One of the most common sources of confusion for first-time Maine Coon buyers is the deposit and reservation process. How does a waitlist work? What does a deposit actually secure? What happens between putting down a deposit and bringing your kitten home? And what are your rights if something changes?

Here is a clear, honest explanation of how the process works at responsible catteries — and what to watch out for.

Why Deposits Exist

Responsible breeders do not sell kittens on a first-come, first-served basis at the door. They use deposits to manage their waitlists, ensure that families are serious, and give themselves the ability to plan litters responsibly.

A deposit is a commitment from the buyer that they are serious about getting a kitten. It is also a commitment from the breeder that a kitten will be reserved for that buyer. Without deposits, breeders would have no way to manage demand, and buyers would have no way to secure their place in line.

How Waitlists Typically Work

Most reputable breeders maintain a waitlist. When you reach out and express interest, you are added to the list. When a litter is born and kittens are old enough to be evaluated (usually around 6 to 8 weeks), the breeder works through the waitlist in order, offering each family their pick of available kittens based on their preferences.

First deposit, first pick — this is the standard. The family that placed their deposit first gets to choose first from the available kittens. This is why reaching out early matters, even if you are not ready to bring a kitten home for several months.

What a Deposit Secures

A deposit secures your place on the waitlist and, once a specific kitten is selected, reserves that kitten for you. The deposit is applied toward the total purchase price — so if the kitten costs $3,500 and the deposit is $1,000, you pay $2,500 at go-home.

At Dashing Coons, the deposit is $1,000 and it is non-refundable. It is not an extra fee — it is the first payment toward your kitten. It also activates your written health guarantee from the moment it is placed. Payment is processed securely through Intuit QuickBooks. Once you have selected your kitten, that kitten is taken off the market and held for you until go-home day.

What Happens Between Deposit and Go-Home

This is one of the best parts of working with a responsible breeder. Between the time you place your deposit and the time your kitten comes home, you should receive regular updates — photos, videos, developmental milestones. You are watching your kitten grow up in real time.

At Dashing Coons, we send photo and video updates throughout the kitten's development. We are also available for video calls so you can see your kitten live and ask questions. We want you to feel connected to your kitten before it ever comes home.

Go-Home Day

Kittens go home at 10 to 12 weeks. This is the standard in responsible breeding — earlier than 10 weeks is too young for a kitten to be separated from its mother and littermates. The remaining balance is due at go-home.

At go-home, your kitten will be fully vaccinated, vet-checked, and come with TICA registration paperwork, a health guarantee, and a care packet with everything you need to get started.

What to Ask Before Placing a Deposit

Before you put any money down, make sure you have a written contract that specifies: what the deposit covers, what happens if the litter does not produce a kitten matching your preferences, what the refund policy is, and what the health guarantee covers.

A legitimate breeder will have all of this in writing. If a breeder is vague about any of these terms, that is a red flag.

If you are ready to start the process with Dashing Coons, reach out here. We are happy to walk you through everything, answer your questions, and help you figure out if one of our kittens is the right fit for your family.

You can also see our current available kittens — some are available now with no waitlist required.