Welcome to Dashing Coons
◆About Dashing Coons
TICA-Registered European Maine Coon Cattery · Ballwin, Missouri · Sires & Support Base in Southern Illinois · Max 3 Breeding Females
Quick Facts
- Cattery:
- Dashing Coons — TICA-registered European Maine Coon cattery
- Owner:
- Samuel Haws
- Location:
- Ballwin, Missouri (St. Louis metro)
- Phone:
- 618-973-6926
- Specialties:
- Black smoke, blue smoke, and polydactyl Maine Coons
Who is behind Dashing Coons?
My name is Samuel Haws. I run Dashing Coons out of Ballwin, Missouri — right in the St. Louis metro — and I do this myself. No staff, no facility, no volume operation. Just me, a small number of carefully selected cats, and a genuine obsession with European Maine Coon lines. Our sires and family support base are in southern Illinois.
I got into this because I fell hard for the European smoke look — the dramatic silver undercoats, the wild ear furnishings, the square muzzle and sheer size that makes people stop mid-sentence when they walk into the room. I wanted to build a program around those traits done right, with health testing, honest pairings, and kittens raised the way I would want my own cat raised.
Every kitten is born and raised in my home, handled daily from day one, and goes to their new family vet-checked, vaccinated, and with full documentation. Dashing Coons is based in Ballwin, Missouri, serving the St. Louis metro. Our sires and family support base are in southern Illinois. Our program keeps a maximum of 3 breeding females under direct personal care at any time.
Specializing In
- European black smoke Maine Coons
- European blue smoke Maine Coons
- Black smoke with white
- Black tortie smoke
- Polydactyl Maine Coons
Families I Work With
Most of my families are in the St. Louis metro and the surrounding Midwest — Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee. That is where local pickup and personal hand-delivery are most straightforward. I have also placed kittens with families further out across the country, and I am happy to discuss travel for placement on a case-by-case basis.
I am listed on the official TICA Breeder Directory.
Can I pick up locally or do you deliver?
Dashing Coons is based in Ballwin, Missouri, serving the St. Louis metro. Our sires and family support base are in southern Illinois, just across the river. Local pickup is always my first preference. St. Louis families are welcome to come by in person, meet the kittens, and take their new companion home the same day. For families outside the area, I am happy to discuss personal hand-delivery by arrangement — your kitten always travels with me, never shipped.
- ✔Local pickup always welcome — visits encouraged
- ✔Personal hand-delivery outside the area by arrangement
- ✔I personally travel with every kitten — never shipped
- ✔Long-distance placement discussed case by case
Text Sam at (618) 973-6926 to talk through your location and we will figure out what works.
The European Smoke Program
The smoke coat is what drew me to this breed in the first place — that high-contrast silver undercoat that shifts as the cat moves. I focus on European lines because they tend to carry the structural traits I care about most: large frames, square muzzles, prominent cheekbones, and long ear furnishings. Every pairing I make is chosen with those traits in mind, alongside temperament and long-term health.
Program Focus
- Dramatic silver undercoats
- Large structure and square muzzles
- Approximately 50% polydactyl kittens
- Balanced, affectionate temperaments
Each Pairing Selected For
- Genetic compatibility
- Structural integrity
- Temperament stability
- Long-term health
How I Approach Breeding
I follow TICA breeding guidelines and give my queens appropriate recovery time between litters. I do not overbreed. I do not rush development. Running a small program means I can actually do that — there is no pressure to produce volume.
Because I prioritize health and timing over output, I often accept reservations on future litters. If nothing is available right now, getting on the waitlist is the right move.
Our Health Testing, Explained
I believe buyers deserve a plain-language explanation of what we test, what it means, and what is still in progress — not marketing language.
What DNA testing is complete?
Every breeding cat is DNA-screened through UC Davis VGL and/or Wisdom Panel Optimal Selection for HCM, SMA, and PKDef. Current panels are being refreshed in 2026. Dated reports go to serious buyers on request. Board-certified echocardiograms (Dr. Cecilia Marshall, DACVIM, VSS Manchester) and OFA/PawPeds hips are part of the rebuild — we will not claim those are complete until the reports are in hand.
What health screening is in progress?
Two additional screenings are currently in progress and required before first breeding:
- ✔Cardiologist echocardiogram — scheduled with Veterinary Specialty Services, Dr. Cecilia Marshall, DACVIM, in Manchester, MO. An echo is the only way to directly evaluate heart structure; DNA alone is not sufficient.
- ✔OFA/PawPeds hip screening — official hip evaluation through the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals and PawPeds registry. Maine Coons can be predisposed to hip dysplasia, and formal screening is part of responsible breeding.
These screenings are in progress — I will not claim they are complete until they are. Results will be made available to families upon request.
What is a European Maine Coon?
The term gets used loosely. Here is what it actually means — and how it applies to our program.
What does "European lines" actually mean?
It refers to bloodlines developed by breeders in Russia, Ukraine, and Scandinavia who selected for more extreme structural traits than the American show standard. Our sire Billy Ray Cyrus carries imported bloodlines from Russia and Ukraine. "European" is a lineage descriptor, not a separate breed — all Maine Coons are the same breed registered under TICA.
How do European and American Maine Coons differ structurally?
European Lines
- Taller ears with more pronounced lynx tufts
- Higher, more prominent cheekbones
- Squarer, more powerful muzzle
- Heavier bone structure overall
- Larger adult size — males commonly 18–25 lbs
- Wilder, more dramatic appearance
American Lines
- Shorter, less tufted ears
- Softer, more moderate facial structure
- Narrower, more natural muzzle
- Moderate bone structure
- Slightly smaller average adult size
- Gentler, more classic appearance
Is temperament different between European and American lines?
