Black Maine Coon Facts

Black Maine Coons are so dark that you could easily lose sight of your kitty in the nighttime darkness, that is until they look straight towards you with their dazzling, shiny bright eyes.

Black Maine Coons are one of the most popular Maine Coon cat colorings to own. They are relatively common and classified into four color classes: solid, bi-color, shaded and smoke, shaded/smoke, and white color class. A famous black silver Maine Coon, known as “RW SGC Sarajen OliverUnderfoot of Maggismaines”, was honored as a loving cat therapist.

The beautiful black Maine Coon coloring is just one, of over 75 different Maine Coon colorings to pick from.

Despite so many Maine Coon colors and patterns to choose from, black remains one of the most popular colors and is more commonly found.

Black Maine Coon

The Maine Coon is the largest domesticated cat breed in the world, apart from the Norwegian Forest Cat, with medium to long silky thick fur that requires regular grooming.

This cat breed originates from Maine, United States, and is often referred to as being a ‘gentle giant’ due to their large build, yet amazingly gentle and laid-back nature.

There are many different Maine Coon colorings to pick from, but the beauty of the black Maine Coon will likely capture your heart immediately.

How To Identify A Black Maine Coon Cat

According to the Cat Fanciers Association and the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy, there are officially four black colors.

The four black color classifications are as follows (source 1,2):

• Solid Colour Class
• Bi-Colour Colour Class
• Shaded and Smoke Colour Class
• Shaded/Smoke and White Colour Class 

As you can see, there are many versions of black Maine Coon.

The table below summarises the black color class requirements that a cat must match, to be considered a pedigree black Maine Coon:

Black Color Class Requirements

There are five different solid coat colors in the Maine Coon cat breed. See here for more details.

Let’s take a closer look at the different black color coat criteria:

If you are wondering whether your Maine Coon cat is a shaded or solid Maine Coon cat, the easiest way to tell the difference is by looking at each cat’s undercoat.

All black Maine Coons have black nose leather and pads. Whereas it is possible for their paws to be either brown or black.

Solid Black Maine Coon

If you are searching for a completely black Maine Coon cat, you are in luck, as they do exist!

They are referred to as solid black Maine Coon cats and have a solid black fur coloring from root to tip.

A solid black Maine Coon cat lacks any markings, as their fur is a single coloring.

Whilst a solid black Maine Coon has fully black fur, a shaded black Maine Coon will have a different color present in their undercoat.

Shaded Black Maine Coon

For those of your dreaming of a shaded black Maine Coon cat, look for cats that have a lighter fur color in their undercoat.

Black Smoke Maine Coon

The easiest way to identify a black smoke Maine Coon cat is by looking at the cat’s coat more closely.

Start by looking at the cat’s undercoat.

If the cat has paler or white roots, you are likely looking at a black smoke Maine Coon.

Black smoke Maine Coon cats also tend to have silver ear tufts and silver neck ruffs.

Take time to watch the Maine Coon cat moving when identifying a black smoke Maine Coon cat, since their fur appears grey and black as they move, yet solid black if standing still!

Some black smoke Maine Coon colorings you may encounter, include:

• Black Smoke and White Maine Coons
• Black Silver Smoke Maine Coons

Black Maine Coon Personality And Temperament

The personality of a black Maine Coon cat is no different from that of any other Maine Coon cat coloring.

The black Maine Coon cat temperament is therefore goofy, friendly, sociable, highly intelligent, and family-friendly.

The black Maine Coon personality is often considered to be dog-like in its mannerisms, highly vocal, and the best cat breed in the world!

Learn more about the Maine Coon cat personality in this cat guide which is packed full of lots of useful Maine Coon breed information.

Black Maine Coon Size

The average Maine Coon cat weighs between 8 – 25 lbs, and measures between 19 – 40 inches in length.

Female Maine Coon cats tend to be smaller than their male counterparts, weighing roughly 8 – 12 lbs, but tend to be just as long as their male counterparts.

Male Maine Coon cats weigh an average of 15 – 25 lbs.

Black Maine Coon cats are no different from any other Maine Coon cat color, so you can expect your Maine Coon black size to be as detailed above.

Let’s take a closer look at the black Maine Coon cat-size information.

