Black And White Maine Coon Facts

The black and white Maine Coon is less well known than the black or brown tabby Maine Coons, but not nearly as rare as a smoke, silver, or gold Maine Coon cat.

The Black And White Maine Coon

Black and white Maine Coons have a solid base of black coloration, overlaid by a white spotting gene. Maine Coons can have different degrees of white spotting, ranging from mostly black to mostly white. The most popular type of these is the tuxedo pattern, which is mostly black with a bit of white on the belly, paws, chest, and chin.

The Maine Coon is an enormous cat breed that originated naturally in the state of Maine. They are popular throughout the world, and their long, thick fur comes in over 75 different combinations of colors and patterns! View Maine Coon colors.

The black and white Maine Coon is often ignored in favor of rarer colorations like gold smoke or silver shell.

This bicolor Maine Coon has a base coat of one color (which can be either solid or patterned), mixed with blotches of white.

No two black and white Maine Coon looks the same since the amount of black and white present on each cat varies. The amount of white spotting, also known as the degree of white spotting, varies in intensity.

Instead of occurring in random blotches throughout the body, however, it tends to begin at the paws, belly, and chest, and extend outward.

For example, a cat with very little white spotting may have a white spot on its chest and white paws, whereas a cat with a very high degree of white spotting may only have a black tail, forehead, and ears (this is known as a Van pattern).

Breeding bicolor cats can be difficult, as there is no way to know for sure what the white spotting will look like. However, breeders can make an educated guess based on a cat’s parents.

Genetics

This bi-color pattern is the result of specific genetics, where a dominant black coat gene combines with a recessive white spotting gene.

The white spotting gene controls the distribution and amount of white fur, leading to patterns like tuxedos, mittens, or unique markings.

Black and white Maine Coons are as striking in appearance as they are charming in personality, retaining the breed’s signature gentle, playful, and affectionate traits.

Price

Since black and white Maine Coons are not considered rare or difficult to breed, they cost the same as the average Maine Coon cat.

Most black and white Maine Coons are priced between $1,000 and $2,500.

A baby black and white Maine Coon that is being sold as a pet, rather than as a breeding cat or show cat, will range between $1,000 and $2,500 while breeding cats and show cats will cost much more.

It is also possible to find retired adult Maine Coons, at a less expensive price, but these are more difficult to find.

This is how much a non-black and white Maine Coon kitten costs.

Personality

Below are the common Maine Coon breed personality traits:

1. Social

Maine Coons are friendly, social creatures that love hanging out with their owners. While they are not clingy or demanding, they like to follow their people around from room to room.

They tend to become bored, lonely, and depressed if they do not get enough attention.

Therefore, it is a good idea to get your Maine Coon another cat or even a dog as a companion, especially if you spend a lot of time away from the house.

2. Cuddly

Maine Coons are incredibly loving, although a black and white Maine Coon male might be more likely to cuddle with you than a female.

This is because female cats tend to be a bit more active and wary, due to their natural maternal instincts.

Still, if you raise a young cat by cuddling it often and respecting its boundaries, any Maine Coon can end up being a cuddly lap cat!

3. Intelligent

The Maine Coon is one of the most intelligent cat breeds in the world.

They easily learn tricks and commands, and can even be taught to:

• Play Fetch (click to read how!)
• Walk on a leash and harness (click to read how!)

Their intelligence means they may be more likely to get into mischief, though, so it is a good idea to thoroughly cat-proof your entire house, especially high places!

4. Playful

A black and white Maine Coon female is likely to be much more playful than a male.

This is because female cats have much stronger hunting instincts, so they can feed their young and teach them how to hunt on their own.

However, even male Maine Coons are still quite playful, and these cats love to pounce on anything that looks like prey, climb shelves or cat trees, and run and chase after their favorite toys.

These are my favorite extra-large cat trees, for Maine Coon cats.

Rarity

The black and white Maine Coon is not considered rare, but they are not especially common, either.

You are more likely to find solid or tabby cats than bicolor cats, but they are still much easier to find than rarer colors and patterns like:

• Gold
• Silver
• Smoke
• Shell

The bicolor pattern is found in a wide range of cat breeds, and it is even common among domestic shorthairs and longhairs, so it is not difficult for breeders to produce this particular coloration.

Tuxedo Maine Coons are especially popular, but it may be more difficult to find a cat with a certain degree of white spotting (source 1).

Why Are They Unpopular?

Sadly, as adorable as the fluffy black and white Maine Coon may look, this particular color pattern is not as popular as many others.

So, why are black and white Maine Coons so unpopular?

They Are Common

Black and white cats are quite common, and many people view them as boring or ordinary, especially because of the cliche of common black and white cats being named Oreo or Domino.

People Prefer Unique Colors

Many cat owners want their cat to look unique, or they want a cat that has rare colors. This is especially true of Maine Coons.

Since these cats are so expensive already, many owners feel that, since they are paying so much for a cat, they may as well buy one with a unique coloration.

Superstition

Superstition has led many to believe that black cats are bad luck.

Sadly, it seems this opinion has extended even to black and white cats, as it is estimated that 70% of cats in British animal shelters are either black or black and white.

Where To Buy

If you want to find a black and white Maine Coon kitten, you need to be careful since these cats are very popular, expensive cats, and many scammers try to make a quick buck out of the unsuspecting buyer.

The average Maine Coons cost between $1,000 and $2,500. If you find a person selling one for less, be wary since they might be cutting corners by not providing adequate housing or medical care.

Many irresponsible breeders sell Maine Coon mixes or even regular, non-pedigree cats, scamming their customers into thinking they are purchasing a purebred Maine Coon cat.

The best way to get a Maine Coon kitten is to find a breeder that has been registered with a governing cat body, such as:

• Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA)
• The International Cat Association (TICA)

These associations set the standard for cat breeds, and they only give their seal of approval to breeders who are dedicated and responsible.

Furthermore, this is the only way to purchase a Maine Coon that you know is 100% purebred, as registered breeders provide all of the papers and documentation proving your cat’s pedigree.

Types Of Black And White Maine Coon

The most common black and white Maine Coon is a solid black and white bicolor, but that is not the only kind of black and white Maine Coon you can find!

Here are the other kinds of black and white Maine Coons:

1. Shaded Black

Shaded Maine Coons have white fur with varying degrees of color on the tip of each hair.

For example, the black smoke Maine Coon has the highest degree of tipping, so while the bottom of each hair is white, about 75% of each hair is black.

This gives the cat a white undercoat so that its fur seems to change color depending on which way you look at them.

2. Black Tabby And White

It is also possible to have a black tabby Maine Coon with white spotting.

Black tabbies have black stripes, but the rest of their coat is either brown or gray, so people tend to call them brown tabbies or gray tabbies, rather than black tabbies.

3. Tricolor

Female Maine Coons can have both red and black coloration. When combined with white, you can get either a tortoiseshell and white cat or a calico, which is also known as a tricolor cat.

Names

Not sure what to name your black and white cat? Here are a few fantastic cat names:

• Alfred
• Bandit
• Bowtie
• Inkblot
• Magpie
• Panda
• Penguin
• Pepper
• Squid
• Sudoku

For a MASSIVE list of other Maine Coon cat names, make sure you check out my article.