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Maine Coon Kitten Scams
How to Spot Red Flags, Fake Breeders & Avoid Online Fraud
There’s a Maine Coon kitten scam going around. At first, I didn’t even recognize it!
On our Facebook page, we started receiving comments with links to so-called "pet services" advertising available kittens.
It seemed helpful at first - people sharing breeders. But I soon realized these weren’t breeders at all. They were scammers.
They've become increasingly deceptive, popping up in trusted spaces like Facebook groups, comment sections, and even sponsored ads.
MCCN covers the entire Maine Coon buying journey, with this page being a focus on legitimacy.
Here, we discuss:
- What real breeders look like
- How pricing works
- Traits of real Coonies (vs fake descriptions)
- Community discussions & scam reports
Join me as we decode the scammers' formula, warning signs, and red flags to watch for on your kitten adoption journey.
Then, we'll review our ever-growing list of scammers submitted by readers and direct you to our exclusive directory of registered, legitimate breeders.
Let’s get started!
Identifying a Scammer: The Red Flags
What is a Kitten Scammer?
Kitten scammers don’t just sell unhealthy or unregistered kittens - they don’t have kittens at all.
These fraudsters create elaborate schemes to trick potential buyers into sending them money for a pet that doesn’t exist.
Their methods are deceptive but predictable:
- They set up fake breeder websites or Facebook pages.
- They steal photos from real breeders to make their listings look convincing.
- They pressure buyers into sending non-refundable deposits quickly.
- They promise to ship a kitten at a low cost but then demand additional fees for fake expenses like insurance, vaccinations, or transportation.
- Once they receive payment, they disappear, leaving the buyer with no kitten and no recourse.
Common Scam Tactics
Fake Websites and Listings: Scammers often create fraudulent websites or online listings that appear legitimate.
They may use stolen photos and offer purebred kittens at unusually low prices to attract potential buyers. [1]
Emotional Manipulation:
Fraudsters may use emotional appeals, such as claiming the kittens need urgent rehoming due to unforeseen circumstances, to pressure individuals into making quick decisions.
[2]
The saddest part? Many hopeful adopters don’t realize they’ve been tricked until they’ve already lost their money.
Facebook Scammers: Too Close for Comfort
Facebook has become a breeding ground for kitten scams.
Scammers create pages that mimic real breeders, join Maine Coon groups, and even comment on legitimate posts to lure in unsuspecting buyers.
Because these fraudsters often pose as small-scale breeders, they can be hard to spot at first glance.
Common Facebook scammer tactics include:
- Creating brand-new pages that look like long-established breeders but have only been active for a few weeks.
- Using generic breeder names like "Maine Coon Lovers" or "Purebred Coonies Available" instead of a personal or registered cattery name.
- Asking interested buyers to "PM for details" instead of sharing clear information publicly.
- Posting comments like: "We have adorable Maine Coon kittens ready for rehoming!" (Real breeders rarely use the term “rehoming” in this context.) "Inbox us for more details." "DM if you need a baby." (Unprofessional wording.)
- Misspelling the breed name (Mainecoon, Main Coon, Maine Coone), which reputable breeders would never do.
- Hiding their identity - many of these pages have no listed administrator or are run by people in high-fraud regions, such as Cameroon, West Africa.
A major red flag? If a Facebook seller doesn't want to discuss their location, cattery name, or contact details publicly, there’s a strong chance they are not legitimate.
Below is a sample of scammer comments on our Facebook page. These are hidden and/or removed immediately. Note the language and similarity in their messages. Do not interact with any comments like these:
Maine Coon Kitten Scam Red Flags
The best way to avoid being scammed is to recognize the warning signs before it’s too late. Below are some of the biggest red flags that should make you pause and reconsider before sending money.
🚨 Warning Signs of a Scam:
- No Real Website: Just a Facebook page with no breeder name or contact details.
- No Physical Address or Fake Location: They either refuse to provide an address or give one that belongs to an unrelated business or residence.
- Too Good to Be True Pricing: If a Maine Coon kitten is priced dramatically lower than average, it’s a red flag.