The table below summarises the following information:

• Black Maine Coon Length
• Black Maine Coon Height
• Black Maine Coon Weight

Gender	Length (inches)	Height (inches)	Weight (lbs)
Male	19-40	10-16	15-25
Female	19-40	8-14	8-12

Black Maine Coon Length

One of the key Maine Coon physical characteristics is its very long rectangular body.

Their bodies should never appear squished, or out of proportion, but instead long and muscular.

Although the male of the breed tends to achieve larger physical proportions in general than their female counterparts, this is not the case when it comes to a Maine Coons length.

Both male and female black Maine Coons reach anywhere up to 40 inches in length!

Therefore, you can expect your black Maine Coon to grow into an impressively long Maine Coon cat.

The longest Maine Coon ever recorded in the Guinness World Records was set by a Maine Coon named ‘Stewie’.

Although Stewie was not a black Maine Coon, he certainly was long, reaching an astonishing 48.5 inches in length!

Sadly Stewie does some years back, so the title for the longest cat went to ‘Ludo’, another Maine Coon cat. Read about him here.

As of 2018, however, a new contender has been awarded the title of the longest cat in the world, by the Guinness World Records. This cat’s name is Barivel!

Meet Barivel the Maine Coon cat, in this article.

Black Maine Coon Weight

Although there will always be exceptions to the rule, the general consensus is that male black Maine Coons weigh more than their female black Maine Coon counterparts.

The average male Maine Coon weight is 15-25 lbs (6.9-11.3 kg), and the average female Maine Coon weight ranges from 8-12 lbs (3.6-5.4 kg).

Maine Coon cats grow at a very slow rate of growth, not reaching their full Maine Coon size until between 3-5 years, whereas normal cat breeds reach full size by 2 years.

It is therefore very important that Maine Coon cat owners do not overfeed their black Maine Coon cat, thinking that their cat has not reached the expected full-grown Maine Coon cat size.

If you are concerned your black Maine Coon’s not gaining enough weight, contact your local veterinarian to check your cat is in good health.

You can also make a Maine Coon growth chart to check your cat is growing at a healthy rate for this large cat breed.

Here is a great chart about Maine Coon kitten weight which explains how quickly your Maine Coon cat will grow.

Black Maine Coon Height

The average male Maine Coon will reach 10-16 inches (25-40 cm) in height, whereas the female Maine Coon height is usually somewhat smaller, at an average of 8-14 inches (20-35 cm).

Take a look at the infographic below, for more Maine Coon size information, across the genders:

Black Maine Coon Eyes

Whilst all Maine Coon kittens are born with stunning blue eyes, it is common for their eye color to change as they age.

Black Maine Coon cats have large, slightly oblique-shaped, green or gold wide-set eyes. You might also notice the following colors in their eyes:

• Yellow
• Green Amber
• Amber
• Copper
• Orange

It is rare to find adult Maine Coon cats with blue eyes.

Find out what causes Maine Coon yellow eye, in this article.

There are a few Maine Coon eye issues that owners need to be aware of, including:

• Hyperopia
• Myopia
• Astigmatism
• Strabismus

Black Maine Coon Price

If you are looking to buy a black Maine Coon cat, you have two choices:

• Buy A Purebred Maine Coon
• Buy A Mixed Maine Coon

1. Purebred Maine Coon Price

Purebred Maine Coons are expensive pedigree cats.

The average price for a purebred black Maine Coon kitten ranges between $1000 – $2000.

However, if you are interested in purchasing a black Maine Coon kitten for breeding purposes, expect to pay anywhere up to $2000+ per kitten.

Cats specifically bred as a show Maine Coon will also come at a premium price, costing a buyer anywhere up to $2500 (£1975).

Pedigree Maine Coon cats definitely do not come cheap, so if you find black Maine Coon kittens are over budget, but you are still keen to own a Maine Coon, consider giving an older Maine Coon a loving home.

Older Maine Coon cats will cost roughly $600 (£474) each.

You can find Maine Coon cats available in a variety of places, including:

• Registered Maine Coon Breeders
• Rescue Centers
• Shelters
• Online

2. Mixed Maine Coon Kitten Price

Maine Coon kittens with mixed heritage are cheaper than purebred Maine Coons, since their genetics are not pure to the Maine Coon cat breed.

Maine Coons with mixed genetics are not official pedigree cats, though they may massively resemble purebred Maine Coons in terms of character, looks, and personality.

