As bizarre as it may sound, blue Maine Coon cats really do exist!
They are not some sci-fi creation at all, but instead an intensely beautiful cat coloring that you won’t be able to take your eyes off.
The ‘Blue Maine Coon’ is an official solid color class given to Maine Coon cats with blue-colored fur, by the Cat Fanciers Association. They are less rare than you would expect since they are commonly mistaken for being grey Maine Coons. Only solid blue Maine Coons have a striking blue color.
Whilst their official color class is classified as ‘blue’, many blue Maine Coon cats are often mistakenly thought to be ‘grey’.
This is primarily because the depth of blue in their fur coats is not always clearly visible unless these cats are standing still.
Blue Maine Coons
The Maine Coon cat breed has become increasingly popular over the last few decades, due to their gentle personalities, and impressive majestic appearance.
They are available in 75 different colors, including ‘blue’.
Blue Maine Coons are extremely stunning, and far less rare than you would naturally assume them to be.
They have been bred in various different shades of blue/grey, but all shades are classified under the main color category of ‘blue’, by the Cat Fanciers Association.
If you haven’t yet seen a blue Maine Coon in real life, do not be put off by the negative connotations commonly associated with the word ‘blue’.
Whilst the color blue is often used to depict sadness or doom, and gloom (source 1), Blue Maine Coons definitely are nothing of the kind.
Instead, the blue Maine Coon cat looks:
- Friendly
- Entrancing
- Mysterious
- Majestic
The Maine Coon breed is also characteristically known for being loyal, loving, affectionate, highly intelligent, nonaggressive, and good with children, so you have nothing to fear.
How To Identify A Blue Maine Coon Cat
Just like the other Maine Coon colors, the blue Maine Coon has many different color variants, ranging from blue smoke and blue cream to blue-tabby.
They are all forms of grey, which helps to explain why they are often confused for being ‘grey’, rather than ‘blue’
According to the Cat Fanciers Association, the blue Maine Coon is included within the following color categories:
- Solid Color Class
- All Other Tabby Color Class
- All Other Tabby & White Colors and Color Class (Including Vans)
- Bi-Color Color Class (Including Vans)
- Parti-Color Color Class
- Parti-Color And White Color Class
- Shaded And Smoke Color Class
- Shaded/Smoke And White Color Class (Including Vans)
As you can see, the main classes are: solid, tabby, bi-color, parti-color, and shaded.
The Blue Color
In order to gain a true appreciation of the wide range of blue Maine Coon colorings available, we will now take a look at the specific color classes.
Take at the relevant criteria for each color class in greater detail (source 1):
1. Solid Color Class
If your Maine Coon has a solid blue coloring from their nose, to the tip of their tail, and blue nose and paw leather then they are likely to be a ‘solid blue Maine Coon’.
The Cat Fanciers Association identifies these cats as having green or gold eyes.
2. Blue Silver Tabby
The blue silver tabby has deep blue markings that contrast extremely well with their ground color.
They have a classic, mackerel or ticked patterns, with paw pads that are often rose-colored.
Their nose leather is an old rose, and they may have some white trim around their chin and lips.
3. Blue Silver Patched Tabby
The blue silver patched tabby is very similar to the blue silver tabby.
They have a classic, mackerel, ticked pattern, and deep blue markings mixed with cream patches.
Their white undercoat is very distinctive, as is their old rose-colored nose leather, and rose and/or pink paw pads.
This particular blue Maine Coon has a silver, pale ground color, with white trim around the chin/lips.
4. Blue Tabby
The blue-tabby can have white trim around their chin and lips.
Their fur has a classic, ticked, mackerel pattern.
They have very deep blue markings that contrast well with their pale bluish Ivory ground color.
With overtones of warm fawn or patina, rose paw pads, and old rose nose leather, it’s hard not to find the blue tabby incredibly beautiful.
5. Blue Patched Tabby
Similar to the blue-tabby, with patches of cream.
6. Other Tabbies
There are two other Maine Coons listed in the Cat Fanciers Associations color classifications: tabby and white, and patched tabby and white.
Both have the classic, mackerel, ticked patterns.
Same coloring as the tabby, or patched tabby, and permitted with or without white on their faces. Both colors have white on their bibs, all four paws, and belly (source 1).
7. Blue And White
The blue and white Maine Coon is identified by its mixture of blue and white fur.
They have white on all four paws, bellies, and bib, and some have white markings on their face.
