REFERENCES

The Maine Coon cat came into being through natural selection. It was first sighted in the state of Maine on the east coast of America. The "Maine Cat" lived in barns similar to our "moggy" and showed special traits which were very appealing to the pride of US farmers and they showed off their "Coon Cats" in country fairs. In 1960s and 1970s it became a recognized breed. More recently, new foundation lines have been introduced to reinforce the gene pool of the breed. These popular foundation cats have been taken from barns in and around Maine, tested for good health and used for breeding. The Maine Coon cat is a  farm cat making its way into cities; something like a polar bear making its way into the Sahara.

I try to give back the natural habitat they once used to live in, on our farm in the outback of Gisborne.  They can go outside for a swim in the creek or a splash in the pond whenever they wish to. They hunt for mice and rabbits and we shoot turkeys for them. There is absolutely no traffic and my eyeing tom-cat has scared away every intruder since he moved in last year. It's peaceful, quiet and safe out here.... if you want to make sure this cattery is ok, come and have a look for yourself.

BREEDERS AWARD OF MERIT

Cat show Christchurch .......17th April 2004    -    for Gone Wild Smoerre
Cat show Napier ................ 2nd May 2004    -    for Gone Wild Purrl Grey    2 BAM & BIS & Supreme Exhibit
Cat show Blenheim ........... 10th July 2004    -    for Gone Wild Smoerre
Cat show Nelson ..............  24th July 2004     -   for Gone Wild Smoerre
Cat show Dunedin ............. 1 August 2004    -    for Gone Wild Smoerre ...  as she drags him to every show
Cat show Christchurch .......20 March 2005    -    for Gone Wild Smoerre
Cat show Nelson  .............. 31st July 2005    -    for Gone Wild Salsa 
Cat show Tauranga ........... 11th June 2006    -    for Gone Wild Brigitte Bardot    2 Breeders Award of Merit (BAM)


                      

What new owners say about their Maine Coons Gone Wild

"I have nothing but nice things to say about Mika. He can do no wrong and is spoilt rotten !!! He is a fabulous cat. He always announces his arrival with his little chirpy voice. He definitely knows he is special though. Kevin says he feels privileged when Mika smooches up to him!  Mika is a constant source of entertainment. He is a real clown. He likes to watch what ever I am doing too. He just sits quietly observing.  Maine Coons are the best."

Bossi is a gentle giant.  She is extremely massive, everyone always makes comments on both how beautiful and massive she is (especially her tail).  She really looks like a wild cat.  She walks me to my car when I leave for work and then waits inside my front door for me every day when I get home from work.  She follows me round the house and generally just likes to hang out wherever I am (very loyal).  Every morning she comes and sits on me to wake me up for pats (and probably food) – very cute.  Her fur is extremely soft, long and gorgeous (bundles of fur everywhere), she is irresistible to pat.  Every time I look at her I think gosh you're beautiful…..she really is stunning.

As a cat lover all my life I have owned many much loved 'moggies'. We got our first Maine Coon boy 'Foxi' in October 2004 and we are continually amazed at his antics and personality compared to our 'moggies'. He is very laid back and placid and interested in whatever we are doing. We were so happy with 'Foxi',  that in May 2005 we got our little girl 'Nizza' who is absolutely beautiful with the sweetest nature. Our two maines get on very well together. They sleep in the same bed even though they have separate beds, wash each other and during the day when outside are always not far away from each other. They are both friendly towards our neighbours' cats and show no aggression at all. We could not be happier with our choice of the Maine Coon breed and would recommend them to any cat lover.

I left a message on your phone, but thought I'd write you an email also.  I entered Gucci (Gonewild Salsa) in the Nelson Cat Show on Sunday.  This was both the first cat show for her and myself.   She now weighs 4.7kg and all of the judges remarked on how excellent she was in every way, eyes, head, length of body and tail, the list went on. So thank you for not only my fantastic pet, but for what apparently is also an excellent example of Maine Coon. Hope you are pleased with this result.  I was uncertain how she would go, given that I had never showed a cat before, but was very pleased by the end what was a very long day. 

