Maine Coon Colour Guide – What Your Cat’s Coat Really Means.

Maine Coon cats are famous for their size and personality, but their colours and patterns are just as extraordinary. From bold brown tabbies and smoky silvers to rare calicos, shaded coats and colour-changing kittens, the Maine Coon breed displays one of the widest coat variations of any domestic cat.

Many owners are surprised to learn that a Maine Coon’s appearance can continue developing for years, with patterns sharpening, colours deepening, and coats changing dramatically with age and season.

If you’re trying to identify your Maine Coon’s colour, understand what the “M” marking means, or work out why your kitten looks different from its parents, you’re not alone. Coat genetics in this breed are complex, but once explained clearly, they’re surprisingly fascinating.

This guide breaks down every officially recognised Maine Coon colour and pattern, explains the genetics behind them in plain English, and shows how base colour, dilution, tabby pattern, and modifiers all combine to create your cat’s final appearance.

Throughout the guide, I also share real-life experience from owning three Maine Coons – Mika (a blue tabby) and Bali and Pippin (both brown tabbies), including how their coats changed over time and why tabby markings remain the most common pattern seen worldwide.

Whether you’re researching a kitten, comparing colours, or simply curious why your Maine Coon looks the way it does, this page will help you understand exactly what you’re seeing – and why.

Colour Vs Pattern: What’s The Difference?

One of the most common sources of confusion is the difference between colour and pattern.

• Colour refers to the base pigment of the fur, such as black, blue, red, or cream.
• Pattern refers to how that colour appears on the coat – for example, tabby stripes, smoke shading, tortoiseshell patches, or bi-colour markings.

Many cats have one base color, but multiple pattern modifiers layered on top, which is why two cats can both be “tabby” yet look completely different.

For example:

• Mika is a blue tabby – blue is the colour, tabby is the pattern.
• Bali and Pippin are brown tabbies – brown (black-based) colour with tabby striping.

Understanding this distinction makes everything else far easier to follow.

Why Maine Coons Have So Many Coat Variations

Maine Coons have one of the widest recognised colour ranges of any pedigree breed. Most cat registries recognise over 70 different colour and pattern combinations, created through the interaction of several genes.

These genes control:

• Whether pigment is black-based or red-based
• Whether colour is diluted (black → blue, red → cream)
• Whether tabby striping is visible
• Whether silver or smoke tipping occurs
• How much white spotting is present

Because many of these genes are dominant or recessive, two cats with similar appearances can produce kittens with very different coats.

🧬 Maine Coon Coat Genetics Explained

Understanding Maine Coon coat colors can feel confusing at first, but in reality, their appearance is created by a small group of interacting genes that “stack” on top of one another.

These genes determine whether a cat is light or dark, patterned or solid, warm-toned or cool-toned, and why kittens can look completely different as adults.

Rather than thinking of color as a single gene, it helps to imagine Maine Coon genetics working in layers.

The Four Main Genetic Layers That Create Color

Every Maine Coon’s coat is built from the same basic genetic structure:

1. Base color (black or red)
2. Dilution gene (changes black → blue, red → cream)
3. Pattern gene (tabby, solid, tortie, etc.)
4. Modifier genes (silver/smoke/shaded, and white spotting)

Each layer sits on top of the previous one, shaping the final appearance of the coat.

1️⃣ Base Color: Black or Red

All Maine Coon colors start with one of two base pigments:

• Black-based pigment (eumelanin)
• Red-based pigment (phaeomelanin)

This does not mean the cat will appear black or red; it simply defines the pigment type underneath everything else.

Most Maine Coons, including Mika, Bali, and Pippin, are genetically black-based cats.

This black pigment is what allows colors such as:

• Brown tabby
• Black solid
• Blue (diluted black)
• Silver tabby

2️⃣ The Dilution Gene: Why Blue Maine Coons Exist

The dilution gene softens the intensity of the base color. It controls how intense the color appears.

• Black → Blue (grey)
• Red → Cream

This is where Mika’s colouring differs from Bali and Pippin.

Real-life example:

• Mika is a blue tabby, meaning:
  • He carries black pigment
  • But also inherited the dilution gene
  • Which turned his black striping into soft grey tones
• Bali and Pippin are brown tabbies, meaning:
  • They did not inherit the dilution gene
  • So their black pigment remains full strength

This single gene is the reason blue Maine Coons often appear softer, cooler, and more pastel compared to brown tabbies.