8. Blue Cream
The blue cream Maine Coon looks blue, with cream patches or cream colors gently mixed through the fur.
9. Dilute Calico
The dilute calico is white, with patches of blue and cream and a predominantly white underpart.
10. Blue Cream And White
Often referred to as the blue-cream Maine Coon.
All four of their paws, plus their bib and belly will have white on them.
11. Chinchilla Blue Silver
Maine Coon colors such as the chinchilla blue silver are less common, so may be charged at a premium rate. They are included within the shaded and smoke color class.
They are extremely sought, which isn’t surprising since their sparkling silver appearance really does make a wondrous impression.
They have a pure white chin, stomach, chest, ear tufts, and their paw pads and nose leather are often colored rose.
Their eye rims, lips, and nose have a blue outline, and their back, flanks, head, and tail tend to be tipped with blue.
12. Other Shaded And Smoke Colors
Also included under the shaded and smoke color class, are the following Maine Coon color classifications:
- Shaded Blue Silver
- Shell Blue-Cream
- Shaded Blue-Cream
- Blue Smoke
- Blue Cream Smoke
They all have a white undercoat, some of which are deeply tipped with blue. Their nose leather and paw pads range from blue to rose in color. Most hair ear tufts are white.
The ‘shaded blue silver‘ must have legs with the same tone as their face. The Cat Fanciers Association prefers the rims of their lips, eyes, and nose to be outlined in blue.
The ‘shell blue cream‘ has a tail, back and flanks tipped with blue and shades of cream. Some have a soft shading with tipping on their face and legs.
The ‘shaded blue cream is unique because they have blue and cream shading down their tail, face, and sides.
The ‘blue smoke‘ stands out in a crowd because they look ‘blue’ when resting. If you part their fur, a narrow band of white hairs is found next to the skin.
In particular, the ‘blue-cream smoke‘ coloring looks blue-cream whilst the cat is stationary. Their white undercoat only becomes evident whilst moving.
If you part their fur you will find a narrow white band of color at the base of their hair shaft, next to the skin.
13. Shaded Smoke And White Color Class
Some cats with this shade have white on their faces, others do not. Many have blue patches or shades of cream running through their fur.
All four of their paws tend to have white on them, as does belly and bib.
The Dilute Calico Smoke has an undercoat that is mainly white.
Blue Maine Coon Price
If your heart is set on owning a stunning blue Maine Coon kitten or cat, you might want to take a seat before continuing to read this article!
Why?
Because the simple truth of the matter is that pedigree Maine Coon cats are one of the most expensive cat breeds that you will ever buy.
Purchasing a Maine Coon cat is a serious financial investment, setting you back anywhere between $400-$2500 (£325-£1623).
The price you pay will ultimately depend on the type of Maine Coon you are looking to buy, and the amount of certification that they come with.
In general, you can expect Maine Coons with higher quality genetics, relevant vaccination histories, approved certifications, and legitimate pedigree status’ to be charged at a premium rate.
You can buy four different types of Maine Coon, including:
- Maine Coon kitten
- Maine Coon cat
- Mixed Maine Coon kitten or cat
- Breeding Maine Coon (non neutered, non spayed)
- Show Maine Coon
The table below shows the average Maine Coon price that you will pay, for each option:
| Maine Coon Type | Price ($) | Price (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Purebred Kitten | $1000 | £811 |
| Purebred Cat | $600 | £487 |
| Non-Neutered, Non-Sprayed Kitten | $2000 -2500 | £1561 -2500 |
| Show Cat | Up to $2500 | Up to £1952 |
| Mixed Maine Coon Kitten/Cat | Varies | Varies |
Why Are Maine Coons So Expensive?
If you haven’t been put off by the cost of buying a Maine Coon, then you might be interested to read the following …
Understand why registered breeders charge a premium rate for this particular cat breed, compared to the average $50-100 (£41-81) that non-pedigree kittens cost.
Top reasons breeders charge more for Maine Coon cats:
a) Breeder and kitten registration costs
b) Initial purchase cost of pedigree kittens
c) Additional Vaccinations
d) Premium Diet
e) Maine Coons need more space
f) Large cat accessories cost more, i.e. cat towers
g) Additional medical screenings
h) Vet pregnancy tests
Credit for image above goes to Maine Coon Castle, on Flikr:
Profile: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mainecooncastle/25689609943/in/photostream/
Licence Details: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/legalcode
Blue Maine Coon Kitten
If you are not yet convinced whether the blue Maine Coon is for you, take a look at these adorable blue Maine Coon kittens playing together.
