Meet Michele Ott | Mom, Veteran & Maine Coon Enthusiast

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michele Ott and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michele, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My daughter’s autism diagnosis led us to find a breed that could be her emotional support, was dog-like, and good for allergy sufferers. We brought home our first Maine Coon, fell in love with his temperament, and knew we wanted to share that same joy and support with other families.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
MicoliCoon Cattery is a family-run Maine Coon cattery built on a foundation of passion, education, and integrity. What sets us apart is our commitment to breeding responsibly and intentionally. Every decision, from health testing and genetic screening to socialization and temperament evaluation, is made with the goal of raising healthy, confident Maine Coons who can truly enrich the lives of their families.

I’m especially proud of our involvement in the cat fancy. We actively show our cats in the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) , which allows us to continually measure our breeding program against the highest breed standards. As a CFA Certified Ringmaster, I bring a deep respect for the show world, the breed standard, and the community of breeders and exhibitors who work hard to preserve and improve these magnificent cats.

Getting to where we are today has been both rewarding and challenging. Ethical breeding requires long hours, constant learning, and a willingness to adapt. Every cat and kitten has taught us something new about health, temperament, and even patience, and these lessons have shaped both our program and our personal growth. Our background as a military family has also taught us discipline, resilience, and attention to detail, all of which are essential in running a successful cattery.

MicoliCoon Cattery is more than just a breeding program; it’s a mission. It started as a way to find the perfect emotional support companion for my daughter, and it has grown into a purpose-driven cattery where each kitten is raised with love, care, and an emphasis on health and temperament. Our goal is to provide families—especially those with unique needs—the same joy, comfort, and companionship that Maine Coons brought into our lives. That is what truly drives everything we do.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend were visiting San Diego for a week, I’d want them to see the mix of beaches, culture, and great food that makes this city so special. Hopefully, they planned to stay for a while because there is a lot to see. We’d start with a visit to La Jolla Cove, then grab lunch at Mimo’s and ice cream at Salt and Straw in Little Italy (downtown). I’d have to take them to Balboa Park to explore the gardens, museums, and the amazing architecture (one of my favorite places). Another day, we’d start with grabbing a few tacos at Mike Hess at Seaport Village or at Tacos El Gordo and head to SeaWorld for some fun and adventure. Of course, no trip would be complete without a scenic drives along the coastline.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d love to dedicate my shoutout to my daughter, who inspired this entire journey. I’m also so grateful to my parents and friends for their support, and to the breeders and mentors who took the time to share their knowledge when I was just starting out. Their encouragement helped us grow this dream into what it is today

Website: https://www.mccattery.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/micolicoon.cattery?igsh=NGprbGxuYWk5cWxl&utm_source=qr (@micolicoon.cattery)

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/MicoliCoon/ (@micolicoon)

Image Credits
Chanan