The orange Maine Coon is commonly confused with the ginger Maine Coon, due to the similarity in their colorings.
These gorgeous cats are extremely eye-catching, discover more about the red Maine Coon by reading this article.
Orange Maine Coon cats are rare and mistaken for ginger Maine Coons. The Cat Fancier Association breeder color guide does not recognize the Orange Maine Coon color. There are four Red Maine Coon color classes: solid, red tabby, red tabby, and white, bi-color color class.
Keep reading to discover everything there is to know about the Orange Maine Coon cat.
How To Identify An Orange Maine Coon
Maine Coons have become increasingly popular over the last few decades, due to their luscious thick fur, gentle personalities, and large cat proportions.
This highly intelligent cat breed is a real eye-turner and can be found in over 75 different colorings.
If you are an indecisive buyer, this amount of choice may cause you a level of distress!
According to the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA), the official color class for the Orange Maine Coon (often called ginger), is actually ‘red’.
The Red Maine Coon (‘Orange’) is included within the following four color classes:
- Solid Color Class
- Red Tabby Color Class
- Red Tabby and White Color Class (including Vans)
- Bi-Colour Color Class (including Vans)
Red Maine Coon Color Class
The table below summarises the color classes that the Orange Maine Coon cat (‘RED’) may be categorized in, and their associated color criteria (source 1):
| Color Class | Color Criteria |
|---|---|
| Solid Color Class (Name: RED) | Maine Coon fur should be “deep, rich, clear, brilliant red”. No markings, ticking, or shading is permitted within this color group. Paw pads are ‘brick red’. Nose leather must be ‘brick red’. Lips and Chin matches the coat color |
| Red Tabby Color Class (Name: RED TABBY) | The CFA classifies the red tabby fur coloring as ‘ground color red (classic, mackerel, ticked)’. Brick red nose leather is desirable. Paw pads ideally, also brick red. The lip and chin may have a white trim. Fur markings will be ‘deep, rick red’ |
| Red Tabby and White Color Class (including Vans) (Name: RED TABBY AND WHITE) | Same color criteria as the red tabby (above), with or without white on the face (classic, mackerel, ticked). To be included within this coloring, the Maine Coon must have white markings on all four feet, their belly, and their bib |
| Bi-Color Color Class (including Vans)(Name: RED AND WHITE) | The fur will be a mixture of red and white. Both white on the face or no white on the face is permitted. All four paws must have white on them. Bib and belly must contain white coloring |
Maine Coon Colours Also Including Orange
According to the Cat Fancier Association, a number of other Maine Coon colorings include an orange tinge of color within them, though are not classified within their unique color class.
Take a quick peek at the table below if you would like to buy a Maine Coon with hints of orange in its fur.
Rather, than the more Orange Maine Coon colorings characteristic of the ‘Red Maine Coon’ classifications above (source 1).
| Color Class | Color Criteria |
|---|---|
| Brown Patched Tabby Colour Class (Name: Brown Patched Tabby) | Fur is ‘ground color brilliant coppery brown’ (classic, mackerel, ticked). Markings dense black with patches of red. Nose leather and paw pads should be brown, though black or brick red are ideal |
| Silver Patched Tabby Class (Name: Silver Patched Tabby) | The fur is clear silver, and the ground color is pale (classic, mackerel, ticked). Should have markings that are dense black with patches of red and/or cream. Lip and chin may have a white trim. Nose leather: brick red desirable. Paw pads: black and/or pink desirable. |
| All Other Tabby Colour Class (Name: Cameo Tabby) | Classic, mackerel, ticked: ground color off-white. Markings red. The lip and chin may have white trim. It’s desirable for the nose leather and paw pads to be rose |
| Parti-Colour Colour Class (Name: Tortoiseshell) | Fur will be black, with patches of red or softly intermingled areas of red on both the body and the extremities. The CFA permits the presence of several shades of red. |
| Parti-Colour and White Colour Class (Name: Calico – Including Vans) | Should be white with un-brindled patches of red and black. Underparts will be predominantly white |
| Shaded & Smoke Colour Class (Name: Shell Cameo) | Known as the red chinchilla. The undercoat will be white. The cat’s coat on the back, flanks, head and tail should be tipped with red, creating a sparkling appearance, characteristic of this coloring. Face and legs can be lightly shaded with tipping. The chin, stomach, ear tufts, and must be white. Nose leather, paw pads, and rims of eyes are rose |
