The Meaning of Mysa
We chose the name Mysa—the Swedish verb for “to cozy up and find contentment”—because it perfectly resonates with the feelings that overcome you when you share your life with a Maine Coon. These cats are a rare contradiction: "Wild" in appearance but "Wonderful" in soul. Our mission is to bring that sense of mysa into your home through companions that are as gentle and silly as they are majestic.
Our Story: The Heart of the Basecamp
Where Wild Meets Wonderful
Long before we founded this Basecamp, our hearts belonged to the next adventure. You could often find us exploring the cactus filled trails or cool mountain peaks throughout Arizona—Much of our history is written in campfire glow and mountain air—though, if we’re being honest, it also includes a fair amount of patiently tolerating the 100+ degree Arizona 'dry heat' just to reach those cooler peaks. Whether trekking through sunbaked canyons or finally catching a breeze under forest skies, we have always been drawn to the raw, resilient beauty of the natural world.
This appreciation for the wild is why the Maine Coon resonates so deeply within our hearts. With their lynx-tasseled ears, rugged coats, and tufted paws, they are a living echo of the untamed wild—a breed that looks as though it was sculpted directly from the rugged landscapes we love. In many ways, they embody the same stewardship we feel for the trails; they are "Gentle Giants" who carry immense, wild power but choose to navigate the world with a quiet, peaceful grace.
Of course, that grace is highly situational. While they can be master hunters—capable of stalking a red laser with precision or snatching a fly out of mid-air with a Zen master focus that would make Mr. Miyagi proud—that coordination doesn't always translate to daily life. In general, these rugged explorers can be surprisingly awkward, unconfident jumpers, often trading their silent majesty for a silly stumble. Yet, put a cardboard box in their path, and all "mountain lion" pretenses emerge as the hide-and-seek ambush and antics begin. It’s a constant reminder that even the most formidable spirits have a delightfully ridiculous side.
We’ve established a sanctuary that honors this rugged heritage while championing the breed’s future. If you want to join our story; whether you're looking for a scout that is an Expert Explorer, Campsite Companion, or Hammock Hero, let us help you find your Mysa.
Our approach
Built on Family, Shared by the Crew
We are a small, family-run program, and our home is the ultimate Basecamp for Scouts. Our foundation cats and select future generations that remain with us are, first and foremost, cherished members of our family.
We embrace the natural, cooperative social structure of a mostly harmonious feline household—meaning we all agree that the cats own the house, and they graciously allow us to pay the mortgage and open the cans. Our foundation cats grew up together. They share deep bonds, resulting in a beautifully balanced, multi-cat family unit.
This cooperative dynamic truly shines as our litters grow. While we prioritize privacy and peace for our moms and newborn babes during their first few weeks—with human Mom sleeping right alongside the nursery to monitor every milestone—we actively support early, controlled introductions to the rest of our resident crew. Once ready, our adult cats work as a team to participate in a communal upbringing. Both our adult males and females step up to nurture, groom, and socialize the young Scouts. We’ve found this blended approach creates incredibly confident, well-adjusted kittens who are already masters of feline social dynamics.
When time permits, we proudly participate in Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) or The International Cat Association (TICA) shows. Exhibiting in the cat fancy is a vital extension of our mission; it ensures our breeding program is independently evaluated by expert judges to guarantee our cats meet strict structural health, athletic conformation, and calm, rock-solid temperaments. We are incredibly proud to have had the opportunity to show off Zara, our Phoenix black tortie, in the New Traits class this past February, alongside Cophia, our brown ticked tabby who became a Champion at just 8 months old in her very first show. Both are now ruling our camp, proving our deep dedication to purebred excellence on and off the trail.
Our Multi-Species Pack Dynamics
Have dogs? Us too! Though, our resident canine is shaped a bit more like a horse.
We share Basecamp with a 90-pound Redbone Coonhound who serves as our honorary trail boss. Despite his massive size, his primary mission in life is simply securing the friendship of yet another four-legged, furry brother or sister from another mother. However, if we are being completely hound-est, his internal compass is permanently recalibrating when scouts are in training.
Our brave leader considers the opening of cardboard boxes a high-level scout alert and their midnight antics far from entertaining. Our clever cats have completely cracked his code; they’ve learned that if they simply lounge near his dog door, he will completely refuse to cross the threshold and will instead sit outside crying for Mom or Dad. He may have the build of a majestic hunting hound, but when it comes to the cats—and their formidable murder mitts—he’s strictly a follower of the "paws-and-reflect" method.
Because our cats live, sleep, and navigate life completely integrated under our roof alongside our big hound, our Scouts grow up entirely unfazed by large dogs. They leave our camp fully prepared to seamlessly blend into any multi-species home adventure.