I was starting to look for a new cat for our family after our 'Spooky' girl had to be put to sleep due to cancer. Spook was listed as a "barn cat" at our local humane society, and when I brought her home, she discovered our basement and spent much of her time there for the first couple of years. She was never really much of a 'pet', but that's ok. She was off the streets and safe.

Back in the late 1960's my mom was given a pair of Siamese cats, and she started a small breeding program with them. Of course, it was nothing like it is today, and in those days, it was ok. Because of mom's little enterprise, our family of 5 girls all fell in love with the breed, and that's what my 'breed' was for years and years. Eventually, our own line of cats petered out, and I got cats from other places.

After we lost Spook, I began looking for another cat and was flat-out astounded by what the industry had done to the breed. They were long and skinny, but the worst part was how the head was so long and thin. I was disgusted with the new game these breeders were playing with that animal, and I refused to buy one.

The thought of a Maine Coon had made its way into my mind somehow. As a breed, they were supposed to be robust and healthy, so I began researching them.

Long story short, the prices were completely out of my league, and, quite honestly, the breeders that I talked to didn't seem to be very nice people.

The 'purebred' snob thing, and I didn't want to be a part of it.

Thus, the search on Kijiji started. Again, I was flabbergasted by the state of affairs in pet sales. Anything brown and fuzzy was a Maine Coon, Norwegian, or Siberian! They were asking up to $1,200.00 for a kitten, with a NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT, and ... they were getting away with it!

I didn't really know anything about Maine Coons at the time, but I did find an ad for one asking $350.00.

I figured I'd take the chance. I had to drive to Leduc (from just outside of Calgary) and meet a woman in the parking lot of a shopping mall. I handed her $350.00 cash, and she gave me this scrawny little kitten. And, this was commonplace!

I had an appointment set up with the vet on the way home, and although she was pronounced generally healthy, her ears were infested with mites.

Anyway, we got it all sorted, health checks, vaccinations, dewormers, ear mite killers, and Pepper was our new little girl.