Decode Your Maine Coon’s Coat: The Hidden Color Codes Breeders Use
If you’ve ever looked at a Maine Coon pedigree, breeder page, or registration document, you may have noticed cryptic combinations such as “MCO a 22”, “ns 11”, or “d 09 24”. To new owners, these codes look like random letters and numbers, but to breeders, they provide an exact genetic description of your cat’s coat colour, pattern, and even white spotting.
Colour codes enable Maine Coon breeders to communicate precisely, avoid confusion, and correctly register cats with organisations such as TICA or FIFe.
This article breaks down exactly how the system works, what each letter and number means, and how you can decode your own cat’s colour, even if you’ve never read a pedigree before.
What The Colour Codes Represent
Every Maine Coon colour code is built from three components:
- Base Colour Letter
- Modifiers (if present): Such as silver (s) or white (w)
- Pattern Number: Tabby type, shaded, smoke, etc.
Once you understand these elements, any combination becomes easy to read.
Maine Coon Colour Codes Explained
Below is a table summarising the most common codes used across major registries (FIFe, WCF, TICA, GCCF).
Base Colour Codes (Letter Only)
| Letter | Colour Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| n | Black | Solid black; also base for brown tabby |
| a | Blue | Dilute black; grey with a soft, silver tone |
| d | Red | Orange/ginger; intense warm tone |
| e | Cream | Dilute red; pale apricot tone |
| f | Black Tortie | Black + red patches (female cats) |
| g | Blue-Cream Tortie | Dilute tortie (blue + cream) |
| w | White | White cat with any eye colour (coded separately as w 61/62/63) |
| o | Not used in Maine Coons | (Chocolate/lilac not accepted in breed standard) |
Colour Modifiers (Add-On Letters)
These letters modify the base colour.
| Modifier | Meaning | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| s | Silver | Removes pigment at fur base → silver tabby or smoke |
| y | Golden | Warm apricot undercoat (rare) |
| 02 / 03 / 09 | White spotting | Determines amount/location of white patches |
Pattern Codes (Numbers)
| Code | Pattern Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Agouti (tabby unspecified) | Used when the tabby type isn’t identified |
| 22 | Classic/Blotched Tabby | Swirl pattern, bullseye mark on sides |
| 23 | Mackerel Tabby | Narrow vertical stripes |
| 24 | Spotted Tabby | Round or oval spots; broken s tripes |
| 25 | Ticked Tabby | No side stripes; bands of colour on each hair |
| 11 | Shaded | Light undercoat, dark tips |
| 12 | Shell | Very light tipped coat (Chinchilla-like) |
| — | Solid | Very light-tipped coat (Chinchilla-like) |
Examples Of Real Maine Coon Colour Codes (Decoded)
Example 1: MCO ns 22
- n = black
- s = silver
- 22 = classic tabby
Black Silver Classic Tabby Maine Coon
This will resemble a light silver cat with dark, black tabby swirls.
Example 2: MCO a 23
- a = blue
- 23 = mackerel tabby
Blue Mackerel Tabby Maine Coon
Narrow grey-blue stripes with a cool metallic tone.
Example 3: MCO d 09 24
- d = red
- 09 = low-white spotting
- 24 = spotted tabby
Red Spotted Tabby with White
A red-gold tabby with small spots and limited white on paws and chest.
Example 4: MCO ns
- n = black
- s = silver
- No number = solid pattern
Black Smoke Maine Coon
Black outer coat with a dramatic white/silver undercoat visible when the fur parts.
Why Understanding Colour Codes Matters
Knowing your Maine Coon’s coat code gives you far more information than simply calling your cat “tabby” or “blue.”
✅ It makes buying from breeders safer
You’ll know exactly what colour you’re paying for, and whether the breeder is accurately representing the kitten.
✅ You can understand coat changes over time
Smoke, silver, and shaded cats change dramatically from kittenhood to adulthood. Codes help you anticipate this.
✅ It clarifies show eligibility
Some colours (e.g., chocolate, lilac, colourpoint) are NOT permitted in Maine Coons under major registries.
Colour codes prevent confusion.
✅ It connects you to your cat’s genetics
You can see dilution, silver, and tortie inheritance at a glance.
Tips For Decoding A Colour Code At Home
If you have your cat’s pedigree or microchip registration, you can use this process:
- Identify the first letter → base colour
- Look for any modifier letters → silver, golden, tortie
- Check for numbers → tabby type or shaded/smoke
- If there’s a “0X” number → this indicates white spotting
- Put it together → you now know the exact coat description
Final Thoughts
The Maine Coon colour-code system may seem complicated at first glance, but once you understand the structure – base colour → modifiers → pattern—the entire system becomes surprisingly logical. These codes allow breeders and owners to communicate with precision, ensuring that each cat’s coat colour is correctly understood and recorded.
Whether your Maine Coon is a striking black smoke, a warm red classic tabby, or a rare blue-silver shaded, you now have the tools to decode exactly what those letters and numbers mean.
