Welcome to MaineVu Maine Coons Cattery Marjorie & Philip Berger

Welcome to MaineVu Maine Coons Cattery!

We are a small home/hobbyist TICA and CFA registered  cattery located in Cartersville, GA an hour Northwest of Atlanta. We have  successfully shown our cats in The International Cat Association (TICA) and The Cat Fanciers Association (CFA).

MaineVu Maine Coons is a Negative cattery for the Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and the Panleukopenia Virus (FPV).

Although our reigning male Mojo has been retired from  breeding, he will remain with us and help train  our kittens so that t hey will  become wonderful companions or show cats.

We are thrilled to announce our newest male; MTNest JR of MaineVu,  JR will be a huge asset to MaineVu. He is Negative for HCM, SMA, & PK Deficiency.

We have two wonderful girls, MTNest Yankee Rose of MaineVu and CH  MTNest Metallica of MaineVu and  three  up and coming girls; Abscatz Dreamboat Annie of MaineVu , MaineVu Georgia and announcing Cloistercoon Josie of MaineVu , who will be joining us soon!

We are very grateful to Judy and David Bernbaum and David Billingsley  for their friendship and guidance,, and for allowing us the privilege of having their cats in our lives.

All of our cats are DNA Negative/Normal  for HCM, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and undergo an echo cardiogram every 1-2 years by a Board Certified Feline Cardiologist. Our kittens pedigree includes, not only the sire and dam screened normal, but so are the grandparents, great-grandparents, and other relatives. Documentation of the parents' heart screenings is provided to each kitten buyer. No breeder can absolutely guarantee a cat's heart won't develop heart disease, but we are more comfortable knowing that our breeding cats have normal, healthy hearts.

Pyruvate Kinase (PK) Deficiency is a blood disorder that usually manifests as severe anemia, can cause lethargy, jaundice, enlargement of the abdomen and weight loss. Because this genome defect is an "autosomal recessive" genetic anomaly, it takes both male and female cats being a carrier to affect their kittens. This means that when a PK DEF heterozygous "carrier" (male or female) mates with a homozygous "clear" or non-carrier cat, that there is a 50% chance that the kittens "could" become at PK Def carrier, (the remaining kittens could become homozygous non-carriers). HOWEVER none of the kittens would be in danger of developing PK Def.

In 2014 we began testing our cats for PK Deficiency to determine if any of them were carriers. We are proud to report that all of our cats are Negative/Normal for the disease., our cats are also DNA Negative/Normal for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). and HCM  (Cardiomyopathy).

We utilize the latest medical screening methods available at MaineVu Maine Coons to ensure that we do not knowingly pass on unhealthy lines. We use UC Davis for all DNA testing.

As new methods of testing become available they will be incorporated into our breeding program.

Our kittens are born in a whelping pen in our kitten nursery and are handled daily.  They remain with their mamma and siblings in the whelping pen until  they are 4-5 weeks old and then they graduate to a play pen and begin learning litter box training 101, and are introduced to solid food.  At 8 weeks old they receive their first vet visit and  kitten vaccinations. They are then allowed the freedom of their nursery and our guest wing of our home under strict supervision. They receive their second set of vaccinations at 12 weeks, are wormed and receive a microchip.

Our motto is "Happy Tails  & Happy Hearts"

Our goal is to improve, preserve and protect  the Maine Coon Cat, bred to the TICA and CFA breed standards, and to produce Healthy, Happy Maine Coon Kittens as wonderful companions or show cats, who will greet you when you come home with head butts and trills of conversation.


Marjorie and Philip Berger
MaineVu Maine Coons
"Happy Tails & Happy Hearts"
TICA Outstanding Cattery since 2010
CFA Cattery of Excellence since 2010
MCBFA Full Breeder Member

We are NEGATIVE  for both Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV). all of our cats are DNA Negative for HCM and SMA and PK Deficiency.   