| Shaded & Smoke Colour Class (Name: Shaded Cameo – red shaded) | The undercoat must be white with a mantle of red tipping shading down the sides, tail, and face. The face and legs have deeper shading than other parts of the body. The cat will have a white chin, ear furnishings, stomach, and chest (ruff). The fur is visibly redder than the shell cameo color above. Rose nose leather, paw pads, and rims of eyes |
| Shaded & Smoke Colour Class (Name: Shell Tortoiseshell) | The undercoat is white. The coat on the flanks, tail, and back is slightly tipped with black, and shades of red. Face and legs may be lightly shaded with tipping. The cat will have a white chin, furnishings, ears stomach, and chest (ruff), which might be very lightly tipped with shading. Nose leather, paw pads, and rims of eyes are rose to black. Can also be patched. |
| Shaded & Smoke Colour Class (Name: Shaded Tortoiseshell) | White undercoat. Mantle of black and red shading down the sides, face, and tail. The face and legs may be a deeper shading than the rest of the body. Chin, stomach, chest (ruff), and ear furnishings can be white to lightly tipped. This color should be far darker than the shell tortoiseshell detailed above. Rose to black nose leather, rims of eyes, and paw pads. Can be patched. |
| Shaded & Smoke Colour Class (Name: Cameo Smoke – red smoke) | The undercoat is white, deeply tipped with red. If the cat is standing still, it will look red. When the cat is moving, their white undercoat is very clear. Points and mask red with a narrow band of white at the base of hairs next to the skin which may be seen only when fur is parted. Rose nose leather, paw pads, and rims of eyes. |
| Shaded & Smoke Colour Class (Name: Tortie Smoke) | The cat’s undercoat is white, deeply tipped with black. You will notice patches of red or softly intermingled areas of red on both the extremities and the body. A range of different shades of red is accepted. If stood still, the cat looks tortoiseshell. When moving, the cat’s white undercoat is clear. Face and ears have a tortoiseshell pattern with a narrow band of white at the base of the hairs next to the skin, only noticeable when you part the fur. Ear tufts and ruff are white. It is desirable for the cat to have a ‘blaze of red or cream on face’ |
| Shaded/Smoke & White Colour Class (including vans) – (Name: Shell Cameo and White) | Commonly known as the red chinchilla. Colouring is the same as Shell Cameo. White may or may not be on the cat’s face. All four paws, belly, and bib must have white on them |
| Shaded/Smoke & White Colour Class (including vans) – (Name: Shaded Cameo – red shaded & white) | Same color as a shaded cameo. Face can be with or without white colorings * All four paws, belly, and bib must include white |
| Shaded/Smoke & White Colour Class (including vans) – (Name: Shell Calico) | White, with unbridled patches of black and shades of red. The cat’s coat on their flanks, back, and tail should be slightly tipped with black and shades of red. Face and legs can be softly shaded with tipping. The cat’s ear furnishings, chin, chest (ruff), and stomach can be white to very softly tipped with shading. The underparts of the cat should be predominantly white |
| Shaded/Smoke & White Colour Class (including vans) – (Name: Shaded Calico) | White with unbridled patches of black and shades of red. The cat should have a mantle of red and black shading down the tail, sides, and face. Deeper shading on the face and legs, then the rest of the cat’s body. Ear furnishings, chin, chest (ruff) and stomach might be white, and lightly tipped. This color is far darker than the shell calico. Underparts of the cat are mainly white |
| Shaded/Smoke & White Colour Class (including vans) – Name: Calico Smoke | White with unbridled patches of black and shades of red. Black and red patches to have a white undercoat. The underparts of a cat are predominantly white |
Orange Maine Coon Characteristics
The orange Maine Coon characteristics are no different from that of the other Maine Coon colors. However, some owners do claim their orange Maine Coons are definitely more naughty!
Whether this is true or not, we cannot say, since there is no proof to support such statements.
If you have purchased a purebred orange Maine Coon, you should expect them to show the following characteristics:
- Overly affectionate
- Loyal
- Gentle
- Good with other house pets
- Playful
- Good hunters
- Friendly
- High Intelligent
- Love Water
Orange Maine Coons make great family pets and are good around young children because they are not prone to an aggressive nature.
a. Overly Affectionate
Maine Coons are known for being crazily affectionate towards their owners. Sometimes they just cannot help, but force their affection on you even if you don’t want it!!
This is a terribly endearing quality of the Maine Coon breed.
b. Loyal
The Maine Coon is one of the most loyal cat breeds, ever. They love their human families and rarely stray from their owner’s side.
