The Coonie Confidence Score: How We Evaluate Breeder Websites

A transparent system designed to help cat lovers identify legitimate breeders, and give reputable catteries the credit they deserve.

Why We Created the Coonie Confidence Score

For years, I've wanted to share breeder listings by state - to make it easier for people to find Maine Coon kittens from real, responsible sources.

But I always ran into the same problem: so many breeder sites look polished on the surface yet leave you wondering if they're ethical, if they're legit, or even real at all.

I spent hours researching, trying to tell which were trustworthy and which weren't. Sometimes I'd spend half a day researching one cattery!

The more I looked, the more I realized I couldn't possibly vouch for each one - and putting them on my site felt too close to an endorsement. That's what held me back.

The Coonie Confidence Score changes that. It lets us share breeder listings neutrally and transparently, without guessing or taking sides.

Every listing is reviewed using the same simple, fact-based system so readers can see why a breeder looks credible - or why we're not yet confident in them.

Now, instead of avoiding the subject, we can finally make these breeder pages truly useful: giving cat lovers a reliable place to start their search, and giving honest breeders a fair way to stand out.

The Coonie Confidence Score

How We Evaluate Legit Maine Coon Breeders

Finding a real Maine Coon breeder online isn't always easy. The internet is full of polished-looking websites, fake photos, and copy-and-paste promises.

That's why we built the Coonie Confidence Score. It's our way of measuring how legit and transparent a breeder appears to be based on public information.

The goal isn't to judge breeders. It's to help cat lovers quickly tell which sites look trustworthy, verifiable, and scam-free - and which websites are harder for us to verify.

What the Score Means

Each breeder listed in our directory is human-reviewed by Maine Coon Cat Nation using five main criteria.

We visit their website, check for real-world clues, and assign a confidence rating from 0–10 paws (based on five categories, worth up to two points each).

A high score means we found plenty of clear, consistent information that supports the breeder's legitimacy. A low score means too many unknowns to feel confident.

Important to note: they may be perfectly legitimate! This score relates to online presence, and how much we can tell. We encourage you to have personal contact with local breeders in your search.

Rolling Out the Coonie Confidence System

We're currently rolling out this system across our new state-level breeder listings.

Each state page will include hand-reviewed breeder listings with a Coonie Confidence Score, giving readers a neutral, consistent way to see how each cattery presents itself online.

Every state page is based on hours of real research, never automated summaries, because understanding legitimacy takes a human touch.

The Five Core Criteria (0–2 Points Each)

1. Transparency

Does the breeder share real details - location, contact info, photos of their own cats, and breeding policies?

How open and forthcoming is the breeder about who they are and how they operate?

  • 2 points: Full transparency. Clear location (at least state or region), breeder name, contact info, detailed policies, and real photos of their own cats.
  • 1 point: Some transparency, but missing key details - maybe no full name or location, or a vague "contact us" form only.
  • 0 points: Anonymous or unclear. No names, no visible policies, and hard to tell who’s actually behind the site.

2. Authenticity

Does the site feel genuine and original?

  • 2 points: Content and photos appear original. Writing style is personal, consistent, and clearly reflects real experience.
  • 1 point: Mostly authentic but a bit generic. For example, limited photos or text that feels templated.
  • 0 points: Obvious stock or AI-generated photos, copied text, or conflicting cat names and images across pages.

3. Registration & Verification

Can we reasonably confirm a registry prefix (TICA, CFA, ACFA) or club membership?

  • 2 points: A verifiable registration prefix (TICA, CFA, ACFA, etc.) is listed, or the breeder appears in a known registry or club.
  • 1 point: Mentions registration but without visible proof or prefix.
  • 0 points: No registration mention, unverifiable claims, or "registered kittens" wording with no cattery name attached.

4. Social Proof

Is there a footprint outside the website - social media, cat shows, testimonials, or reviews?

  • 2 points: Active social media pages, testimonials, tagged photos, or show participation that match their cats and cattery name.
  • 1 point: Minimal or inconsistent outside presence - maybe an old Facebook page or a single mention elsewhere.
  • 0 points: No external footprint at all, or suspicious duplication of photos from other accounts.

5. Ethics

How responsibly does the breeder appear to operate, and how well do they communicate their values and care practices?

  • 2 points: Shows clear ethical standards. Breeds on a small, sustainable scale where kittens receive personal attention and socialization. Keeps kittens until at least 12-13 weeks old and discusses their health, vet care, and adjustment period before going home. Policies are realistic and respectful of both the cats and future owners.
  • 1 point: Generally appears responsible but leaves some questions unanswered. For example, a vague number of queens or litters per year, or unclear weaning and homing timelines.
  • 0 points: Red flags around ethics or scale. Numerous litters listed at once, no mention of kitten age before placement, or language that makes breeding sound industrial rather than family-oriented.

Bonus: "Personally Known to MCCN"

Some breeders have contacted us directly through interviews, Coonie Clan membership, or past collaboration.

When we've had positive, verifiable interaction, we note it as a Bonus Familiarity badge (+1-2 points) - shown separately from the core score.

This doesn’t guarantee quality or kitten availability; it simply adds another layer of confidence that the breeder is real.

The Confidence Scale

Paw Score

Rating

Meaning

9-10 paws

🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

High Confidence: The breeder’s site is open, verifiable, and professional. Nothing raises concern.

7-8 paws

🐾🐾🐾🐾

Good Confidence: Mostly clear, with only small gaps in details or verification.

5-6 paws

🐾🐾🐾

Moderate Confidence: Appears genuine but lacks key information or consistent transparency. Worth asking questions directly.

3-4 paws

🐾🐾

Low Confidence: Sparse, outdated, or inconsistent. We couldn't find enough verifiable details. Proceed carefully.

0-2 paws

🐾

Very Low Confidence: Anonymous, incomplete, or suspicious. Multiple red flags or unverifiable claims.

Important Notes

  • The Coonie Confidence Score is not an endorsement or guarantee of quality.
  • We don't review kitten health or availability, only public legitimacy and professionalism.
  • Breeders can request an updated evaluation if their site or policies change.
  • Scores may change over time as new information becomes available.

Why It Matters

Our goal is to protect both future owners and ethical breeders.

When trustworthy catteries are easy to identify, scams lose their power - and the Maine Coon community becomes safer for everyone.

The Coonie Confidence system gives you a quick way to separate real breeders from risky listings, helping you find your kitten with confidence.

Want to see how these scores are applied? Visit our Maine Coon Breeder Directory to browse every listing by state.

This scoring system is part of our broader guide to finding kittens responsibly. Learn more about what to look for on our Maine Coon Kittens for Sale hub.

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