — $3,500 and up

European Maine Coon kittens from health-tested, TICA-registered programs with imported bloodlines cost real money. At Dashing Coons, kittens are priced between $3,500 and $4,500. If you see a listing for $500, $800, or even $1,500 for a "European Maine Coon" — that is either a scam, a misrepresented cat, or a program cutting corners on health testing, veterinary care, or socialization that you will pay for later. The price reflects what it actually costs to do this right.

At Dashing Coons: Our kittens are $3,500–$4,500. That reflects imported European bloodlines, full veterinary care, DNA health testing, TICA registration, and kittens raised in our home from birth. We do not discount, and we do not apologize for the price.

Prefer face-to-face pickup or personal hand-delivery

Legitimate breeders either welcome you to pick up in person or personally transport the kitten to you — they do not ship kittens via cargo or hand them off to a stranger courier. If a breeder insists on shipping and will not meet you or arrange a personal handoff, that is a warning sign. For local families, in-person pickup lets you see the cattery, meet the parents, and leave with confidence. For families further away, a personal in-cabin transport by the breeder is the gold standard.

At Dashing Coons: We offer free pickup at our home in Ballwin, Missouri. For St. Louis metro families, we provide complimentary hand-delivery. For longer distances, we personally transport kittens in-cabin — we never ship via commercial air cargo or hand off to a courier. You will meet us.

The red flags that should end the conversation immediately

Beyond the checklist above, these are the signals that mean stop — do not try to negotiate, do not give the benefit of the doubt, just walk away:

Wire transfer, Zelle to a stranger, or gift cards only. These payment methods are irreversible. No legitimate breeder requires them. A real breeder will accept a deposit through a method that offers buyer protection.
High-pressure urgency. "This kitten will be gone by tonight" or "I have five other families interested right now" — real breeders do not need to pressure you. Take your time. If the pressure is real, the kitten probably is not.
Photos that reverse-image-search to another breeder's site. Scammers steal photos from legitimate breeders constantly. Run a reverse image search on any kitten photo you are not sure about before you send anything.
No physical location or vague answers about where they are. A real cattery has a real address. If a breeder cannot tell you exactly where they are located or keeps deflecting the question, that is a serious warning sign.
Refusal to show the parents. The queen and sire tell you a great deal about what the kitten will become. A breeder who cannot or will not show you the parents on a video call is hiding something.

Is it safe to buy a Maine Coon kitten from someone I found online?

Yes — with the right vetting. Most reputable breeders today operate primarily online because that is where buyers are searching. The key is doing the work before you send any money: video call the breeder, ask to see the parents, ask about health testing, read the contract, and pay through a method that offers buyer protection. If a breeder pushes back on any of those steps, walk away. There are good breeders out there — you just have to be willing to ask the right questions.

Questions to ask any breeder before committing

These five questions separate serious programs from the rest. A breeder who answers them directly and without hesitation is worth continuing the conversation with. Vague, defensive, or evasive answers are your signal to keep looking.

Can I see the mother and father on a live video call?
What health testing have your breeding cats had, and how recently?
Are your kittens TICA-registered, and will I receive paperwork?
What does your purchase contract cover?
How will the kitten get to me — will you personally deliver or do I pick up?

How to verify Dashing Coons before you commit

We pass all five checklist points above — and we encourage you to verify every one of them yourself. Look us up on TICA. Text Sam at 618-973-6926 and ask for a live video call. Come visit us in Ballwin, Missouri if you are local. Ask to see health testing documentation. Read the contract before you sign anything.

We are a small program — a maximum of 3 breeding females under direct personal care — and Samuel answers every message himself. There is no assistant, no form response, no delay. If something feels off at any point in the conversation, you are always free to walk away. A breeder who is confident in what they have built will never pressure you not to.

◆ Dashing Coons · TICA-Registered · Ballwin, Missouri (St. Louis metro) ◆

Ready to bring home a Maine Coon?

We breed European black smoke and polydactyl Maine Coons with health-tested bloodlines. Local pickup in Ballwin, Missouri and personal hand-delivery across the St. Louis metro; longer distances discussed case by case.

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Further reading: Maine Coon Health Testing: A Buyer's Guide · How Much Does a European Maine Coon Kitten Cost? · Questions to Ask a Maine Coon Breeder · Available Kittens

How to Avoid Maine Coon Kitten Scams: A Buyer's Guide