All of cats will have echo-cardiograms yearly to rule  out HCM and be cleared fro breeding. by Gil Jscobs, DVM, Cardiology.

Our kittens health and well being extremely important to us. Each kitten sees our vet Richard Moore, DVM in Cartersville, GA,, and received two sets of age appropriate kitten vaccines, is wormed and receives a microchip. Our contract includes a spay/neuter non declaw agreement and a 2 year health guarantee for heart related illness. If your kitten succumbs within that period of time we will replace your kitten from the next available litter, provided you bring your kitten to a certified feline veterinarian for a necropsy. Please be sure to bring your kitten to your vet within 72 hours of receiving them for a healthy kitten check up. Failure to comply with this, will void your health guarantee.

We feed our kittens and cats Royal Canin for Maine Coons and  Royal Canin Queen to our expectant mothers, Purina -Friskies ,Fancy Feast , Proplan and Wellness.

Remember to always provide your kitten and cats with several water sources. A Drink Well fountain and several bowls of water is necessary as Maine Coons require a lot of water.

MaineVu Pedigree Maine Coons

Upcoming Shows (Subject to Change)

Skyway Cat Club

Largo FL, November 17-18, 2018

Nature Coast Cat Club

Inverness, FL December 8-9, 2018

Atlanta Fantasticats Cat Club

Temple GA, December 29-30, 2018

Mystical Moon Cat Club

Ocala FL, January 12-13, 2019

Ancient City Cat Club

St Augustine, FL February 23-24, 2019

Alabama Claws and Paws Cat Club

Anniston, AL March 16-19, 2019

Skyway Cat Club

Largo, FL April 20-21, 2019

Show News:

Annie had an amazing show debut at the Skyway Cat Club show this past weekend, making 8 out of 12 finals! Not too shabby for a 5 month old female!

JR made 4 finals, against some very tough competition, and is more than halfway to his Grand Champion status.

Stay tuned for this dynamic duo's next show at Inverness FL December 8-9!!

Future Breeding Plans:

Tallie/JR litter due early January.  Tallie is a wonderful mother and we are excited to see what she presents us with next!

The expected colors for Tallie/JR litter: solid black, black smoke, silver, brown, red, red silver males and solid black, black smoke, smoke tortie, silver torbie, silver, brown torbie and brown females. Some of the kittens may have white bibs and paws.

Rosie will be bred to JR her next heat cycle. Stay tuned for more information.

To be added to our waiting list for future litters, please contact us at MaineVu@aol.com or 678-719-8587 daily from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm. 

TERMINOLOGY FOR KITTEN BUYERS:

AVAILABLE: Kitten is available and can be reserved once a Kitten Application is received and vetted. Once approved $250.00 deposit will hold a kitten for you .

Tentatively Reserved: Contract has been sent, awaiting deposit and signed contract. Kitten is still available.

RESERVED: A deposit has been received and a contract has been signed. This kitten is NOT AVAILABLE.

SOLD: This kitten has left for it's new home.

UNDER BREEDER EVALUATION: This kitten is being watched for a show show/breeder program. Our goal is to continue breeding kittens that adhere to TICA and CFA breed standards. On occasion we will observe certain kittens for our breeding program or other breeders programs. It can take several weeks before a final decision is made, as it does take time to see if certain traits are developed. If you are interested in a kitten that is Under Evaluation, please let us know as it could be available at a later date.

Reputable breeders are not only happy to answer questions but also welcome them as  Is the location/cattery visibly clean. their first set of kitten shots. Your gut instinct is a good indication once you've visited the cattery location on whether to proceed with a purchase or not.  We welcome contracted kitten buyers to our home when the kittens are at least 8 weeks old and have received their first set of kitten vaccines.

1. How long have you been breeding cats? How many breeds do you have? You're looking for someone who has been breeding cats long enough to know what they are doing, someone who concentrates on one breed.

