First of all — congratulations, and welcome to the Empire family. We put a lot of love and care into every kitten we raise, and we are genuinely excited for you. This article is here to walk you through your purchase agreement in plain, friendly language so nothing feels confusing or overwhelming. These policies exist to protect your kitten, give you peace of mind, and make sure we can step in and help quickly if anything ever comes up. We are always just a message away.
01The 10-Day Rule: Your Kitten's Best Start
The 10-day quarantine and vet visit are the two most important things you can do right after bringing your kitten home — and they are genuinely in your kitten's best interest, not just a formality. Here is what they involve and why they matter so much.
- Set up a cozy, quiet room just for your kitten for the first TEN (10) days. This gives them a safe space to decompress, adjust to new smells and sounds, and settle in without feeling overwhelmed. It also protects any other pets in your home during that adjustment period.
- Schedule a vet appointment within those same TEN (10) days — even if your kitten looks perfectly healthy. A quick wellness check gives you a baseline, catches anything that might not be visible to the eye, and gives you a vet relationship right from the start.
- After the visit, please send us proof — a photo or scan of the receipt, exam notes, or any paperwork from the visit. A quick text saying "we went!" is sweet, but we do need the actual documentation so we have it on file. This protects you too.
- This window is tight by design. The earlier we catch anything, the more we can do about it. We want to be able to help you — and the 10-day window is what makes that possible.
02What to Ask Your Vet at That First Appointment
To make the most of that first vet visit — and to stay in compliance with your agreement — there are two specific things to request. Your vet may not automatically include both, so it helps to ask by name.
- Ask for a full health check to confirm your kitten is healthy and cleared to meet any other pets in your home.
- Bring a fecal sample and specifically ask for testing for both Giardia AND Coccidia. Coccidia in particular is not always included in a standard fecal panel, so please ask for it by name. If it comes back positive, we want to know right away so we can help.
- Bring your kitten's health records from Empire Maine Coons to this appointment — your vet will appreciate having the full picture.
- If anything comes up at the visit, please reach out to us right away. We are here to help you navigate it.
03If Your Vet Finds a Health Concern
We hope everything goes smoothly — and it usually does. But if your vet does identify a concern, here is how to make sure you are covered and that we can help as quickly as possible.
- Please reach out to us in writing (email or text) within TEN (10) days of taking possession — not from the date of the vet visit, but from the day you picked up your kitten. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can work together on next steps.
- Written notice is important because it creates a clear, timestamped record for both of us. Please include any vet paperwork, test results, or photos that help explain the concern.
- After we receive your written notice, you will have an additional FIVE (5) days to coordinate a return if that becomes necessary — unless we agree in writing to a different arrangement.
- We know this can feel stressful. Please know that our goal is always to find a fair resolution, and we take every concern seriously.
04Why the Deadlines Are Firm
We understand that life gets busy and that the first days with a new kitten can be a whirlwind. That is exactly why we want to be upfront about the timelines now, so nothing catches you off guard later.
- The 10-day window for written notice is firm. After that window closes, we are no longer in a position to offer remedies, refunds, or replacements — not because we do not care, but because we genuinely cannot assess or address a health concern that was not reported in time.
- If a concern is reported but the kitten is not returned within the agreed timeframe, the agreement's remedies are no longer available. We want to help, but we do need the kitten back in our care to do so.
- We also ask that you not retain possession of a kitten while simultaneously requesting reimbursement for veterinary expenses. If you would like to pursue a remedy under the agreement, the return process needs to come first.
- If you are ever unsure whether you are within a deadline or what to do next, please just ask us. We would much rather answer a question than have a timeline slip by.
05The Genetic Health Guarantee
Every Empire Maine Coon kitten comes with a one-year genetic health guarantee from the date of birth. We test all of our breeding cats through Optimal Selection, and we stand behind the health of our lines.
- The guarantee covers hereditary conditions identified through genetic testing, including Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (PKDef), Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), and other conditions screened on the Optimal Selection panel.
- In the rare and heartbreaking event that your kitten passes away from a covered genetic condition within the guarantee period, please reach out to us in writing within TEN (10) days of their passing.
- We will ask for a necropsy report from a licensed veterinarian — this needs to be pre-approved by our designated vet, and the cost is the buyer's responsibility. We know that is a hard ask during a difficult time, and we are grateful for your understanding.