Whilst there may be several similarities between purebred and mixed Maine Coon cats, it is impossible to identify which personality traits the mixed Maine Coon kitten has gotten.

Traits will only become apparent over time, though you could take a look at the kitten’s parents to make an educated guess on the matter.

Ultimately, there is no reason why your mixed Maine Coon kitten would not make just as an amazing family pet, as a purebred Maine Coon would.

Where To Buy A Black Maine Coon Kitten

Maine Coons kittens are extremely popular due to their fun-loving personalities, playful gentle nature, and stunning appearance.

For the ultimate guide to buying a black Maine Coon cat, check out my article: Buying a Maine Coon cat: Complete guide.

If you are wondering where to buy a black Maine Coon cat or kitten, keep reading!

Black Maine Coon kittens are available from a wide variety of places, including the following:

• Registered Breeder
• Facebook
• Rescue / Shelter
• Gumtree
• Craigslist
• Backyard Breeders
• Pet Shops

Before you rush out to buy your Maine Coon kitten, it is important that you watch out for the pitfalls of buying one of these expensive cats.

1. Registered Breeder

Registered Maine Coon breeders are the best place to purchase black Maine Coon kittens.

They are often Maine Coon fanatics and will be able to provide legitimate paperwork proving the Maine Coon kitten’s pedigree status, whilst often being able to introduce you to the kitten’s parents too.

Buying from a breeder will cost more, but comes with an added level of comfort in reference to the kitten’s general levels of health.

This is because breeders genetically check their breeding cats for health issues common to the Maine Coon cat breed, before breeding.

This screening process prevents kittens from being born with known genetic health issues.

In order to find a registered Maine Coon cat breeder in your area, see below:

• United States: Contact the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) to find out who your local registered cat breeders are.

• United Kingdom: Contact the Governing Board Of The Cat Fancy’ the UK’s Premier Registration Body, to find registered breeders located near you.

2. Facebook

With the rise in the popularity of social media, Facebook is now a viable place to source a local black Maine Coon kitten.

Many businesses advertise kittens for sale on Facebook, including registered Maine Coon breeders.

Take a look at sellers’ pages, and get a gut feel for how the company interacts with its audience.

Consider the following factors:

• Does the breeder seem knowledgeable on the subject of Maine Coon cats?

• Are they helpful?

• Do they appear to care about the kittens they sell?

• Are customers giving them good reviews?

Always air on the side of caution when dealing with cat sellers online.

Never make any online payments before seeing the advertised kitten, especially if the seller requests you make a payment that goes outside your country of residence.

Some great Maine Coon Facebook pages exist where you can learn a ton of information about Maine Coon kittens, and ask any questions you have.

These include: 

• Maine Coon Cat Nation
• Maine Coon ID
• Maine Coon UK
• Maine Coon Cat Lovers

3. Rescue / Shelter

Sadly, some Maine Coon kittens are abandoned by irresponsible owners.

Keep in touch with the cat rescue shelters near you, making your request for a Maine Coon cat known to them.

You may be lucky enough to adopt a Maine Coon kitten should one becomes available!

Here are some reputable rescue shelters available in the United States, and the United Kingdom:

• Maine Coon Rescue – United States
• Maine Coon Adoptions – United States
• Cat Chat – United Kingdom
• RSPCA – United Kingdom

4. Gumtree

Black Maine Coon kittens are advertised on Gumtree, though I would not recommend this as a good place to purchase your kitten.

Sadly, many criminals target inexperienced buyers looking to purchase expensive Maine Coon kittens online.

The seller often claims the kitten is purebred, when it is not, so do make sure that the pedigree paperwork is legitimate.

Always remember that if the deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.

That is not to say that all sellers on Gumtree are bad, the trouble is, you just do not know so do not take the risk when purchasing a purebred black Maine coon cat.

5. Craigslist

Although you may find the perfect black Maine Coon kitten on Craigslist, once again, air on the side of caution.

Be aware of criminals trying to entice potential buyers with various pictures of stunning black Maine Coon kittens. Whilst it is possible these kittens and prices are real, they might also not be.

Advertised kittens are often never available, and at the last minute, a seller will switch the advertised kitten in the hope that the buyer will buy the ‘replacement kitten’, having become emotionally invested in the purchase process.

