9/15/14 - I am a "breed expert" in a new book by RosemaryI am featured in a bonus chapter interview in the back and have a few pictures included as well. 5/28/14 - During the past month, American Maine Coon breeders have gradually become aware of a test for Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency in our cats.  disease has been known only to affect Abyssinian and Somali cats, but apparently it can affect other breeds as well. All of our adult breeding cats have now been tested by the labs at UC Davis.  We will test any future breedingFortunately, only one was found to be a carrier for the gene, Levi, one of our studs.  other cats are all negative.  As a carrier, Levi will not get PK Deficiency, but now that we know about it, he will  not be bred to another carrier to risk producing For more information about the new test for Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (PK Freeman regarding the Tufts Study on HCM and obesity in Maine Coons that Dracoonfly participated in two years ago:

I hope things are going well with you and your cats.  I wanted to let you know that we completed the Maine Coon study that you participated in last year and the results were published last week.  providing a summary of the results below, as well as a link to the article which was published in the Journal of FelineAlthough we have a lot more research to do before we can make good recommendations to help reduce the risk for HCM in Maine Coon cats, we believe thesePixie Bobs For Sale In Indiana results give us a good start.2004 Audi A4 Rear Fog Light Bulb your assistance with the studyHouse For Sale Hwy 17 Piedmont Sc Lisa M. Freeman,1 John E. Rush,1 Kathryn M. Meurs,2 Barret J. Bulmer,3

of Clinical Sciences, Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, MA of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC Veterinary Emergency Treatment and Specialties, Walpole, MA project was supported by the American Association of Feline Results were presented, in part, at the 2011 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Forum and have been submitted for publication. An interplay between growth, glucose regulation, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) may exist but has not been studied in detail in this disease. purpose of this study was to characterize body size, glucose metabolism, and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in Maine Coon cats with HCM. Body weight, body condition score, and abdominal circumference were measured in Maine Coon cats that were at least 2 years of age. X-rays for measurement of bone size (front leg and spine) and echocardiography also were

Blood was collected for biochemistry profile, DNA testing for the myosin binding protein C (MYBPC) mutation, glucose, insulin, and IGF-1. Eighty-five Maine Coon cats were screened for the study.  Of these, the heart could not confidently be classified as either normal or HCM in 16 cats, 4 cats had other cardiac abnormalities (e.g., tricuspid valve dysplasia, ventricular septal defect, unexplained left ventricular dilation), and 2 cats hadThese 22 cats were excluded fromSixteen of 63 cats had HCM (3 were MYBPC positive and 13 were MYBPC negative) and 47 of 63 cats were normal (17 were MYBPC positive and 30 were MYBPCCats with HCM were more overweight, were larger at 6 months and 1 year of age, and had larger bone size compared to the cats without HCM. Higher glucose and IGF-1 levels, which may be related to diet or obesity, were found in the cats with HCM and provide possible clues on the underlying causes of disease.

These results support our hypothesis that nutrition, early rapid growth, larger body size, and obesity may be environmental modifiers for theHowever, much additional research is needed to evaluate effects of early nutrition on the featuring Cassie and her 4-month-old daughter out of Bugger, Dracoonfly Marabou Bugger "Cassie Junior" or "CJ". for Myra the Supermodel, posing for Designer Paule Ka! to visit the Paule Ka website. Every one needs a Maine Coon to accessorize their couch. 7/4/11 - Last week we had Colonel Bates' heart screened by cardiologist Mark Stamoulis. He is a big, healthy boy, inside and out. Sharon's blog about her Maine Coon presentation for animal science teachers in 6/6/11 - One of Dracoonfly's wonderful kitten owners has won recognition for the picture she submitted of Savannah to World's Best Cat Litter for their Cats Across the Country Contest. Savannah represents the state of South Carolina, where she

lives with Brooke and Joe.  Click the link and then note:  We are no longer going to keep a waiting list forThe list has gotten too long andFrom now on (Nov. 3, 2010), we ask that you check the Kittens page for birth announcements and available kittens, emailing us if you are interested after a new litter isUpcoming litters will continue to be posted so prospective kitten buyers have an idea of when to check theAnyone who is already on the waiting list will not be removed, however no new people will be added for unborn litters. "Clean up your emotional messes." "Treat others with love, understanding and when necessary, University is conducting a study on the effects of nutrition on heart disease in the Maine Coon.  If you have a Maine Coon over the age of two years, you may be eligible to participate. Cats can be with or without known heart disease.  must be willing to bring their cat to Tufts Cummings School of

Veterinary Medicine in North Grafton, MA for a single 1-2 hour Lisa Freeman 508-839-5395 x84696 or more on the Maine Coon Breeders and Fanciers website 3/25/10 - Dr. Karen Brown did our annual cattery inspection, giving us perfect scores and continuing our certifications as a TICA Outstanding Cattery and a CFA Cattery of Excellence for the 6th consecutive year. Our next cat show will be in Ansonia, CT on April 23-25.  Click here for more details. 2/21/10 - We have spayed and retired two adult females, Ess-C and Kinsey. They are both now available to a qualified home, separately or Kittens page for their pictures "Then and Now" is now called "Pictures" on the button links.  the Pictures page which had kittens from several years ago with the more popular and up-to-date Then and Now pages.  way there is a direct link to Then and Now (called just "Pictures") and I didn't have to rehash all the cute little links at the top

and bottom of each page to fit in a new button. I have decided to stop adding names to the waiting list for the time being.  long and in the event that after the next litter is born, there are more kittens to go around than potential owners, I'll openI don't like to let people get their hopes up for getting a kitten from an upcoming litter when in fact Trifle won't give birth to 15 kittens. Keep those cute photos coming in and don't hesitate to remind me if you don't see your catI waited to do them all at once and may have inadvertently overlooked yours (either that or I had a problemIf you have a Dracoonfly kitten or cat and did not receive a Holiday email from me, then that means I probably need your new email address. New Jersey Kitten Buyers! I'll be at the TICA show in Parsippany this weekend.  TICA's Tenth Best Allbreed Alter Internationally Alter in the Northeast Region Cattery's First International Winner