My experience purchasing a Maine Coon kitten from Gold Rush Maine Coons
I was a paying customer, and this review is based on written communication, veterinary records, and information published on the breeder’s own website.
In 2025, I purchased a Maine Coon kitten for $2,800 from Tom Isenberg of Gold Rush Maine Coons (goldrushmainecoons.com) in Placerville, California.
Before purchasing, I was told verbally, through text messages, on Facebook, on the breeder’s website, and in the contract that all breeding cats receive echocardiograms to screen for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).
My kitten died suddenly at just 10 months old. A veterinary necropsy with histopathology later confirmed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) as the cause of death.
The parents of my kitten were Dulce and Remington. After my kitten died, I asked the breeder for echocardiogram results and health testing documentation for both parents, which had been advertised as part of the breeding program. I was told the request was “irrelevant” because one of the parents was retiring. However, both parents remained listed on the breeder’s website for upcoming litters, and I was never provided documentation of echocardiograms or other cardiac health testing despite multiple requests.
I was also never shown or provided registration papers for my kitten. When I searched the breeder name on The International Cat Association (TICA) website, I could not find a breeder listing under Gold Rush Maine Coons.
When I picked up my kitten, I also discovered that another breeding program called Quartz Mountain Poodles and Doodles operates from the same address.
After my kitten died, the breeder offered a replacement kitten, which I declined. I later received a refund for the purchase price of the kitten, but I did not receive compensation for veterinary expenses or the necropsy.
I debated whether to write this review. However, breeder websites can appear very professional and use the right language about health testing. My experience showed me how important it is for buyers to ask for actual documentation of health testing and breeder registration before purchasing a Maine Coon kitten.