6. Backyard Breeders

The rise in popularity of the Maine Coon cat has resulted in a rise of backyard breeders keen to produce and sell expensive Maine Coon kittens, on mass.

Avoid these breeders since the kittens are kept in poor conditions, and you also cannot ensure they are truly purebred Maine Coons (even if the seller tells you they are!).

Backyard breeders rarely screen their breeding cats via veterinary professionals, to check for medical conditions common to the Maine Coon breed, for instance, hip dysplasia.

Therefore, kittens purchased from backyard breeders may have genetics prone to developing certain health issues.

7. Pet Shops

Avoid purchasing black Maine Coon kittens from pet shops.

Reputable breeders tend not to trust pet shops to care for their precious Maine Coon kittens.

Backyard breeders often sell their Maine Coon kittens directly to pet shops, which poses a risk to the purchaser.

Pet shops themselves often have little understanding of this particular cat breed’s physical, emotional, and mental needs.

Black Cat Superstitions

There are many superstitions relating to black cats which differ wildly across different cultures.

Some countries consider black cats to be a symbol of positivity, whereas others consider them to be bad omens.

The table below highlights the varying cultural beliefs, around the world regarding black cat meanings (source 1):

Culture	Meaning
Scottish Mythology	The arrival of an unknown black cat in a home signifies prosperity
Celtic Mythology	A fairy as Cat Sith takes the form of a black cat
Britain and Japan	Black cats are considered good luck
Western History	Black cats were considered as evil omens, linked to witches
Most Of Europe	Black cats are considered a sign of bad luck, especially if one walks across your path
Germany	It is a bad omen for a black cat to walk across someone’s path from right to left. However, it is a positive thing if the catwalks from left to right.
Pilgrims	Think black cats are companions of witches. If found with a black cat, you were punished, or killed!
Sailors	Consider black cats to be lucky
Fishermans Wifes	Thought keeping a black cat at home would protect their fishermen husbands whilst out at sea
18th Century Pirates	Thought black cats walking towards a person was bad luck, but good luck if they were walking away from you

Black Maine Coon Adoptions In America

Through no fault of their own, the black Maine Coon is tarnished with superstition, to a degree.

In fact, it is thought that black Maine Coons take far longer to be rehomed in American animal shelters than other Maine Coon colorings.

This is partly linked to superstition, but also because people consider black cats to be boring, and difficult to photograph.

Superstition does play a part in the black Maine Coons adoption rates though.

Since some cat shelters deliberately limit the number of black Maine Coons put up for adoption during the Halloween season!

This is because shelters fear black cats will be tortured or abandoned after the Halloween season has ended (source 1).

Caring For A Black Maine Coon

Learn how to care for a Maine Coon cat, by reading the Maine Coon tips below:

1. Maine Coon Fur

If you own a black Maine Coon, pay particular attention to your Maine Coons skin and fur during the hotter summer months, because they are prone to sunburn.

Make sure your black Maine Coon always has access to fresh water, and shade, to prevent them from becoming overheated.

Here are some warning signs that your black Maine Coon is suffering from sunburn:

• The fur is tinged with brown
• Fur starts to develop a rusty coloring

Be aware that the sun is not always responsible for causing black Maine Coon fur to change color.

Instead, the cat may be suffering from enzyme tyrosine deficiency which your cat needs to produce eumelanin, a color pigment that keeps the cat’s fur black.

If you suspect this condition, please speak to your veterinary professional, who will test your Maine Coon, and potentially give them a supplement of tyrosine.

Another reason why your Maine Coon kitten might change color is detailed here.

2. Grooming

Groom your Maine Coon on a regular basis, ideally 2-3 times each week.

This is particularly important since the fur of a black Maine Coon cat is characteristically long, thick, and shaggy, and unfortunately prone to matting (especially in damp wet weather).

These 5 cat brushes are excellent are keeping a Maine Coon cat’s fur tangle free.

3. Maine Coons Health

The Maine Coon cat breed is generally thought to be a relatively hardy breed, built for the cold Winter weather of Northern America.

They are not prone to many health issues in general, but you should watch out for the following conditions:

• Hip Dysplasia
• Obesity
• Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
• Spinal Muscular Atrophy

If concerned, please speak to your local veterinary professional asap.