2. Have your breeding cats been shown or championed?  A breeder who shows their cats is a good thing! Showing is a sign of someone who has confidence in their cats and also someone who's not just into breeding to make a buck. This lets you know the cats fit the standard and you are getting a quality cat.  It differentiates reputable breeders from those who are just breeding to fill the world with more cats or to make money.

3. What genetic defects are prevelant in this breed? How are you breeding to avoid those defects?  Do you test your breeding cats for these genetic/infectious diseases?  You want someone who's up-front and knowledgeable about problems in the breed, and someone who's actively working to minimize them.  Maine Coons have a specific set of health issues that a reputable breeder should be knowledgable about ; HCM, PK-Def, SMA and PKD.  Reputable breeders will also perform genetic testing on their breeding cats.  They should be willing to show you documentation on test results to confirm the parents are free from disease and genetic issues.  Breeding  cats should have an echo cardiogram yearly for HCM administered by a board certified veterinary cardiologist.

DO NOT BUY from a breeder who will not show proof of health! 

4. How large is your breeding  program? Where do your cats spend most of their time? You're looking for someone who isn't overwhelmed with cats, so each kitten can get the care and socialization that are so important. Make sure you get a look "behind the scenes" to ensure the cats are kept in healthy conditions — don't just take the breeder's word for it.

5. What makes this kitten or cat "pet quality" or "show quality"?  It takes considerable time and many years of experience in making a determination if a kitten is show quality. Our goal is to produce healthy kittens that adhere to the TICA and CFA breed standards and have placed many "show quality" kittens as pets, as we feel each kitten represents our cattery, and our pet buyers deserve the very best, even though the kitten will not be shown.

6. Whenever possible visit the cattery.  Are the cats caged or part of the family?  Is the location/cattery visibley clean.  We welcome contracted kitten buyers to our home when the kittens are at least 8 weeks old and have received their first set of kitten shots. Your gut instinct is a good indication once you've visited the cattery location on whether to proceed with a purchase or not.

7. How have they socialized the kittens? Have the kittens been around other cats? Other people?Socialization is critical in kittens 6 to 12 weeks old. Proper socialization consisting of good experiences of a kitten with other kittens and lots of different ages, sizes and types of people will give you the best chance at having a well-adjusted cat. 

8. What genetic defects are prevalent in this breed? How are you breeding to avoid those defects?  Do you test your breeding cats for these genetic/infectious diseases?  You want someone who's up-front and knowledgeable about problems in the breed, and someone who's actively working to minimize them.  Maine Coons have a specific set of health issues that a reputable breeder should be knowledgeable about ; HCM, PK-Def,  and PKD>  Reputable breeders will also perform genetic testing on their breeding cats.  They should be willing to show you documentation on test results to confirm the parents are free from disease and genetic issues.  Breeding  cats should have an echo cardiogram yearly for HCM administered by a board certified veterinary cardiologist.

9. Do they have a breeders contract? Does your breeder require a breeder's contract? Is there a health guarantee?  If so, what is in it? Is the breeder willing to take back the kitten at any time, if you can't keep it?  A good breeder will have a detailed contract that is required to be reviewed/signed before you take possession of the new kitten/cat.  A health guarantee is a sign of a good breeder who acknowledges they desire to produce and place only the healthiest kittens/cats.  Keep in mind this guarantee is often contingent upon spay/neutering, feeding program, no declawing, and keeping the cat indoors. 

10. What is the breeder currently feeding the kitten? Regardless of what they are feeding, it is ideal to continue feeding the same food for the first few days at home to minimize the risk of gastrointestinal disturbances. If you choose to change the diet, do it gradually. What you feed your pet is very important to their long term health!  

11. Does the breeder answer all of your questions? A good breeder has nothing to hide and should be happy to engage in conversation while answering all your questions.   

12. Ask for references of other catteries they work with? A breeder that works with several catteries is a good sign of health and quality.  Reputable breeders will have a good network of other catteries they work with.