Verismo Maine Coon Breeders Introduce:

Verismo's Home, Beginnings, and First Litter

Verismo is top-National-Winning, large Maine Coon breeders living in a ranch-styled home, not a kennel. We now are located in a quiet suburb of Atlanta called the Virginia Highlands. It is not a typical "cattery operation." Although Verismo is my CFA registered name, the cats live in the home as pets. The cats must live in happiness and dignity, the way I think is deserving of such magnificent creatures. None are confined to a basement, nor are any ever in cages or "enclosures"; Each of my males has a full-sized private bedroom.
Every kitten is always hand-raised in the home since the very beginning.

Breeding and showing the cats was my dad's hobby for over eleven years, and now I am continuing his hobby. Verismo has bred:
Three CFA National Wins in Championship, five CFA Regional Wins, and numerous CFA Grand Champions (both males and females).

Here are some pictures of Verismo's former house in Kentucky

Tom at CFA annual (click for enlargement)

Clockwise: Cardinal, Woodpecker, Sparrow, Cowbird - Click us for the Bird Page

My dad maintained birdfeeders just outside the patio windows for the cats' entertainment.
I would like to share pictures of the songbirds native to Kentucky who are entertaining the cats;
the bird pictures from the outdoor patio are here.
We also have lots of Turkeys in the back yard; they are here.

Tom's story about getting into showing:

"After visiting shows in 1993, I got my first kitten in 1994. A red classic tabby with white, 5 ½ month old kitten born in Jan., 1994. He had already been shown, did some winning, and was named "Mainetoons The Cisco Kid". Cisco’s breeders and owners lived in south Florida at the time and allowed me to consider him. Then we planned to meet at a show in Columbus, Ohio on the Fourth of July, 1994. There I first laid eyes on Cisco in the flesh; I about flipped. He was everything I was looking for. Even from a distance, the pattern was incredible. I wanted to start out with red, and I wanted the red to be like an Irish Setter, like "on fire", and not like orange or yellowish. I wanted my first cat to be immense, long, tall, and powerful, yet of a sweet look and disposition. I DID took Cisco home, and Verismo got off to such a start."

GC Mainetoons The Cisco Kid of Verismo at 7 months

Cisco with Sue

Susan holding Cisco at three years of age.

In the picture, Sue is 5' 6".

Cisco resumed showing when he turned 8 months old, only this time in Championship.	Cisco at 8 months age
These pictures show how he was developing during his show career. I was thrilled that my very first cat attained Grand Champion in CFA. Cisco’s Grand Champion Certificate
GC Mainetoons The Cisco Kid of Verismo at 9 months
GC Mainetoons The Cisco Kid of Verismo at 51 weeks
My dad wanted red kittens and, boy, did he get red! This is Verismo's first litter of three cameo classic tabby males at 5 1/2 weeks. Cisco’s genes are very good and strong, and Verismo's breeding males now are all descendents of Cisco. Cisco is enjoying the retired life with relatives now.	The First Litter

The old Verismo farm has a 170 year old, 24 foot square farm crib still standing on it.
Since the Federal Government's Tobacco Program Discontinuation and Buyout program of 2005, this structure will no longer be utilized after 2005.
Here are some photos with the story of of the original hardwood log crib structure while it is still standing.

Maine Coon Cats by Verismo - Maine Coon Cat pictures