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| Bounding Maines & Coon Mountain TICA & CFA Registered Cattery Names |
Bounding Maines is a small Cattery located on the Beaches of Northern Florida.
Its a small family affair, one of the joys of our Retirement, to breed and show our beautiful Maine Coons.
Our loved fur purrsons are raised underfoot, and they are under our feet, on our pillows, perched along the couch, ensconced on
the dining table, draped along the window sills and the biggest of our cat trees boasts the best ocean view in the house.
Its a small family affair, one of the joys of our Retirement, to breed and show our beautiful Maine Coons.
Our loved fur purrsons are raised underfoot, and they are under our feet, on our pillows, perched along the couch, ensconced on
the dining table, draped along the window sills and the biggest of our cat trees boasts the best ocean view in the house.
We Breed only a few litters each year. We make a serious and ongoing commitment to every kitten born here; at any time in their life,
we are always available to ensure they have a safe, loving home. We make every effort to see that they are genetically sound, healthy,
well socialized, and outgoing. For this reason we have a waiting list and take reservations. We screen our kitten buyers closely,
wanting loving and forever homes for our fur children. We will have as many questions for you as you should have for us.
Our kittens usually stay with us until they are between 12 and 14 weeks old, depending on their individual development. They are
current on their shots and we include a 3-year health guarantee against HCM (Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy) and a 2-year health
guarantee on all other genetic disorders.
All pet kittens will be spayed prior to leaving us. No exceptions. Breeding cats are sold only to those catteries with which we have a
close working relationship, and are under no circumstances available to the general public.
In the pages that follow we hope you will find information useful in your search for a fur companion as well as enjoy some pictures of the
Denizens of Bounding Maines. Whether you purchase from us, another reputable breeder, or make a selection from a shelter. We
welcome your questions and will be happy to assist you in finding that perfect companion.
We wish for you all the joys of responsible pet ownership.
Our Goals as Hobby Breeders
To make every attempt to breed healthy, affectionate pedigreed Maine Coon Cats
To pursue an ongoing education regarding the health, well being, and genetics of the breed.
To breed forward only those tested as genetically sound. (by all means currently available)
To show our cats in the Fancy
-as a tool to evaluate our breeding programs results by comparison to the Standard for the breed.
To ensure our kittens/retired breeders and show babies go only to loving and forever homes.
To educate, support & be available to our Kitten/Cat buyers for the lifetime of their fur companion.
To maintain an active roll in the Maine Coon community.
To do what we love and love what we do.
-and that is to take joy in encouraging the unique purrsonalities of every kitten that graces our home.
And lastly to give back to the Community of Breeders, Maine Coon & otherwise, who have welcomed, mentored,
supported and trusted us with their Bloodlines by Breeding conscientiously, selectively, and carefully to
enhance the Breed. And by, in the years ahead, paying forward with that same generosity to the dedicated,
Feline Afflicted, future owners/breeders of Maine Coons who may choose to come to the Fancy.
To make every attempt to breed healthy, affectionate pedigreed Maine Coon Cats
To pursue an ongoing education regarding the health, well being, and genetics of the breed.
To breed forward only those tested as genetically sound. (by all means currently available)
To show our cats in the Fancy
-as a tool to evaluate our breeding programs results by comparison to the Standard for the breed.
To ensure our kittens/retired breeders and show babies go only to loving and forever homes.
To educate, support & be available to our Kitten/Cat buyers for the lifetime of their fur companion.
To maintain an active roll in the Maine Coon community.
To do what we love and love what we do.
-and that is to take joy in encouraging the unique purrsonalities of every kitten that graces our home.
And lastly to give back to the Community of Breeders, Maine Coon & otherwise, who have welcomed, mentored,
supported and trusted us with their Bloodlines by Breeding conscientiously, selectively, and carefully to
enhance the Breed. And by, in the years ahead, paying forward with that same generosity to the dedicated,
Feline Afflicted, future owners/breeders of Maine Coons who may choose to come to the Fancy.