- Fake Urgency: They pressure buyers into paying quickly with claims like "only one kitten left" or "act fast before they're gone." [3]
- Suspicious Payment Methods: They push for transactions via Zelle, Western Union, or CashApp - payment methods that offer no buyer protection.
- No Proof of Breeding Program: They lack details about their breeding cats, bloodlines, or registration with reputable organizations like TICA or CFA.
- Stock Photos & Stolen Images: A quick reverse image search often reveals their kitten pictures were taken from another website.
Feeling overwhelmed? You're not alone - it's hard to know who to trust, especially after reading all about who not to trust.
We also put together a guide on what to expect from a quality cattery to help you feel more confident moving forward.
✅ In Contrast - What to Expect from a Real Breeder:
A responsible breeder will be transparent about their kittens, breeding practices, and cattery. Look for the following signs of legitimacy:
- A professional website with an About page that shares their story and experience.
- A list of their breeding cats (Kings & Queens) with lineage details.
- Registration with TICA or CFA, which can be independently verified.
- A social media presence where past buyers engage, comment, and share updates on their kittens.
- Multiple contact options — email, phone, and sometimes even in-person visits.
- A waiting list for kittens rather than having them "always available."
- Open, public responses to inquiries about pricing, location, and the adoption process.
Real breeders are happy to share their full names, cattery history, and even pedigree information. Boris and Natasha's owner, Ellsworth, shared:
“Their first home was with their breeders Paul and Sherri Robicheau of Mountain Rose Maine Coon Cattery in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia Canada. They come from a long line of Russian Pedigree Pageant cats!”
Transparency and traceability are signs of legitimacy - something scammers can’t replicate.
What to Look for in a Legitimate Breeder
A Real Website with Transparency
A legitimate breeder will usually have a fleshed-out website. They'll often include an About Us page that tells you how they got into breeding.
Side Note: A fake "About Us" page will be vague. It won’t mention anything personal about the breeder (because they aren’t one). Instead, it uses lots of words with no actual substance or information.
Real breeders will show photos and names of their breeding cats - Kings and Queens. You’ll be able to view their cats’ lineage and often photos of the parents. They’ll also share their name and location.
Most ethical catteries are registered with organizations like TICA (The International Cat Association) or CFA (Cat Fancier’s Association). You can go to those sites and cross-reference to confirm they’re listed - or see our explanation of what TICA and CFA registration actually means for breeders and buyers.
Verified Social Media Presence
If a cattery only has a FB page, it should still list basic information - like their website, email, geographical location, and registration credentials.
Even if they choose not to list their full home address (which is understandable), they should offer multiple contact methods and provide enough details for verification.
There will be multiple ways to contact them. If a social media or app (like WhatsApp) DM (direct message) is the only means of contact - run, don't walk, away!
Important: This is another reason we recommend looking for your new kitten locally. Even if cattery visits aren’t allowed, you can still confirm it's a real place with local people and local references.
Legitimate Breeding Practices
A responsible breeder will usually only have a few litters in their breeding program per year.
Their website and social media will likely be filled with photos of kittens that are already spoken for, and info about planned litters for the future.
You can expect to join a waiting list - and that’s a good thing. Adopting a purebred kitten from a reputable source takes time and patience. We break down what adoption really means (yes, even through breeders) in our Maine Coon adoption guide.
On their FB, there will be posts from previous customers sharing comments and photos of their Coonies as they grow. You can click on these profiles and verify they are real people.
Their feed will be full of real people who they clearly have established relationships with and have sold to in the past. Ideally, you are looking at a local breeder and some of these comments are by "friends of friends."
If a breeder does have a kitten available, they'll have photos of it from newborn to recent. They will be happy to send a video, or do a video call.
A Maine Coon kitten scam, on the other hand, usually has one photo of a kitten between 6–12 weeks of age. They probably won't be able to send more pictures of it at various ages.
To sum up, when you're looking for a new kitten, you're looking for a registered Maine Coon breeder.
And when looking for a breeder, look for transparency. Their website tells you all about them. Their social media shows you all about them.
If you're on the hunt for your perfect Maine Coon, we know the process can feel overwhelming — especially with the rise of scams.
