Maine Coon Cats are definitely one of the most loved and admired cats but one question that is rather confusing and perplexing is what color are Maine Coon cats?
Maine Coon cat colors range from solid colors, bi-colored, smoke, or tabby. Their solid coats are in colors such as black, blue, red, white, and cream. They come in about 75 color combinations.
The Maine Coon cat is a large, affectionate, and intelligent pet that develops an amazing bond with its owners and the people around them.
These cats are large in size and love to hang out with the people around them.
The owners of Maine Coons understand the true worth of these cats and hence keep them as their prized possession and treat them as family members.
Being such a popular breed, many cat lovers often wonder if they can get a Maine Coon cat in any color they desire.
Read on to learn more about the Maine Coon and the colors they come in.
What Color Are Maine Coon Cats?
The Maine Coon cat breed is speculated to descend from long-haired cats that were brought into America by the sailors journeying to Maine.
These cats then mated with the native cats thereby creating the long-haired Maine Coon cat breed, in the US.
There are many theories around the breeds name ‘Maine Coon’.
Some say that the breed got its name from a popular sailor named Charles Coon and others link the cat’s name to the cat’s tail which is bushy and resembles that of a raccoon.
This amazing cat breed is known for its huge size, measuring up to 40 inches in length!
The Maine Coon cat breed is one of the most popular breeds to own.
Despite almost facing extinction in the past, a 2019 survey by the CFA or the Cat Fancier’s Association listed this cat breed as the fifth most popular breed.
Additionally, in the first-ever CFA cat show, a female Maine Coon named Cosey was named the ‘Best Cat In The Show’.
This cat was later purchased by the CFA and is now at display in the CFA headquarters as a major piece of history and lineage of cats.
By now you already know that these sociable and gentle Maine Coons come in a variety of wonderful colors, patterns, and color combinations that make them the most loved and admired all over the globe.
Many people believe that Maine Coons with different colors display different personality traits. However, there is no scientific evidence to back such claims.
Whilst black Maine Coons are one of the favorite colorings for this breed, we recommend you don’t just rush out and purchase or adopt the first black Maine Coon you find.
Instead, take a closer look at the various other color combinations and options these wonderful domestic cats come in.
Here is a list of all the major colors and patterns Maine Coon cats are found in (source 1):
Solid Colors
The Solid color class Maine Coons come in various colors. See the table below for details:
| Color | Description |
|---|---|
| White | These come in a glistening white color. The paw pads and nose leather is pink |
| Black | This is the dense coal-black color, solid black from the the root of tip to fur. The nose leather is black in color and the paw pads are either brown or black |
| Blue | There is this uniform blue tone from the nose right to the tip of the tail. The nose leather and paw pads are blue |
| Red | The red Maine Coon comes in a deep, clear, rich, and brilliant red without any markings, shadings, or ticking. The Nose leather and paw pad is brick red |
| Cream | The cream color Maine Coon comes in one uniform buff cream shade without any markings. The nose leather and paw pads are pink in color |
Tabby Patterns
The Tabby Maine Coon patterns are varied.
Here are the three main patterns:
1. Classic Pattern
The classic tabby pattern has dense markings that are clearly defined and pretty broad.
These cats have consistent markings throughout their body.
2. Mackerel Pattern
Consists of dense markings, clearly defined, with narrow pencil markings.
Consistent Narrow penciling runs through the whole body.
3. Ticked Pattern
Shows a pronounced ticking through the whole body.
Dorsal crests are visible when viewed from the top.
Ticked shaded all through the body.
Bi-Color Patterns
Bi-color color class includes the color combinations such as:
- Black & White
- Blue & White
- Red & White
- Cream & White
Parti-Color Class
The Parti-Color class of this breed includes the colors such as:
- Tortoiseshell, which includes red patched or softly intermingled color
- The blue-cream color class comes with patches of softly intermingled cream areas on the entire body and the extremities.
Parti-color and White Color Class
This color class with Maine Coons includes the colors such as Calico, Tortoiseshell & White, Dilute Calico, and Blue Cream & White Combinations.
The Calico and the Dilute Calico Colors also include the Vans.
The Tortoiseshell & White and Blue Cream & White Combinations must have white on the belly, bib, and all four paws.
Shaded and Smoke Color Class
There are a lot of cat colors in the Silver and White range, including:
- Chinchilla
- Shaded
- Chinchilla Blue
- Shaded Blue
No matter what Maine Coon color you end up choosing, you will be experiencing yourself sharing your life with a cat that is believed to be one of the gentlest and most sociable animals in the world.
These cats are also admired and revered as the perfect cats for a family, which is one of the key reasons why they are also one of the most popular breeds to own.
Maine Coon cats are full of a character of their own and they will make their presence felt with those long hours of joy and happiness.
Most Popular Maine Coon Color
The most popular Maine Coon color is black.
Generally, if you see the color preferences of the pet owners the most widely accepted and preferred colors include the solids – Blacks, Reds, and of course the Tabby Colors.
Rarest Maine Coon Color
There are many Maine Coon color combinations that can be quite rare.
Rare color shades include colors such as:
- Solid Orange Maine Coon
- White Maine Coons
- Blue Chinchilla Maine Coon
- Some Smoke Maine Coons
- Silver Shaded
- Golden Maine Coons
The rarest of all the above colors are the Silver Shaded Maine Coon and the Golden Maine Coon.
The Silver Shaded Maine Coon is a gorgeous Maine Coon when you look at it, but it is very rarely found and is consequently very expensive. These cats have different colors in the shaft and the tip.
The Golden Maine Coons are also pretty rare. This color is a result of an orange hair shaft with a black tip.
Most Common Maine Coon Color
Though most of the solid Maine Coon Colors are very common, such as Black, Blue, Cream, and White, the most common Maine Coon color is Black.
The Black Maine Coon is stark black. It is often compared to being as black as charcoal.
Read more about the fabulous black Maine Coon cat in this article I wrote.
Maine Coon Color Genetics
The color of the coat of the Maine Coon depends largely on their genetics.
They are genetically sound and as such the Maine Coons are large, sturdy, with broad chests and tufted ears. They have a long and silky coat. Their basic three colors are:
- Black
- Red
- White
Due to their distinct genetics, they come in every possible color.
For a full explanation on Maine Coon genetics, and why your Maine Coon is the color they are, make sure you read my fact-filled article.
Do Maine Coon Cats Change Color?
Generally, the Maine Coon Cats do not change their colors significantly.
Having said that, it is possible that their pigmentation darkens or brightens before they are fully grown up.
Maine Coon Color Calculator
You may be wondering how you can get a Maine Coon of a particular color from a given color male or female Maine Coon.
Why not take a look at a Maine Coon color code chart that helps as a guide to Maine Coon colors.
Maine Coon Patterns
The Maine Coon comes in the three main Tabby Patterns, and as per CFA they are further classified into the following:
Classic Tabbies
They have the characteristic M on their forehead and swirls on the cheeks.
Their markings are clear and dense.
Mackerel Tabbies
They are characterized by narrow parallel stripes running down to their sides.
Mackerel tabbies have the characteristic M mark on their forehead.
Ticked Tabbies
They are identified by pronounced ticking all over their body. They have these tabby markings over their legs and face.
Conclusion
To conclude let us find the answer to the all-important question as to what color are Maine Coon cats?
The main Maine Coon colors are black, red, and white. These gentle giants are found in virtually every color that – it is thought there are 75 colors in total!