4. Exercise

Encourage your Maine Coon to exercise daily for roughly 30 minutes, especially if you keep your cat indoors.

A good way to do this is by purchasing an extra large cat tower, like this, and a variety of different cat toys for your cat to enjoy.

Black Maine Coon Lifespan

Maine Coons are known for being a generally hardy breed, with few health issues to contend with, apart from hip dysplasia, obesity, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and spinal muscular atrophy.

The average lifespan of a Maine Coon cat is generally considered to be 12 – 15 years.

However, some Maine Coon owners report that their Maine Coon has lived for longer than 15 years!

Ultimately, a Maine Coon cat’s lifespan is dependent upon a number of factors, such as:

• Genetics
• Diet
• General Health
• Level Of Exercise

If you are wondering whether black Maine Coon cats will live as long as the other Maine Coon colorings, then the answer is thankfully YES!

A Maine Coons coloring bears no relation to the amount of time that the cat will live.

For more detailed information on the Maine Coons lifespan, read my article How long do Maine Coon cats live?

Black Maine Coon Breeders

There are a large number of black Maine Coon breeders across the world. 

If you live in the United States, I recommend you contact the ‘Cat Fanciers Association’ to obtain a list of approved and reputable Maine Coon breeders nearby.

Alternatively, read my article on Registered Maine Coon Cat Breeders, By US State, to get the ball rolling!

If you live in the United Kingdom, please contact the Governing Board Of The Cat Fancy, the UK’s Premier Registration Body, to find registered breeders located near you (link). 

Breeding Black Maine Coon Cats

The genetics of the black Maine Coon cat is fascinating and plays a huge role in the likelihood of two black cats giving birth to a black Maine Coon kitten.

Black Maine Coon kittens are bred by taking two purebred black Maine Coon cats, with a black allele or gene.

Genetically speaking, the black coloring is considered to be a dominant gene and is represented by a capital ‘B’. Recessive black genes by contrast are labeled with a small ‘b’.

Breeders looking to produce solid black Maine Coons need to be aware that the tabby coloring is more dominant than the black gene.

Therefore, the breeding cats must also have the recessive gene, known as the non-agouti, which is generically labeled as ‘a’.

There are varying chances when breeding solid black Maine Coon kittens, which ultimately come down to what the parent’s genes contain.

For instance, breeding cats with a BB combination will always produce black kittens.

However, if the breeding cats have a Bb genetic combination, they only have a 1/3 likelihood of giving birth to a solid black Maine Coon kitten!

Finally, the bb genetic combination has the lowest chance of resulting in a black Maine Coon kitten, at only 1/5.

Learn more about Maine Coon genetics, in this article.

You might also be interested in reading about Maine Coon Cat Color Codes.

Famous Black Maine Coon Cats

According to TICA (The International Cat Association), human patients suffering from arthritis, or hand injuries are often given cat therapy to help heal them!

It is thought that stroking a cat is both therapeutic and a great way to encourage patients suffering from hand health issues, to exercise their hands.

Some further benefits of cat therapy treatment include:

• Helps lower individuals blood pressure
• Reduces stress
• Reduces depression

One famous black-silver Maine Coon, known as “RW SGC Sarajen OliverUnderfoot of Maggismaines”, was honored as a loving cat therapist by the International Cat Association.

His work with patients includes regularly visiting a nursing home where he helps older individuals to strengthen their hands.

Are Black Maine Coons Rare?

Black Maine Coon cats are not considered to be rare.

Conclusion

The black Maine Coon is a beautiful eye-catching creature that has become massively popular in recent years.

In the United States, they even celebrate “Black Cat Appreciation Day” on August 17th!

Whilst the black Maine Coon’s reputation has been shrouded in superstition for centuries, this particular Maine Coon coloring is still considered one of the most popular Maine Coon colorings to buy.

There are a number of different black Maine Coon colorings that you could pick from, so why not grab a coffee and scroll through the stunning black Maine Coon cat images across the internet.

Alternatively, you can make your life simple, and check out my ‘Black Maine Coon Cat’ board on Pinterest!

Related Questions

Black Maine Coon Blue Eyes

All Maine Coon kittens are born with blue eyes, but their eye color changes as they grow. Although it is rare to find a black Maine Coon with blue eyes, it is not impossible.