But don't worry, there are plenty of good breeders out there offering healthy, well-socialized kittens.
Check out our 2023 Success Stories for real examples of how Maine Coons grow into loving, playful family members, and get inspired by their journeys from breeder to forever home.
Red Flag: “Message for Details”
With "real" breeders, all the information is there for anyone to publicly see and double check. No direct message is required to find out who they are or where they are located.
At this point, it's tempting to say these liars must be easy to spot. But it's only easy if you already know about them!
If you don't, and your guard isn't up, it's all too easy to assume you're being told the truth.
Savvy Scammers: Tactics in 2025
Fake Websites with a Professional Look
After following links in social comments, and visiting the sites in ads, I see that there are many of these hustlers. They have attractive websites, too.
If I didn't know what to look for, I'd think these were legitimate sites.
How to Identify a Fake Website
These fake sites talk about being a small home cattery, with kittens raised underfoot, with love, exposed to children and dogs, well-socialized.
They talk about European lines, health testing, being a closed cattery and what that means. They have a fake story of how they got started.
One fraudster even displayed the TICA and CFA logos proudly on their page, saying they were registered! They were not.
Another forgot to replace the cattery name in one spot when they copied the page.
These con artists have visited real websites and know how to present themselves.
Fake Facebook Groups
The other Maine Coon Kitten scam tactic is fake Facebook groups and fake Facebook accounts "recommending" a group or "breeder." They do this for all breeds, in fact.
The group will post non-existent kittens for sale. The admin may be impersonating an actual breeder. Just don't visit or join groups unless you know them.
Do not thank or interact with anyone you encounter like this. Here is an example:
Groups like these are banned daily from our Facebook page. They are quickly replaced by new, identical ones.
Note the similar language such as Main Coon Kitten for Adoption and Rehoming. They all contain some variation on these words.
(Maine Coon Cat Nation members do have a private Facebook group. You can easily confirm that Maine Coon Cat Nation™, an established and reputable site, is the admin of the group.)
They like to follow our page due to its high follower count and credibility.
Website Red Flags
Maine Coon kitten scam red flags on an internet website:
Website design has gotten more convincing. But there are still clues that something is off:
- 🛑 They say they’re a small home cattery “in the United States” or “North America.” That’s not enough. A real breeder shares their state and town, or at least the region or county.
- 🛑 No full name listed - just “we,” “us,” or “our family.” A reputable breeder shares their first and last name so you can confirm their identity.
In Summary, Scammers Will...
- 🚩 Be eager to ship a kitten and create urgency.
- 🚩 Push for risky payment methods like Zelle, CashApp, money orders, or even gift cards.
- 🚩 Insist on communicating only by text, email, or DM - and avoid voice or video calls.
➤ A real breeder will gladly do a video call if you ask.
➤ Online, it should be very easy to find their location, real reviews, and full legal name.
Related Reading:
Final Thoughts: Staying Safe in Your Search
- There is no such thing as Maine Coon kittens for sale at $300.
- There are no breeders who are "not asking much" for kittens — yes, I saw this posted by a con artist.
- There are no real Maine Coon kittens to be found through Facebook comments, posts, or groups containing phrases like: “kittens,” “rehoming,” “free,” “affordable,” “for adoption,” “in need of new homes,” or similar wording.
- Don't even ask around — just be assured they are thieves.
- Expect to pay in the thousands. See our page on the cost of purebred Maine Coons for more info.
Recommendations:
- Trust but Verify: Always double-check breeder credentials.
- Take Your Time: Ethical breeders have a process, not instant sales.
- Report Suspicious Sellers: Help protect others in the Maine Coon community.
Our Scam Watchlist: Reported Scammers to Avoid
Let's work together to spread the word about this Maine Coon kitten scam:
Fake breeders will change their name and website address frequently.
Two of the biggest Maine Coon kitten scam artists online right now are:
- Dark Paws Maine Coon Kittens is a scam, and
- Big Bear Maine Coon Cattery is also a scam.