In fact, if they could spend every waking moment by your side, they more than likely would.
They are highly sociable and will flourish if they are able to spend ample time with their owners.
c. Gentle
Their soft nature has won them the nickname ‘gentle giants’.
These large cats are anything but aggressive in nature and rarely hiss or spit.
With such a laid-back temperament, it often seems like nothing annoys them!
d. Good With Other House Pets
Their laidback characteristic makes them one of the best cats to introduce into your home if you already have another animal living with you.
Their natural instinct is to make friends with other animals, so it is unlikely they would cause issues with other pets.
e. Playful
Maine Coons are known for their playful nature. They are naturally inquisitive and enjoy exploring and playing for the majority of their lives.
They love playing with toys, of which these are their favorite.
f. Good Hunters
Maine Coons are notoriously good hunters, so you should expect a few animal ‘presents’ during their lifetime.
Although the sight of a dead animal may make you want to wretch, it is important to understand that your Coon really does just want to show their love for you.
g. Friendly
If you own a male Maine Coon, you should expect to see them acting considerably more friendly to strangers than their female counterparts.
This is not because the female Maine Coons are less friendly, but, actually because they are generally more aloof and wary of newcomers.
In time, the female Coon will ‘warm up’.
h. Highly Intelligent
The Maine Coon cat breed is known for being immensely intelligent.
They can be taught simple tricks and commands, such as ‘fetch the ball’, or ‘no’.
i. Love Water
Maine Coons are weirdly obsessed with water, they literally love it!
They can literally spend long periods of time playing with water i.e. patting it out of the water bowl.
Coons are also brilliant swimmers, and many owners report their Maine Coon cats absolutely love to make a splash in the bath!
Orange Maine Coon Size
Maine Coons are the largest domesticated cat in the world, apart from the Norwegian Forest Cat.
Their true lineage remains a mystery, even to this day. Despite this, many folklores still advocate two Maine Coon size theories.
The first was that large semi-wild ship cats mated with short-haired domestic cats when allowed off the Viking Ships.
The second idea sees Marie Antoinette’s treasured large Angora cats as the answer, believing that these pets reached Wiscasset in Maine, then mated with the local short-haired domestic cats.
Whatever the truth, you should expect your Orange Maine Coon to grow into a very large cat, reaching anywhere up to 40 inches in length!
Below we discuss the Maine Coon size in greater detail, covering the following areas:
- Male Maine Coon Size
- Female Maine Coon Size
- Orange Maine Coon Weight
- Orange Maine Coon Length
- Orange Maine Coon Height
a) Male Orange Maine Coon Size
To give you a better idea of the average Orange Maine Coons full-grown likely weight, height, and length, take a look at the tables below.
| Length (inches) | Height (inches) | Weight (lbs) |
| 19-40 | 10-16 | 15-25 |
| Length (cm) | Height (cm) | Weight (kg) |
| 48-101 | 25-40 | 6.8-11.3 |
b) Female Orange Maine Coon Size
The tables below show the average female Maine Coon size:
| Length (inches) | Height (inches) | Weight (lbs) |
| 19-40 | 8-14 | 8-12 |
| Length (cm) | Height (cm) | Weight (kg) |
| 48-101 | 20-35 | 3.6-5.4 |
c) Orange Maine Coon Weight
When deciding if you would prefer a male or female Maine Coon, keep in mind that the male of the breed often grows far larger than their female counterparts.
In fact, you can expect your male Coon to weigh a whopping 15-25 lbs once fully grown! That’s a seriously heavy cat! The female on the other hand weighs an average of 8-12 lbs.
Maine Coons are known for being very slow growers, often not reaching their full size until between 3-4 years old. This makes them unique in the cat world because most other cat breeds reach full size by 2 years!
It is important to remember this point so that you do not overfeed your Maine Coon when they appear not to have reached average Maine Coon sizes.
Obesity is commonly linked to the Maine Coon cat breed, so you mustn’t overfeed them.
d) Orange Maine Coon Length
A key characteristic of the Maine Coon cat breed is its huge length. They should have very long rectangular bodies, and not look squished in proportions, but instead muscular and long.
The average male and female Maine Coon ranges between 19-40 inches in length.
There are always exceptions to the rule though, for example, one Orange Maine Coon, named ‘Stewie’ became famous for his length.
He even made it into the Guinness World Record Books for being ‘the longest cat’, after reaching a staggering 48.5 inches in length!! WOW!!