3️⃣ The Agouti Gene: Why Most Maine Coons Are Tabbies

The agouti gene controls whether fur appears:

• Banded (tabby pattern visible), or
• Solid (no visible striping)

If the agouti gene is present, the cat will be a tabby. If it is absent, the cat will be a solid color. This explains why tabby Maine Coons are so common – the agouti gene is dominant.

In real life:

• Mika, Bali, and Pippin all carry the agouti gene, which is why they have visible tabby markings.
• Even kittens that appear very dark often lighten as the banding becomes clearer with age.

This is also why many Maine Coons display the distinctive “M” marking on the forehead, which both Bali and Pippin have prominently.

4️⃣ Tabby Pattern Types

Once a Maine Coon is genetically tabby, additional genes decide which pattern appears.

Common tabby types include:

• Classic tabby – Bold swirling patterns
• Mackerel tabby – Vertical tiger-like stripes
• Spotted tabby – Broken striping
• Ticked tabby – Minimal striping, heavily banded hairs

Most Maine Coons fall into classic or mackerel tabby patterns, with classic being especially common in brown tabbies like Bali and Pippin.

Modifier Genes: Silver, Smoke & White

On top of the base color and pattern sit several modifier genes.

🩶 Silver Gene

The silver gene lightens the root of each hair shaft to pale white or silver.

This creates:

• Silver tabbies
• Shaded coats
• High-contrast patterns

Without this gene, tabbies appear warmer and darker – like the rich brown tones seen in Bali and Pippin.

🌫 Smoke Gene

Smoke Maine Coons are genetically solid-colored cats with silver roots.

They appear solid when sitting still, but flash pale undercoats when moving.

⚪ White Spotting Gene

This gene controls:

• White paws
• White chests
• Bicolour and van patterns

It does not affect the underlying color – only where pigment appears.

Why Maine Coon Kittens Change Color

Many owners are surprised by how dramatically Maine Coon coats can change.

This happens because:

• Tabby contrast strengthens with maturity
• Silver roots become more visible
• Guard hairs lengthen over time
• Seasonal coats differ dramatically

Both Bali and Pippin darkened noticeably as adults, while Mika’s blue coat developed clearer striping and softer contrast after his first year.

It’s completely normal for a Maine Coon kitten’s final color not to fully appear until 2-4 years of age.

Why Tabby Maine Coons Are So Common

Genetically speaking:

• Black pigment is common
• Agouti is dominant
• Dilution is optional

This combination makes brown tabby and blue tabby Maine Coons the most frequently seen worldwide, while colors such as solid white, calico, and smoke are naturally less common.

It also explains why many owners, myself included, find themselves repeatedly drawn to tabbies. The patterning is expressive, wild-looking, and constantly changing with light and season.

Learn how the classic brown tabby pattern appears and changes over time

Common Vs Rare Maine Coon Colours – What “Rare” Really Means

When people read that certain Maine Coon colours are “rare,” it’s easy to assume that rare means more valuable, healthier, or better quality. In reality, rarity simply refers to how often that colour naturally appears within the breed’s genetics.

Some colours occur frequently because they rely on dominant genes that are widespread across breeding lines. Others require specific genetic combinations that appear far less often, making them genuinely uncommon in both homes and cat shows.

Maine Coon Colour Frequency Comparison

See how a calico Maine Coon’s coat develops from kitten to adult.

🐾 Real-World Perspective

In everyday households, the vast majority of Maine Coons fall into one of two groups:

• Brown tabbies
• Blue tabbies

This reflects the breed’s natural genetic origins.

All three of my Maine Coons fit this pattern – Mika is a blue tabby, while Bali and Pippin are brown tabbies, both with the classic “M” marking on the forehead.

These colours are common not because breeders prefer them, but because the underlying genes are dominant and stable.

⚠️ Important: Rare Does Not Mean Better

A Maine Coon’s colour has absolutely no impact on temperament, intelligence, size, or affection level.

From a breeder’s standpoint, colour is considered far less important than:

• Health testing
• Hip and heart screening
• Skeletal structure
• Temperament stability
• Ethical breeding practices

Many experienced breeders actually maintain stronger genetic diversity within common colour lines simply because they are bred more frequently.

📌 Owner Callout: “Is My Maine Coon Rare?”

If your Maine Coon is a brown or blue tabby, that’s normal. These colours represent the foundation of the breed.

Rare colours are interesting from a genetics perspective, but they do not make a cat:

• Healthier
• Larger
• More affectionate
• More intelligent

Some of the most confident, sociable, and loving Maine Coons are found among the most common colour groups, including two of mine.

