Oberon's younger brother is looking for a new home

[Lorien]

Oberon's younger brother Grand Champion Hearts Haven's Hobson is up for adoption. This photo doesn't do him justice; he is simply magnificent! A face very much like Obie's (same parents, but Hobie is nearly a year younger than Obie-so he's still a kitten in Maine Coon terms), stunning markings and very noticeable lynx tips. He's got a wonderful personality, too; playful but gentle and easy going; he would be perfect in a home with young (gentle) children. Maine Coons don't like to be left alone, so if you don't already have dogs and cats and you are considering adopting Hobie, please also consider adopting a shelter cat or kitten at the same time.

More info can be found here:

http://www.heartshaven.net/The%20Babies.html

If you always wanted a purebred Maine Coon, but don't like the idea of buying a kitten from a breeder, this is a great chance to adopt a wonderful purebred cat who comes from a health screened bloodline (for those of you who have been through the trauma of having a pet with a genetic illness, this is very important). If you live in Ohio, I can also bring him to you during one of my travels back home. :-)

[SW FL Dem]

1. He's a beauty!

Hope he finds a great home soon.

[ET Awful]

2. You have no idea how tempting that is :)

I just can't do it :(. I wouldn't mind having one of those overgrown furballs, but I think 2 is my limit. It's more a money and space thing than anything else.

He is a looker though :)

[Lorien]

4. Hey, Hobie is used to a crowded home!

He currently lives with nine or ten other cats and two kids, so he's into busy homes.

Plus, a natural breed with healthy bloodlines is cheaper in the long run, because you are less likely to have high vet bills later on (I lost two rescue cats in the past three years that cost me over $7000 in vet bills! One had cancer, the other genetic illnesses).

Just sayin'. ;-)

[meow2u3]

10. Male Maine Coons will also eat you out of house and home

My Sylvester sure as H did.

I'm sure Lorien's Obie does, too.

[Lorien]

11. Nah, he's a picky eater

so he doesn't ask for much. Miro on the other hand...maybe it's a tuxedo cat thing? :shrug:

[yellowdogintexas]

3. why did I have to look in there?????

my four boys would kill me if i brought in another cat.

Now if I were in the market for a cat, that would be it. What a handsome handsome kitty.


<<sigh>>>

I expect my Maine Coon days will not happen until I am once again catless or just down to one. If I ever got down to just one, I would have to have another cat as my young guys are litter mates and the one left would be very lonely without company .....so it will be a long while before I acquire another cat

but why did I have to look in there?????

[iconoclastic cat]

5. Is there such a thing as a "Maine Coon" rescue?

Those cats are so damn gorgeous. I hope there is some organization out there taking care of unwanted MC's, the same way several greyhound rescues have popped up around the country.

If there is such a thing, I want to adopt one as soon as Mrs IconCat and I find a house (our apartment will not accommodate one more cat).

[Lorien]

7. Yes, there is

check out www.petfinder.com .They can't guarantee MC percentages, though. If you want a pure Maine Coon, many breeders do their own adoptions-either retired showcats, or cats whose owners can no longer care for them for whatever reason.

[RebelOne]

13. Also, go to the following link

It's a rescue group.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MCRescue/

[iconoclastic cat]

16. I could care less about MC purity.

I just feel awful that any cat is used as a showcat and then ditched. All five of ours were throwaways, and I doubt that they would've survived a Chicago winter if we hadn't grabbed them.

Thanks for the info!

[Lorien]

18. They aren't "ditched" by reputable breeders

the Hanson's would NEVER put Hobie in a shelter, or even a home they weren't completely sure about. They offer him for adoption to those who are interested in an older Maine Coon, one whose personality is already pretty well developed (this is the first time they've offered an older cat for adoption, too). When I got Obie from them, I had to sign contracts that stated that I would never allow him outdoors without a leash, that I would take him to the vet for yearly examinations, keep him up to date on shots, and that if I ever became unable to care for him and find him a proper home, I would return him to the Hansons.

All of the cats I've owned throughout my life have been rescues except two. I had really horrible luck with the health of my last two rescue kitties; I went deeply into debt trying to keep them alive (one of them had an incurable genetic illness-and he was the love of my life. All the money in the world couldn't save him. :-(). I wanted more cats to keep my elderly rescue kitty and I company, but I couldn't handle the thought of going through what I had gone through with Peewee again anytime soon, so I opted for a purebred with complete health records of his parents, grandparents, etc. I also feed them the highest quality holistic food, ensure that their water is filtered-everything to keep them happy and healthy. When my finances have recovered, I will probably adopt another pound kitty, put for now I'm not emotionally or financially able to do that. On the plus side; Oberon has raised hundreds of dollars for the SPCA by participating in their cat shows and photo contests (constants "win" by earning the most donations for homeless pets-Oberon took second place last year). I would hope that whoever adopts Hobie would "put him to work" for the SPCA at least once a year, too.

[kittycat1164]

6. OMG how tempting is that???????

oooohhhh maaaannnnn that would make six! oh why do you do this to me???????????