Scammer List:
This community has identified these scam artists in our comments section:
- Maine Coons for Adoption Near Me (Facebook group)
- Dark Paws Maine Coon Kittens
- Big Bear Maine Coon Cattery
- Elite Maine Coon Kittens
- Big Bear Main Coonz
- Bridget Maine Coon Home
- Casey's Coons
- Oakland Maine Coonz Cattery / Oakland Coons Cattery
- Royal Maine Coon Cattery
- Charm Maine Coon Kittens
- Favor Maine Coon / Favor Maine Coon Home
- Chloe Maine Coon Cattery
- Neighborly Maine Coon Kittens
- Taylor's Maine Coon
- Giant Coon Ranch
- Blossom Coon Cattery
- Maine Coons in Need of New Homes (Facebook group)
Maine Coon Kitten Scam Warnings From Our Friends:
Here are some of the most recent and most helpful scam warning comments from readers on this site. Thank you to everyone who is joining in on exposing these con artists!
This page continues to grow, so remember to check back for updates.
Or, add your comment to report a scammer here.
Top Comments:
Note from a verified breeder: Jennifer ONeill of Dark Mark Coons (TICA-registered as darkmrkcoons) shared this helpful warning in our comments section:
Be Careful
by: Dark Mark Coons
"To everyone who keeps getting scammed: most every group on Facebook that is "rehoming," "adoption" of a specific breed is run by scammers - same as website listed "rehome" or "adoption."
Now to avoid scams first do not look for the lowest or highest kitten price low and high can both be a scam, 2nd ask for a live video chat with them and the kittens and the parents if they will not do it, stop - waste no more time move on to the next breeder.
Check TICA and CFA see if they are reg. And have a cattery in the listed area, this has become alot hard as both breed groups are cutting down on information to avoid new scammers stealing information.
But you can always give them a ring and ask like me for example my name is Jennifer ONeill. I own Dark Mark Coons registered as darkmrkcoons.
Call and give the persons name and cattery reg name and have them check, if they kick back yes double check location to make sure someone isn't using their information then ask if they have reg any litters this year.
Those steps alone can help save everyone from losing money from scammers. There are even more ways but those top 3 are clear as day. If they can not pass those 3 - heck, if they can not video chat with the kitten, then clear as day run and run fast."
Comment from a CFA & TICA Registered Breeder in Washington: Golden Goddess Cats Cattery shared this about a visitor inquiry:
Inquiring about Big Bear Cattery
by: Golden Goddess Cats Cattery
"I am a TICA and CFA Registered Cattery in WA state. I had someone asking me if Big Bear Cattery is legit.
They are selling their kittens for $500. No reputable breeder that provides quality food, supplements, genetic testing, etc would be selling their kittens for anywhere near that price.
Their website doesn't show where they are located. Anyone have knowledge about them. I'm tired of scammers. Scammers started using my cat photos to scam people 😞"
Featured Comments Continued:
Big Bear Main Coonz
"Big Bear Maine Coon looks like the same Oakland Maine Coonz scammers. So it seems like these fraudulent people have multiple sites that they use. It's really sad!"
Big Bear Maine Coon Cattery is a SCAM
"I had been asking them about one of their kittens the last few days - it felt a bit fishy so I did a reverse image search and found the same kitten photos posted on Facebook 3 years ago.."
Casey's Coons
"They have scammed numerous people including my best friend. Beware. At one time they were legitimate, it doesn't seem like they are anymore."
Oakland Maine Coonz
"These people are definitely scamming and I hope they go to prison for life."
FB group scam
by: L Kinney
FB Group - Lovely Maine Coon Kittens in Search of Their Forever Homes - Ethan Cross, Kai Bennett and several others.
Address is an office building in an industrial complex in Irvine, CA. Made a "refundable" deposit of $300 then they wanted an additional $100 for registration.
I refused and asked for my money back - no answer and the FB group has disappeared. I msg'ed several people in the group who had gotten kittens from Ethan and they all said he was legit.
Apparently they are all in on it. All communication was via FB msg and text and was broken English.
Payment was through Apple Pay and when I tried to make a request for the $300 back, Apple Pay said the number was no longer valid.
Didn't find any info on them as scammers so posting this.