About Us....
Everyone gets here one way or another....each story is different, this one happens to be ours. Long about 25 years ago as a young woman living
in Californias Gold Country, we stopped by one early morning to pick up a friend at his parents place before joining others for a long camping
weekend up the north fork of the Yuba River. His mother invited me in for coffee while the menfolk loaded up the van. I remember sitting in her
lovely dining room chatting... something brushed by my knee. I didnt remember hearing it come into the room but the mind makes its own
assessments and without looking I reached down to thump it in absentminded comraderie. But..the fur wasnt right... the next thing I remember was
finding myself under the table looking into the golden eyes of the biggest cat I had ever seen. I'm sure James mother thought I was nuts. The
coffee forgotten I spent the rest of that early morning visit on the floor under the table - there were 2 of them, they were stunning, huge,
inquisitive, friendly, chatty. They had a name - Maine Coons. An indelible and lifetime impression had been made in that instant.
Decades came and went as they do and I never saw another one but I remembered the name and went on Wanting a Maine Coon -
. .Of course a small host of furred things shared those years with us. Like the children, each special. each Loved. Indy, the last, had come to us
a Foundling, it was through Indy we learned the hard lesson that FeLV shots were only 66% effective. She had shots for everything we thought
we could protect her against. At 3 years old she was diagnosed with Leukemia and at the age of 5 she left us. With Indys passing, besides being
heartbroken, I found myself without a cat for the first time in my life.
Eventually it was time for another love...and still I remembered the name. Perhaps, as I had a choice, I would Buy a cat rather than be adopted by
one. Someone who, perhaps, would not leave us untimely. I started doing my homework. I Googled it, found the CFA and TICA and studied their
sites. Found that that long ago first impression really was what they were like, found Cattery sites, read them ALL, found a small list of nearby
breeders whose personalities came through the pages. Their love of the breed, their sense of responsibility to kittens they bred. The joy they
took in the goofy gentle giants they raised. After years of thinking -
I chose a Breeder and wrote her a long letter, Hoping I would be acceptable as a pet owner.
in Californias Gold Country, we stopped by one early morning to pick up a friend at his parents place before joining others for a long camping
weekend up the north fork of the Yuba River. His mother invited me in for coffee while the menfolk loaded up the van. I remember sitting in her
lovely dining room chatting... something brushed by my knee. I didnt remember hearing it come into the room but the mind makes its own
assessments and without looking I reached down to thump it in absentminded comraderie. But..the fur wasnt right... the next thing I remember was
finding myself under the table looking into the golden eyes of the biggest cat I had ever seen. I'm sure James mother thought I was nuts. The
coffee forgotten I spent the rest of that early morning visit on the floor under the table - there were 2 of them, they were stunning, huge,
inquisitive, friendly, chatty. They had a name - Maine Coons. An indelible and lifetime impression had been made in that instant.
Decades came and went as they do and I never saw another one but I remembered the name and went on Wanting a Maine Coon -
. .Of course a small host of furred things shared those years with us. Like the children, each special. each Loved. Indy, the last, had come to us
a Foundling, it was through Indy we learned the hard lesson that FeLV shots were only 66% effective. She had shots for everything we thought
we could protect her against. At 3 years old she was diagnosed with Leukemia and at the age of 5 she left us. With Indys passing, besides being
heartbroken, I found myself without a cat for the first time in my life.
Eventually it was time for another love...and still I remembered the name. Perhaps, as I had a choice, I would Buy a cat rather than be adopted by
one. Someone who, perhaps, would not leave us untimely. I started doing my homework. I Googled it, found the CFA and TICA and studied their
sites. Found that that long ago first impression really was what they were like, found Cattery sites, read them ALL, found a small list of nearby
breeders whose personalities came through the pages. Their love of the breed, their sense of responsibility to kittens they bred. The joy they
took in the goofy gentle giants they raised. After years of thinking -
I chose a Breeder and wrote her a long letter, Hoping I would be acceptable as a pet owner.