[Lorien]

8. I know-I'm tempted too!

I would take him if Oberon and Miro weren't so close. Hobson would want to be Obie's buddy, but that might take too much of Oberon's time away from Miro. Miro is 16, so I want to be sensitive to his feelings; he and Oberon cuddle and groom each other all the time now, and he does get a little jealous when Obie and Puck play during the evenings. *sigh*

[Lorien]

9. Kick

:kick:

[SemiCharmedQuark]

12. He's a beauty!

But of course, I have four cats and a dog now...my house is full :(

Good luck to Hobson!

[Eurobabe]

14. Oh beautiful guy.....

What's the story? Why is he up for adoption? Poor guy. If I did not already have two monsters, I would consider, esp. since he's related to OBERON!!!

How old is Hobie? My daughter is looking for an older cat to adopt rather than go the kitten route again, her Larry is a bit lonely.

[Lorien]

15. Hobie is a little over one year old

I think he was born at the end of 2003 or the beginning of 2004. As far as why he's up for adoption; it's fairly traditional for breeders to put their showcats up for adoption once they reach a certain status if they don't intend to use them in their breeding program (Hobie and Obie's parents are still fairly young, and have such great personalities that the Hanson's wouldn't dream of giving them up). They try to keep the genetics in the home as mixed as possible, plus they only want one or two litters a year. I'm sure that if no one offers to take Hobson, they'll happily keep him, but there are others like your daughter out there who don't want to go through kitten training and would prefer an older cat, so one way or the other I'm sure he'll find a home where he can be "babied". I just thought that kitty loving DUers might like to get the first shot at taking him home! :-)

[iconoclastic cat]

17. As soon as we move to a house, I'll check in to see if anyone else needs

a home. The more, the merrier!

And yes, we are becoming the crazy cat people, except that our place is quite clean.

[Eurobabe]

20. Okay, I let Meg know, she lives in Pittsburgh

Here's her little guy Larry, he needs a brother.

[Lorien]

21. Awww...Larry does look lonely

I think it's harder having an "only cat"; they need you so much more, and can get destructive if their people are gone for too long.I learned that the hard way with Peewee-Miro became his "pet". When I lost Wee, Miro was beside himself until I got Obie, poor guy.

[Lorien]

23. I have a friend who travels from here to Cleveland

quite often. Cleveland is within driving distance of Pittsburgh. He might be willing to take him as far as Cleveland for her, if that would help. Of course, there may be PA DUers coming down here to visit Disney World too who wouldn't mind taking him as carry on luggage (don't know if he's already too big for that or not). :shrug:

[Lorien]

19. Kick

for the Monday crowd :hi:

[demnan]

22. What a lovely fellow

not quite the cutie Oberon is, of course, but very pretty! I'm sure he'll find a wonderful home. I love the tuffs on the ends of their ears, Lily has little tuffs on the ends of hers but it's not easy to photograph.

By the way, Lorien, did you know it was Maine Coon week on catster? I expect to see Oberon get cat of the day any time now.

[Eurobabe]

24. quick, let's stuff the ballot box!>!

[Lorien]

25. I guess "beauty is in the eye..." and all that

Oberon was a discount "pet quality" kitten; still every bit as healthy, but the flaws in his coat color make him ineligible for show (their loss, my gain)! Hobson is a Grand Champion though; practically perfect in every way, lol!

I think Obie's got a bit of competition on Catster; there's over 800 Maine Coons on that site! I checked some of them out; a lot of handsome kitties, but a lot of cats who were identified as Maine Coons that obviously weren't (cats that looked like Miro, for example). That site must drive the American Shorthair breeders nuts; American Shorthairs are a specific breed, and a lot of people with domestic shorthairs label them as American shorthairs simply because they a.) were born in America, and b.) have short hair!

[Eurobabe]

26. I'd take Oberon with his flaws any day of the week...

:)

[demnan]

27. Well personality counts a lot

and I'm very fond of silver tabbies. As far as flaws, I don't take all that stuff seriously. I don't think my cats have any flaws, anyway. :)

[Lorien]

28. I agree

I think all my kitties are perfect, naturally. ;-) Actually, I searched all over the country for a Turkish Angora because I'm wild about their very unusual personalities (closer to Pad Thai's than to Oberon's, no doubt). They certainly aren't much to look like, as a general rule. I had tried to adopt several through petfinder, but someone else always got them first. I was actually looking at one to adopt at a cat show when Oberon reached out to me (a great place to see LOTS of shelter cats, BTW), but the Turk they had was huge and very forward-I knew he would freak out Miro. Oberon wouldn't give up-he kept reaching out of his cage and hooking my elbow as I was waiting for the woman in charge of the adoptions (I waited over an hour). I had read that I should also adopt a Maine Coon or Russian Blue to balance the hyperactive Turk- I never intended to buy one, but I figured that Oberon and I were meant to be because he just wouldn't let up! I caved and home he came. Puck was shipped from across the country.I still search Petfinder for Turks; I'd love to find her a male playmate, since she wears the other two out!