Both lines share the Maine Coon breed temperament — affectionate, social, confident, and adaptable. Temperament is shaped more by individual genetics and early socialization than by European vs. American lineage. Our kittens are raised in-home from birth with daily handling, which we consider just as important as bloodline selection.
Polydactyl Maine Coon Genetics
About half of our kittens are polydactyl. Here is what that means genetically and what to expect.
What is polydactyly in Maine Coons?
Polydactyly means extra toes — typically on the front paws, sometimes the rear. In Maine Coons it is caused by a dominant mutation in the Pd gene. One copy of the gene is enough to produce extra toes, so a polydactyl parent has roughly a 50% chance of passing the trait to each kitten. Two copies (homozygous) can produce more pronounced expression but is not harmful.
Is polydactyly harmful?
No — when responsibly bred, polydactyly is a cosmetic trait. Polydactyl cats live normal, healthy lives. The main practical difference is nail care: extra toes mean extra nails, and those nails need regular trimming to prevent overgrowth. We consider extra toes a feature of the breed, not a defect — polydactyl and non-polydactyl kittens are priced the same.
What share of your kittens are polydactyl?
Approximately 50% of our kittens are polydactyl. Our sire Viscount Cheeto Puff is polydactyl, which introduces the trait into pairings with our queens. Whether a specific kitten is poly is noted on the Available Kittens page for each individual.
How Big Do European Maine Coons Get?
Maine Coons are the largest domestic cat breed. European lines tend toward the larger end of that range. Here are realistic expectations.
What is the typical adult weight range?
Males
18 – 25 lbs
European lines; full maturity at 3–4 years
Females
10 – 15 lbs
Still larger than most domestic breeds
These are widely accepted breed ranges. Individual cats vary — genetics, diet, and neutering status all affect adult size. We do not promise a specific weight for any kitten.
How long does it take a Maine Coon to reach full size?
Maine Coons mature slowly — most do not reach full adult size until 3 to 4 years of age, and some continue filling out until 5. This is much longer than most domestic cats, which reach adult size around 12 months. Do not be surprised if your kitten is still visibly growing at 2 years old — that is normal for the breed.
3–6 months
Rapid early growth; still very kitten-like
6–12 months
Noticeable size increase; coat begins to develop
1–2 years
Significant growth continues; body filling out
3–4 years
Full adult size and coat typically reached
What Comes With Your Kitten?
Every kitten leaves with full documentation and everything needed to establish care immediately.
What documentation does my kitten come with?
- ✔TICA registration paperwork
- ✔Health records from birth through placement
- ✔Pedigree information
- ✔Age-appropriate vaccination records
- ✔Pre-placement veterinary exam certificate
- ✔Written health guarantee (2-year genetic for pet; 5-year limited for signature/specialty placements)
What starter items come home with the kitten?
Every kitten goes home with Royal Canin wet and dry food samples, a copy of their vet records, the signed health guarantee, the purchase contract, their pedigree, and their TICA registration paperwork. We also include a few surprise extras — toys and a scent blanket — to help them settle in.
Our Process, Step by Step
Here is exactly how a reservation works — from first contact to go-home day.
Text first
Reach out by text at (618) 973-6926. Scam volume in the kitten market is high, so we start every conversation by phone or text — it is the fastest way to confirm you are talking to a real person and to answer your initial questions.
Live video call
We offer a live video call so you can see your kitten in real time, meet the parents if available, and ask every question you have face to face. Many families do this before committing. It is optional but encouraged.
$1,000 deposit reserves your spot
A $1,000 deposit through Intuit QuickBooks officially reserves your kitten. Reservations are first-come, first-served — first deposit, first pick. The deposit is non-refundable but is fully applied toward your total. It also activates your written health guarantee.
Photo and video updates
From deposit through go-home day, you receive regular photo and video updates as your kitten grows. You are not waiting in the dark — you will watch your kitten develop week by week.
Go-home day at 10–12 weeks
Kittens go home between 10 and 12 weeks of age, once they are fully weaned, eating consistently, litterbox trained, vet cleared, and up to date on vaccinations. Local pickup in Ballwin is always welcome. Personal hand-delivery outside the area can be arranged.
Raised In My Home
My kittens are not raised in a separate facility or outdoor building. They grow up in my living space, around normal household activity, handled from the time they are born. That early exposure matters — it is a big part of why they tend to settle into new homes quickly and bond easily with their families. You can see our available Maine Coon kittens to find out who is ready to go home.
- Daily handling
- Early socialization
- Household exposure
- Structured human interaction
Temperament is just as important to me as structure.
Transparency & Verification
Buying a kitten is a real commitment — financially and emotionally. I want you to feel confident before you place a deposit. I am reachable by phone and text, I do video calls, and I encourage in-person visits for local families. I would rather answer ten questions upfront than have someone feel uncertain after the fact.
- Scheduled live video calls
- Phone and text consultations
- In-person visits by appointment
- Ongoing developmental updates
- Verified social media presence
I encourage families to verify any breeder before placing a deposit — including me.
Breeding Rights
Breeder-rights placements are paused while we rebuild health documentation. Pet placements remain available.
See Our Kittens in Action
Check out this video of our kittens. For more, visit the YouTube channel.
Visit our YouTube channel →Frequently Asked Questions
Please contact us if you cannot find an answer to your question.
◆ Ready to Find Your Kitten? ◆
Begin the Reservation Process
Reservations are first-come, first-served. Text Sam at (618) 973-6926 to start the conversation.