Life is strange. At the other end of that letter....I met a sister under the skin.
In time Coon Mountains Emma was delivered to our door. And she was our JOY! Unique. Individual.
Purrsonality Plus! Her Breeder Kit became a very dear & treasured friend. We swapped photos and
stories, our home became a stop on her way south to events. Through her connections over the years
other Maine Coons joined Emma in our lives, and in the lives of other far flung family members who took
home some of Coon Mountains Children.
Emma became my husbands cat. I am so much used kitty litter but for John she'd turn herself inside out
from front to back and often stood on her head. In our eyes she was perfect. We went to cat shows,
watched and looked- to see what They thought was Perfect, admittedly we didn't understand a thing....
but we were fascinated, and talked about maybe breeding cats to show ..........
... when we retired....
In one of a million chatty emails Kit mentioned retiring from breeding ...and I fired back -
'You cant Retire! Who will Mentor us!?' a few days later we got back a Novel. The first of many.
The time has come my Mentor said to speak of many things. Of Pedigrees & breeding rights, of genetics &
vaccines. Pages filled with the joys & heartaches, trial & error, practical common sense and bits of simple
wisdom garnered from decades of raising cats.
In time Coon Mountains Emma was delivered to our door. And she was our JOY! Unique. Individual.
Purrsonality Plus! Her Breeder Kit became a very dear & treasured friend. We swapped photos and
stories, our home became a stop on her way south to events. Through her connections over the years
other Maine Coons joined Emma in our lives, and in the lives of other far flung family members who took
home some of Coon Mountains Children.
Emma became my husbands cat. I am so much used kitty litter but for John she'd turn herself inside out
from front to back and often stood on her head. In our eyes she was perfect. We went to cat shows,
watched and looked- to see what They thought was Perfect, admittedly we didn't understand a thing....
but we were fascinated, and talked about maybe breeding cats to show ..........
... when we retired....
In one of a million chatty emails Kit mentioned retiring from breeding ...and I fired back -
'You cant Retire! Who will Mentor us!?' a few days later we got back a Novel. The first of many.
The time has come my Mentor said to speak of many things. Of Pedigrees & breeding rights, of genetics &
vaccines. Pages filled with the joys & heartaches, trial & error, practical common sense and bits of simple
wisdom garnered from decades of raising cats.
| The day she arrived!! Kit & the Lady Emma November 2001 |
Not a decision to be made lightly, not only is it costly, its down right expensive, time consuming, requires alterations to your home and lifestyle. a goal, a passion, patience, Love, .....lots of love. One pet is a commitment. Many is a conviction. We gave it a lot of thought and then enlisted our family to help us choose a name. That elusive, unspecified had come at last. We are Sea people John and I. He 24 years a Navy Chief Corpsman and I from a family of abalone divers off California's rugged northern coasts. Our lives revolving around one ocean or another. Even now our home looks out at the sea. We chose a name we thought would be fitting...and then started reorganizing our house... Finally and again through her connections Kit arranged for & chose the first of our Breeding stock, and the Cattery of Bounding Maines was born. |
Bounding Maines owes its existence to the kindness and generosity of many but none more so than to Kit Mounger of Coon Mountain Cattery in Tennassee. And to her we give our infinite gratitude for 'all things catly'. Love Always for the Mountain from the Sea! |
| Kit out for a chill dawn photo shoot on our beach out front February 2008 |
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Someday
Someday
Someday
Someday
Someday
Recommended Reading The Merry Maines & The Moosery by Garnet Quinn |
| Kit on a windy summer dawn July 22, 2009 |
| For those who have come to the site looking for Lady Kit of Coon Mountain TN - she is here. She has not exactly Retired from breeding but she has 'stepped back'. She called me once her 'last project' before Retiring. Personally I thought the day would never come and hoped that it wouldn't but I guess it has, or at least it draws near. So here on this site we join forces. Our Kittens & stories are all here and both of us can be reached from the Contact Us pages. Welcome to the Mountain and the Sea. |
