No – they're not rare. They're one of the most popular breeds of cats. With papers they sell for $600+ depending on whether they're pet quality or show quality.

Did you get papers with this cat? If not it's VERY unlikely it's really a Maine Coon. It's probably just a domestic longhair. If it really was a Maine Coon I highly doubt it would have been at a shelter for a "few months".

Though it's ethically wrong to do so many shelters say cats are a specific breed when they're not because it makes people more prone to adopt them. Is this why you adopted it – because you thought it was "worth" something?

Post a pic and I can tell you whether this cat looks like a Maine Coon or not but I'm about 99% sure it isn't. It's also very unlikely it's a "mix". Cats were domesticated thousands of years ago and breeds only created in the last hundred or so years. So most cats don't have ANY breed in their background – they're simply "domestics". Breeders also tend to sell cats altered unless the cat's been chosen to be part of the cattery's breeding program and crossbreeding is never allowed. So you just don't end up with cats that are "part" a specific breed.

I hope you're not going to let this cat free roam like you've done with your other cats Not only is against your contract with the shelter but I would think you'd learned your lesson since you've already lost one cat because you let it out – especially ridiculous that you did so at night when predators are feeding.

I really like the name james brandon, but for the girls i like; Allison Nicole, Kaley Lynn, Molly Louise, Miranda Noelle , Kelsie Nicole, Lauren Elizabeth , and Suzanna Katherine. but all your friends have really pretty names!!! i love them!