Choosing a breed of pedigree cat is probably a little like naming the first baby. I wanted a Siamese, she a Ragdoll. I wanted brave, strong and demanding, she cute and cuddly.  Our first Maine Coon sighting immediately put all others from question. After several months of careful investigation we settled on Gisborne’s Gone Wild, despite the fact that we live in Auckland – and would never personally sight the chosen kitten.  Then to our own amazement, 5 days after taking our first male from the Air NZ flight, we bought his sister. Ingrid’s indisputable knowledge of cats and the Maine Coon in particular is awesome. Our kittens Grandparents are from two separate European countries with the parents in turn coming from completely distinct genetic lines. Our Vet, a popular Auckland feline specialist and intimately familiar with all the great breeds, describes both animals as outstanding, and the breeder  clearly first class.  
At 22 weeks our male is as large as most toms and will likely exceed 10 kg, while the females not much smaller. But it’s not their size, massive webbed feet or enormous ears; we’re now used to that. What amazes is their intoxicating personalities. The male doesn’t meow, but chirps like the Africa Cheetah. He’s affectionate like a dog, yet tactile and caring; while she’s aloof but always by mind side. At 20 weeks I spotted them stalking an old tom in a paddock next door. After 20 minutes our male is close enough to reach out and touch the tom's backside with his huge paws. Have you ever seen a 20 week old kitten stalk an unknown tom, in a yard they’ve only just discovered? Yet they have neither fear nor fight. Attributes that we’re certain are bred from this breeder.  
For the Maine Coons – there’s only Gone Wild.            Dotti & Mara

FOUNDATION CATS

Today there are "new foundation cats" and even "newer foundation cats" - but it started off in the glory 60s with the "Top 5"

"Top 5" cats are:

  • Andy Katt of Heidi-Ho
  • Bridget Katt of Heidi-Ho
  • Dauphin de France of Tati-Tan
  • Tatiana of Tati-Tan
  • Whittemore Smokie Joe

ABOUT KEEPING ANIMALS FOR BREEDING

  I want my breeding cats to have a life as normal as possible.
  First of all it had to be a safe place, especially road safe, 
  ideally no traffic; so we get one car a day and that's the
  post(wo)man
  Secondly I want a "cat run" where cats can actually run  
  The housing should not look like a cage  
  The enclosure should look as natural as possible with a     
  natural scratching pole and natural water supply 
  plenty of shelter, shade and windbreak
  hidey-holes and hideaways
  natural entertainment with everything that moves outside 

   Ideally breeding cats live like any other spoilt rotten pet but
   with separating males and females to control reproduction.

WELCOME TO OUR FARM

MAINE COONS HAVE IN THEIR GENES

  • 65-70% of the top five cats
  • 50-55% of the top three cats
  • 35-40% of the top two cats
  • 30-35% Clones

INBREEDING COEFFICIENT

  When a cat is mated with a sister/brother: 25 %
  When a cat is mated with a parent: 25 %
  When a cat is mated with a halfsister/halfbrother: 12.5 %
  When a cat is mated with a grandparent: 12.5 %
  When a cat is mated with a cousin: 6,25 %

www.jaiatipis.com

www.backyardamerica.com

www.cedarshed.com 

WELCOME TO OUR FARM

CLONES

In 1978 Heidi Ho Sonkey Bill was born, a grand son and double great grand son of Andy and Bridget Katt of Heidi Ho. When bred to Tanstaafl Polly Adeline the amazing thing was that their offspring all looked alike, almost like clones... So when we nowadays speak of "clones" we are talking about the sons and daughters of Sonkey and Polly. The significance of the clones is, that they were used over and over, because they threw nice show quality cats and really added size. So many breeders decided that if a little was good, a lot was better. So although the clones themselves did not have a very high inbreeding coefficient (9.4%), there was done a lot of line breeding with them and their offspring. Nowadays many Maine Coons have pedigrees with 35% clones, sometimes even up to 50% clones. If you analyze pedigrees of today's Maine Coons then there is   this very *one* couple that is so prevalent in our pedigrees.

OUTCROSS  CATS

  • 50% or less of the top five cats (average 65-70%) or
  • 35% or less of the top three cats (average 50-55%) or
  • 25% or less of the top two cats (average 35-40%) or
  • 20% or less of the clones (average 30-35%)

HEVENGIFT JOHN STARR

         Inbreeding: 3.13%             Clones: 43.8%

         Top 2 = 29.6%
         Top 3 = 52.2%
         Top 5 = 68.8%                  D.o.B.: 26 January 1991

Silver mackerel tabby with white     Import  Milan/Italy ... Cattery Real Coon
"Sonkey Bill" (D.o.B. January 21,1978) and "Polly Adeline" (D.o.B. November 5, 1977) 
were the parents of a multitude of today's Maine Coons. They produced the "Clones".

"WHEPS"


brown spotted tabby  (tigree) ...  Cattery Real Coon, Milan-Italy;
If you want to look up the pedigree of  the sire, go to   "Hevengift John Starr"   and see how close they are to the originals   Maine Coon Database: www.pawpeds.com 

          Enrich your life with a Maine Coon kitten       

  

Through the

 

judge's eyes

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