Why Some Colours Are Naturally Rare

Certain colours require multiple genetic conditions to occur at the same time:

• Calico and tortoiseshell need two X chromosomes, so almost all are female
• Silver and shaded coats require inhibitor genes not present in all bloodlines
• Solid white masks all colour beneath it, reducing frequency
• Odd eyes occur when pigment migration develops unevenly

Because these combinations are statistically less likely, the colours appear far less often – even when breeders are not intentionally selecting for rarity.

Discover why the silver shading gene creates dramatic light effects

✅ What This Means For Kitten Buyers

If you are choosing a Maine Coon kitten:

• Prioritise health testing over colour
• Choose temperament over rarity
• View coat colour as a visual bonus – not a quality marker

A well-bred brown tabby will always outperform a poorly bred “rare” colour.

Most Common Maine Coon Colours

Although dozens of colour combinations exist, some appear far more frequently than others.

Most commonly seen colours include:

• Brown tabby (the classic wild Maine Coon look)
• Black
• Blue
• Red (ginger/orange)
• Cream

Brown tabby is widely regarded as the most common Maine Coon coat worldwide. This makes sense genetically, as tabby patterning is dominant and historically aligns with the breed’s early farm-cat origins.

All three of my Maine Coons are tabbies and display the distinctive “M” marking on the forehead, a hallmark of tabby genetics seen across many breeds.

Understanding Tabby Patterns

Tabby is not a single pattern – it includes several variations:

• Classic tabby: Bold swirling patterns on the sides
• Mackerel tabby: Narrow vertical stripes
• Ticked tabby: Minimal striping with agouti banding

Most Maine Coons, including mine, fall into the classic or mackerel tabby categories.

The famous forehead “M” marking, strong facial eyeliner, and leg striping are all part of the tabby gene expression.

You can explore this in more depth in my dedicated Tabby Maine Coon guide.

My three Maine Coons – Mika (blue tabby), Bali, and Pippin (both brown tabbies) all displayed the classic ‘M’ forehead marking typical of tabby genetics. This pattern stayed consistent even as their coats matured from kittenhood through adulthood.

Smoke And Shaded Maine Coons Explained

Smoke and shaded coats are often mistaken for solid colours.

In reality:

• Only the tips of the fur shafts are pigmented
• The base of each hair is pale or white
• The appearance changes dramatically depending on movement and lighting

Smoke Maine Coons may appear solid when sitting still, then reveal a pale undercoat when they move.

Shaded coats contain even less pigment and can appear almost glowing in sunlight.

Bi-Colour And White Spotting Patterns

White spotting genes create:

• Bi-colour coats
• Tuxedo patterns
• Van patterns (mostly white with colour on head and tail)

The amount of white varies greatly and cannot be precisely predicted; even kittens from the same litter can have very different white distributions.

Learn more here:
• Surprising Truths About Tuxedo Maine Coons
• Black & White Maine Coon: Types, Size & Secrets

Does Colour Affect Personality?

There is no scientific evidence that coat colour influences temperament. Any perceived differences are anecdotal.

In my own experience, personality differences between Mika, Bali, and Pippin were shaped far more by:

• Early socialisation
• Health issues
• Age
• Individual temperament

Not by colour or pattern.

Does Colour Affect Grooming Needs?

Colour doesn’t change grooming requirements, but coat texture does.

For example:

• Bali’s silky tabby coat rarely mats
• Mika’s thicker fur tangles far more easily
• Pippin’s coat became prone to knots as he aged

The grooming challenge comes from fur density and texture, not colour.

For grooming help:
• 9 Useful Maine Coon Grooming Tips
• 5 Brushes For Maine Coons That Work!
• 7 Proven Strategies To Prevent Matted Fur In Maine Coons

Explore Maine Coon Colours In Detail

To learn more, see our individual guides on:

• Maine Coon Colors and Pattern Codes
• Black Maine Coon
• Blue Maine Coon
• Silver Maine Coon
• Tabby Maine Coon
• Calico Maine Coon

Each article dives deeper into visuals, genetics, and care considerations.

Quick Answers

How many Maine Coon colours exist?
Over 70 recognised colour and pattern combinations.

What is the rarest Maine Coon colour?
Shaded silver, cameo, and calico combinations are among the least common.

Are tabbies always striped?
Yes – even subtle markings are still genetically tabby.

Do all tabbies have an “M” marking?
Most do, including Bali and Pippin, though contrast varies.