Cattery Scam
"Bigbearmainecoons.com is a scam.
I'm in California, so I thought this was in Big Bear, CA. As I said in my first email to them that I was going to be in Big Bear next week and wanted to make arrangements to see the cats.
They email me back with no word of appointment but wants info if I will be a good adopter. After I sent that they sent me a email saying I am chosen to have the cat but they are in Oklahoma!!
And it will cost $200 to fly him to me. Of course asking for money up front. I knew right away it was a scam then saw on line about all the cat scams!"
Another one to Avoid - Royal Maine Coon Cattery
"https://royalmainecooncattery.com/kittens.html
They have LOTS of data that looks great, when I call though I always get a text saying I am busy at the moment. please text me" then while looking at the [photos] I noted you can click to buy. Right on that one picture.
Does Anyone know of a Breeder who is REAL!??!?!?"
Another one to add to the list
"Charm Maine Coon Kittens is also a scam. They are located in Texas and meet all the criteria listed above. Thank you for your post as it saved me a lot of money and grief."
Bridget Maine Coon Home
I was scammed by www.bridgetmainecoonhome.com
Same scam as others have mentioned, I paid $650+200=$850 for kitten and shipping.
Only accept Zelle & CashApp. So many Red Flags, and for some reason I did not pick up on it fast enough. Scammer name on bank account was Daniel Rivera. Address given was 3309 Haynes Ave, Midland, TX 79707
I finally caught on when I received a request to rent or buy an air-conditioned crate for travel at the cost of $1200 - $2600! I said no, and told the scammer I wanted a refund of my $850.
Didn't hear from them again. Filed a police report, and I'm now researching to try and find out who is behind these scams so I can slap them with a criminal charge and a big fat lawsuit! Wish me luck!
Neighborly Maine Coons
"https://neighborlymainecoonkittens.com/
These people took my brother for $4,000.
They tried everything that is listed above and were still trying even after he called their bluff. Pictures are still there for the cat he bought.
He paid everything using Apple gift cards."
Giant Coon Ranch: https://giantcoonranch.com/
"I was attempting to purchase Maine Coon Kittens. The seller took money via cashapp and had me send it to various people.
It got to a point that they wanted additional money - $1,500 for a special shipping crate that was not disclosed at the beginning, and at that time I was done since I was very skeptical of how they were doing business.
I had already paid them $3,340 for two kittens and shipping costs. I asked for a refund and it was not given. Instead I get text message asking me for an additional $555.00 processing fee to process my refund again another fee that was never disclosed at the beginning.
Their whole way of doing business is very sketchy. Melissa Tenant is a scam artist. They operate a Facebook site at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1352101642032469 and they have a website at https://giantcoonranch.com/
They have a google voice phone number that they never answer — you leave a message and then you get either a text message or Facebook Messenger message back.
They also use the BBB (Better Business Bureau) logo in an attempt to gain legitimacy for the fraudulent business.
Their phone number is an Oregon number but Melissa Tenant supposedly lives in Ladd, Illinois."
🛑 Looking for real scam reports? Visit the next page to see 260+ community warnings - or submit your own:
Top of: Maine Coon Kitten Scam
« Back to Maine Coons for Sale / Adoption
References:
[1] Kitten Fraud: How to Avoid Becoming a Victim of Scams. (2024, November 6). pethelpful.com. Retrieved February 7, 2025, from https://pethelpful.com/cats/kitten-fraud-how-to-avoid-becoming-a-victim-of-scams
[2] Lam, Y. (2023, September 8). All you need to know about pet adoption scams. Forrit Credit Union. https://www.forritcu.org/beware-pet-adoption-scams/
[3] Jones, R. (2025, February 5). How to protect yourself from scams: six easy ways to stay safe. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/feb/05/how-to-protect-yourself-from-scams-six-easy-ways-to-stay-safe
Hi, I'm Carrie! As a native Mainer, Coonie mom and author, I've spent over 14 years helping cat owners understand their Coonies and mixes. Real experience, research-backed insights - that's my approach. Happy, healthy cats - that's the result!
Curious about my experiences? Check out my About Page!
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