- If a qualifying genetic defect is confirmed, we will provide a replacement kitten of comparable quality and value within 12 to 24 months.
- We are not veterinarians, and the guarantee covers confirmed genetic conditions — not illness, injury, or conditions that develop as a result of care after possession. We want to be transparent about that so there are no surprises.
06Serious Congenital Conditions and FIP
In cases involving serious congenital defects or a diagnosis of FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis), we want you to know that we do not leave our adopters alone. FIP in particular is a devastating diagnosis, and we take it seriously.
- In cases involving serious congenital defects, specified intestinal complications, FIP, or other verifiable genetic conditions not covered under the standard guarantee, Empire Maine Coons may offer a credit of $650.00 toward a future kitten.
- This credit is reviewed on a case-by-case basis and requires sufficient veterinary documentation. It is not automatic, but we do our best to support our adopters through difficult situations.
- If your kitten is ever diagnosed with FIP, please contact us immediately and in writing. We want to be there for you.
07Agreement Violations
We want to be honest with you about the enforcement side of the agreement, because we believe transparency builds trust. These provisions exist to protect the integrity of our program and the wellbeing of our kittens — not to be adversarial.
- Violations of the Sales Agreement may result in a flat fee of $2,000.00 payable to Empire Maine Coons, and may require immediate surrender of the kitten with no reimbursement.
- If legal action becomes necessary, it will take place in Waukesha County, Wisconsin Courts, under Wisconsin law.
- The buyer agrees to cover court costs, reasonable attorney fees, and collection costs if the agreement is litigated.
- We genuinely hope it never comes to this. The vast majority of our adopters are wonderful, and we have never wanted anything other than a great outcome for every kitten and every family.
08Hold Harmless
Once your kitten is in your care, you take on full responsibility for them — which is exactly as it should be. This clause simply makes that official.
- By accepting possession of your kitten, you agree to hold Empire Maine Coons harmless from any claims, damages, or liabilities that arise from the kitten's actions after possession.
- This includes any third-party situations — if your cat interacts with a guest or another animal, that responsibility rests with you as the owner.
- This is standard for any responsible breeder agreement, and it reflects the reality that once your kitten is home, you are their person.
09Social Media and Reviews
We love seeing our kittens pop up on Instagram and hearing from happy adopters. We also believe in honest, open communication — and we ask that if something ever feels wrong, you come to us first.
- You are absolutely welcome to share your experience publicly — we only ask that anything you post is truthful, accurate, and based on facts.
- If you ever have a concern or frustration, please reach out to us directly before posting publicly. We genuinely want the chance to make things right, and most issues can be resolved quickly with a conversation.
- Encouraging others to post negative content on your behalf is treated the same as posting it yourself.
- Empire Maine Coons may preserve relevant communications and records in connection with any content that is false or defamatory, and reserves the right to pursue appropriate legal remedies if needed.
- This policy is not about silencing feedback — it is about giving us the chance to address concerns directly and honestly before they go public. We think that is fair for everyone.
10Certification of Understanding
When you signed your Sales Agreement, you confirmed a few important things. Here is a plain-language summary of what that signature means.
- You had enough time to read and understand the agreement before signing.
- The written agreement represents the full and complete understanding between you and Empire Maine Coons.
- The agreement is binding on you and your heirs and assigns.
- Anything said verbally outside of the written agreement is not part of the contract — which is why we always encourage putting things in writing.
- If any part of the agreement is found to be unenforceable, the rest of it remains fully valid.
11The Bottom Line
We wrote these policies because we care — about our kittens, about our adopters, and about making sure that if anything ever goes wrong, we can actually help. The 10-day window is tight because early action works. The documentation requirements exist because they protect you as much as they protect us. And we are always, always available if you have questions. Please do not hesitate to reach out.
- Give your kitten a quiet, cozy room for the first 10 days. They will thank you for it.
- See a vet within 10 days — and ask specifically for Coccidia testing.
- Send us proof of the vet visit within 10 days. A photo or scan of the paperwork is perfect.
- If your vet finds anything concerning, contact us in writing within 10 days of possession.
- If something feels off or you have a question about a deadline, just ask us. We are here.
- If you ever have a frustration, please come to us first. We want to make it right.
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