In recent years, this record is now being challenged by two potentially longer Maine Coons, named ‘Ludo’ and ‘Omar’.
e) Orange Maine Coon Height
Although no Orange Maine Coon has set any record for being the ‘tallest cat’ (yet!), you can still expect your ‘gentle giant’ to reach between an average of 10-16 inches:
- If male 8-14 inches
- If female 20-35cm
How Much Does An Orange Maine Coon Cost?
If you are keen on owning an orange-colored Maine Coon, expect to be paying top dollar for one. This particular cat breed is massively popular and definitely doesn’t come cheap.
The table below quickly summarises the cost of an Orange Maine Coon:
| Age | Average Cost |
| Kitten <9 months | $1000 (£819) |
| Cat >9 months | $600 (£471) |
| Senior Cat | $600 (£471) |
How Much Do Premium Maine Coon Cats Cost?
Those interested in breeding Orange Maine Coon cats should expect to pay up to $2000 (£1580) for a Maine Coon kitten, or cat.
These cats are more expensive since they have not been spayed or neutered. They should also have been screened for genetic defects, common to the Maine Coon breed.
Common health issues include:
Finally, should you wish to buy an Orange Maine Coon cat for show competitions, you are likely to pay anywhere up to $2500 (£1975) per kitten or cat.
These cats will be the best examples of the Maine Coon cat breed, with perfect characteristics, and no genetic defects.
Where To Find ‘Cheaper’ Maine Coons
a) Rescue Centres
Many potential owners capable of giving one of these special pedigree cats an amazing, loving home, are often discouraged when they see the high Maine Coon cost.
Before you resign yourself to never being able to afford an orange Maine Coon, consider contacting your local rescue centers, and animal shelters.
Make your desires for an orange Maine Coon known to them, and check-in with them regularly so that they know you are still interested.
If you are extremely lucky, you might be able to adopt a Maine Coon from one of these establishments, at a ‘bargain’ price, where you only cover the cost of the rejected kitten/cats board and medical care.
b) Mixed or Purebred Maine Coons
If you are keen to buy a Maine Coon, and don’t mind whether they are purebred, consider buying a Maine Coon mix at a substantially cheaper price.
Mixed Maine Coon kittens or cats can make wonderful pets.
Purebred Maine Coons are famous for many characteristics, including their large size, gentle nature, loyalty, affectionate nature, and highly intelligent qualities.
Maine Coon mixes can be found in various different colors, and may even look and act just like a purebred Maine Coon cat.
However, it is important to remember that when buying a Maine Coon mix, the common purebred qualities cannot be guaranteed.
So, if you’re specifically keen that your orange Maine Coon cat has a particular characteristic, such as being laid back with other household pets, it is best you only buy a purebred Maine Coon.
Where To Find Orange Maine Coon Kittens For Sale
The internet is so littered with various different kittens for sale, that choosing a Maine Coon kitten can be a confusing matter, especially considering their expensive price tag.
Put simply, no one wants to get it wrong, and no one wants to be played by the various crooks lying in wait for unsuspecting Maine Coon cat buyers.
So, what should you do? And, where can you find orange Maine Coon kittens for sale?
For the ultimate guide to buying a Maine Coon cat, check out my article “Buying A Maine Coon Cat: Complete Guide“.
For now, though, let’s cover the buying basics, and help you start your journey to owning an orange Maine Coon kitten.
You will find Orange Maine Coon kittens advertised in the following locations:
Before you start Googling, get clued up on the possible pitfalls that some of these purchasing channels pose, by reading our quick summary below.
1. Registered Maine Coon Breeders
First, and foremost, the BEST place to buy an orange Maine Coon kitten (or cat) is from a registered Maine Coon breeder.
Yes, you may pay a premium for this, but can confidently say that the kitten you purchase has been vetted for known health issues.
Maine Coon breeders are also known for adoring this special cat breed, so you can be confident that the cat has been treated well, had flea drops applied, and has been appropriately vaccinated.
The kitten will also come with legitimate pedigree status and purebred Maine Coon paperwork.
Use the following links to locate your local registered Maine Coon cat breeder:
- United States: The Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) can provide you with a list of your locally registered cat breeders.
- United Kingdom: Speak to the Governing Board Of The Cat Fancy (the UK’s Premier Registration Body), to find registered breeders near you.
2. Facebook
Although this is not the No.1 place to buy your orange Maine Coon kitten, Facebook is still a valid place to search for Maine Coon kittens.
