Closing Our Cattery with Love and Honesty
When people hear that you’re a Maine Coon breeder, they often react with excitement, admiration, or curiosity. “Oh, I bet your life is filled with adorable kittens!” they say. And yes, there have been many beautiful moments—ones I’ll treasure forever. I’ve loved every single fluffy, goofy, larger-than-life kitten that has passed through our home. I’ve memorized their personalities, kissed their tiny noses, and cried when they left for their new families.
But what no one tells you when you start breeding cats—what the industry rarely talks about out loud—is just how heartbreakingly fragile kittens truly are.
🐾 The Heartbreak Behind the Scenes
Despite the joy, there is an undercurrent of sorrow that ethical breeders carry silently. No matter how perfect the genetics are, no matter how meticulous the care, kitten loss is a constant and cruel companion—especially in a breed as complex and massive as the Maine Coon. I cannot recall a single litter where every kitten survived. Not one.
But here’s the truth that many breeders are afraid to admit: we all lose kittens. It’s not a failure, it’s biology. It’s nature being unpredictable, and sometimes unkind. But it’s devastating all the same.
People don’t talk about it because it doesn’t “sell.” No one wants to hear about the nights spent trying to revive a fading kitten or the helplessness of watching one slip away despite thousands of dollars in emergency care. But as a breeder who has always put ethics above ego, I believe honesty matters more than marketing.
💸 The True Cost of Ethical Breeding
Breeding Maine Coons ethically is not a profitable venture. In fact, it’s often the opposite. Our goal was always health first—genetic testing, continuous health screenings, early spay/neuter to prevent overpopulation, top-tier nutrition, and ongoing vet care for both adults and kittens. And while our kittens were loved like our own children, they also came with staggering medical expenses.
Since we began, vet costs have skyrocketed. Small independent clinics have been swallowed up by corporations, prices are being fixed, and the push toward unnecessary insurance plans has only made the system harder to trust. You can raise your kitten prices to try and keep up, but the math still doesn’t balance when you refuse to cut corners or compromise the wellbeing of your animals.
🧡 Why We’re Saying Goodbye
For the sake of my own mental health, for my husband’s beautiful, broken heart (he wanted to keep every kitten we raised), and for the financial strain that has grown too heavy to carry, we’ve made the incredibly difficult decision to close our cattery.
We do not have any intact, breedable cats left in our home. We do not plan to breed again. We could not—and would not—become a caged or corporate-style operation where cats are products instead of family. That was never our path.
🏡 Our Cats Are Always Welcome Home
While we may not be bringing new kittens into the world anymore, our commitment to the lives we’ve helped create hasn’t changed. Whether you adopted from us years ago or last season—your WiseGuy Maine Coon will always have a home with us, should they ever need it.
We will remain available for advice, questions, or support—for the lifetime of every kitten we’ve raised.
📸 What Comes Next?
I’m not sure yet if these breeder blogs will continue. They might. They might not. I still have over a dozen of our beloved cats living with us, and I still love photographing them, creating art inspired by them, and helping others on their feline journeys. If I can help you find your next family member—whether through advice, referrals, or just a listening ear—I’m still here.
You can always reach out.
We may have closed our doors as breeders, but our hearts remain open.
Thank you for being part of this journey with us.
With love,
Wendi Porter
WiseGuy Maine Coons