Their fun-loving nature makes them a joy to watch.
They look grey, with a heavy blue tinge of color.
Credit for the video goes to the ‘Angelpaw Maine Coon Cattery’ Youtube channel.
Blue Maine Coon Kitten For Sale
If you are looking to buy a blue Maine Coon, check out the following options:
- Registered Maine Coon breeder
- Rescue Center / Pet Shelter
- Maine Coon Facebook pages can often recommend reputable local breeders in your local area.
Avoid backyard breeders and social platforms such as Gumtree or Craigslist where you cannot guarantee the authenticity of the Maine Coons true pedigree status.
Pet shops are also not an advised place to source a blue Maine Coon, since such establishments rarely have good quality information about the breed’s specific care requirements.
Registered Maine Coon Breeders
The best way to buy a blue Maine Coon is via a registered Maine Coon breeder.
Although they may be more expensive, a registered breeder offers you peace of mind that the kitten you are buying is a true purebred Maine Coon, rather than mixed.
They will have no issues providing legitimate paperwork for your Maine Coon kitten.
An additional benefit of dealing with a registered breeder is that the cat should be free of any genetic defects.
This is because breeders screen their breeding cats to ensure all litters produced are free from genetic defects.
If you are not sure where to find your local registered breeder, here are a few places to start for readers in the United States, and the United Kingdom:
United States Registered Maine Coon Breeders
Contact the ‘Cat Fanciers Association’ (CFA) to confirm who your locally registered Maine Coon cat breeders are.
United Kingdom Registered Maine Coon Breeders
Buyers in the UK can liaise with the ‘Governing Board Of The Cat Fancy’, the UK’s Premier Registration Body, to locate a registered Maine Coon cat breeder near to them.
You can also contact TICA, the International Cat Association for a full list of Maine Coon breeders that should be able to sell you a blue Maine Coon kitten, or cat.
Blue Maine Coon Genetics
The genetics of the Maine Coon cat is somewhat complex. It is however accepted their genetics “hold a wide and varied group of both dominant and recessive genes” (source 1).
Therefore, in order to gain a better understanding of where the blue Maine Coon cat comes from, we look to their genetics for the answers.
In order to understand cat genetics, it is first important that you understand the main terms:
- Color: When someone talks about the ‘Color’ of the Maine Coon cat, they are simply referring to the cat’s solid color e.g. whether it is black, blue, cream, red, etc.
- Pattern: The term pattern refers to whether the Maine Coon cat is shaded, smoke, tabby, etc.
- Color/Pattern: This term is used when both the color and pattern are affected.
Secondly, you must understand the key genetic differences between the male and female cat:
- Male: Kittens receive both their color genes from their mother (also known as ‘the dam’). This leads the male offspring in a litter to “always be either the color of the dam, or one of the colors in the case of parti-colors, or the dilute form of the dam’s color’.
- Female: By contrast, the female kittens receive a color gene from both parents, which is important since it means that the female always shares a combination of the dam’s and sire’s colors or a diluted form of both.
How is the kittens color and pattern determined?
The color of a kitten is determined by their immediate parents only.
Although the rest of the family’s genetics have no impact upon the kitten’s coloring, the colorpoint gene is one exception to this rule since this can be passed down for a few generations.
The pattern of a kitten is inherited from either parent.
If either of the kitten’s parents has a dominant color or pattern, like bi-color, tabby, smoke or shaded, etc, the kitten will have these colors or patterns too, because these dominant characteristics cannot skip a generation.
Should the parents have two recessive colors (e.g. blue and cream etc), they will not produce a litter of dominant colors such as red or black.
Finally, although less common, parti-color cats such as blue-cream, calico, and tortie can be male. This is less usual though since the majority of parti-color cats are female.
Conclusion
With 75 different Maine Coon colors to choose from, you may be feeling rather spoilt for choice!
That’s completely understandable due to the multitude of different fur shades, patterns, and colorings available to buy.
Although they are not ‘rare’, the blue Maine Coon (commonly mistaken for being a grey Maine Coon’) has become a rather popular color to own in recent years.
Its unique colorings are somewhat magical and mysterious looking, all in the same sentence.
Therefore, should this be your heart’s desire too, be prepared to pay higher prices for this officially recognized color group, since they are not as easy to find.
If you are wondering whether your ‘grey Maine Coon’ is in fact a ‘blue Maine Coon’, why not use our color classification guide above to take a closer look!