Though, please exercise a level of caution when doing so.
IMPORTANT:
- NEVER send money (deposit or full payment for Maine Coon kitten) outside of your country of residence, if requested by the seller.
- NEVER hand over any cash, or make any financial deposits until you have physically seen and held the advertised kitten.
Most businesses have an online presence these days, and that goes for Maine Coon sellers too.
Check out the sellers on Facebook to get a gut feel for what type of business they are, and whether they are legitimate.
Ask yourself whether the Facebook Page appears knowledgeable on the subject of Maine Coons?
Do they offer help and guidance to other Facebook users, who have questions relating to the Maine Coon cat breed i.e. cat health?
Does the Maine Coon seller have good reviews on Google?
Check out the following Maine Coon Facebook pages, where you can raise any questions you have in relation to this specific cat breed.
They may also be able to guide you towards recommended Maine Coon breeders in your locality:
- Maine Coon Cat Nation
- Maine Coon ID
- Maine Coon UK
- Maine Coon Cat Lovers
- Maine Coon
3. Rescue Centre / Animal Shelter
Rescue centers do an amazing job of looking after abandoned cats, from all cat breeds. They care for animals until new owners can be found.
Whilst under their care cats the medical assistance they need, plus food to eat, human love and affection, and a warm safe place to sleep.
As sad as it is, irresponsible pet owners will always exist.
If you keep in regular contact with these types of organizations and express a particular interest in adopting a Maine Coon kitten or cat, your efforts may ultimately prove fruitful, should a Maine Coon get rescued.
If you live in the United States, or the United Kingdom, here are a few well known reputable rescue shelters that you could speak to:
- Maine Coon Rescue: United States
- Maine Coon Adoptions: United States
- Cat Chat: United Kingdom
- RSPCA: United Kingdom
4. Gumtree / Craigslist
Many orange Maine Coon kittens are sold on sites like Gumtree, and Craigslist.
Despite advertisements often looking genuine, you should avoid purchasing from such platforms, due to the higher than an average number of backyard breeders that frequent them.
5. Pet Shops
You should also avoid purchasing your orange Maine Coon from a pet shop.
The Maine Coon is a specialty bread that requires a certain level of care, and treatment i.e. a high level of human interaction and contact.
It is unlikely that a pet shop would be able to offer the amount of care required to keep a Maine Coon happy, and content.
Registered breeders are aware of this issue, so very rarely allow pet shops to sell their precious kittens.
How Common Are Orange Maine Coons?
If you have been studying the Maine Coon breed, you will probably have come across many different orange Maine Coon cats.
This coloring is quite common since the gene for the orange color is located within the X chromosome. Thus, if a cat with this orange gene breeds, it is highly likely that their kittens will also be orange.
Those interested in the orange Maine Coon genetics might also be interested to learn that an allele is a variant form of a gene. It is either ‘O’ for orange, or ‘o’ for non-orange.
The male Coon only has one X chromosome, therefore, if they are carriers of the orange gene with the ‘O’ allele, it is inevitable that they will have an orange coloring.
However, those carrying the orange gene, but with the ‘o’ allele will actually have fur that is brown or black!
Those particularly keen to buy a female orange Maine Coon may be disappointed because from each cat litter you only get 1 in 5 female orange Maine Coons.
This is because the gene for the orange color is found in the X chromosome, which mainly produces male offspring.
Genetically, the female orange Maine Coon is less common, since the females have two X chromosomes. If the female is carrying the orange gene, her alleles will be either (source 1).
- ‘OO’ – This combination results in the cat’s fur being orange
- ‘oo’ – The cat’s fur will be brown or black
- ‘Oo’ Fur will have a tortoiseshell appearance
Conclusion
Maine Coons come in a wide range of colors, partially due to breeders deliberately breeding certain shades, whereas other colors are the result of more natural unions between different cats.
If we look at the orange Maine Coon, in particular, you will quickly see that there are multiple types of ‘orange’ coloring to choose from, from smokey to striped, to tabby markings.
Many do have freckles on their face though, which add to their beauty.
All orange Maine Coon fur is a combination of red and yellow, so if you are hoping to find a solid orange Coon, you will quickly realize that they are somewhat rare, since most orange Maine Coons have some form of markings over their bodies.
The Orange Maine Coon officially falls under the ‘red’ classification. However, I’m sure no one will hold it against you if you call them ‘orange’ or ‘ginger’!