Maine Coon Colors: Rare Shades, Patterns & Genetic Secrets!
Maine Coons are admired around the world for their gentle nature, large size, and striking appearance, but perhaps nothing sets them apart more than their incredible variety of coat colors and patterns.
With more than 75 officially recognized combinations, there’s a Maine Coon out there to suit every cat lover’s taste.
Whether you’re new to the breed or a long-time enthusiast, understanding Maine Coon colors and patterns will help you appreciate their unique beauty and heritage even more.
Are Maine Coon Cats Recognized By Color?
Maine Coons are officially recognized by cat breed organizations based on their coat colors and patterns.
Each cat’s coat can be broken down into three main components:
- Color – The basic hue (like black, white, red, blue, or cream).
- Pattern – The arrangement of markings (solid, tabby, bi-color, tortoiseshell, etc.).
- Coat effect – Extra visual traits like shading or smoke that give the coat depth.
The Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) and The International Cat Association (TICA) both recognize dozens of color and pattern combinations for the Maine Coon breed.
According to TICA’s breed standards, all colors and patterns are permitted except:
- Chocolate
- Lavender
- Himalayan pattern (pointed)
- Any combinations with the colors listed above
Maine Coon Color Categories
To better understand Maine Coon coloration, it’s helpful to break down the breed’s coats into five broad categories.
Each category includes many variations based on pigment, pattern, and genetic influence.
1. Solid Colors
Solid Maine Coons have one consistent color throughout their entire body, including their nose leather and paw pads. There are no stripes, spots, or other markings.
Common solid colors:
- Black: Deep jet black with matching nose and paw pads.
- White: Pure snowy white, often paired with pink nose and paw pads.
- Blue: A soft greyish-blue, elegant and quite popular.
- Red: Often referred to as orange or ginger, red solid Maine Coons are fiery and bold.
- Cream: A diluted red, giving a soft peach or off-white tone.
Solid-colored Maine Coons tend to look very regal, especially as their long, dense coats give them a lion-like appearance.
2. Tabby Patterns
The tabby Maine Coon is one of the most iconic and common appearances in the breed. Tabby coats feature distinct striped or swirled patterns.
There are three main types of tabby patterns:
- Classic Tabby (Blotched): Large swirling patterns, like a marble cake.
- Mackerel Tabby: Narrow vertical stripes, resembling a fish skeleton.
- Ticked Tabby: Flecks of color on each hair, giving a salt-and-pepper appearance without stripes.
Tabbies can appear in all color categories. Popular tabby colors include:
- Brown tabby
- Blue tabby
- Red tabby
- Cream tabby
- Silver tabby
Each tabby Maine Coon also has a distinctive ‘M’ marking on the forehead and dark lines running from their eyes toward their ears.
3. Bi-Color And Parti-Color Coats
Bi-color Maine Coons have coats that feature two distinct colors, typically white combined with another color. The placement of white varies but often appears on the chest, belly, and paws.
Examples include:
- Black and white – Often called a tuxedo Maine Coon.
- Blue and white
- Red and white
Parti-color refers to multi-color coats without tabby striping. The most common examples are:
- Tortoiseshell (Tortie): A mix of black and red (or their diluted versions: blue and cream). These are almost always female due to the genetics involved.
- Calico: White with large patches of black and red.
- Dilute Calico: White with blue and cream patches.
These patterns are highly sought after and often come with unique personalities. Torties and Calicos are sometimes said to have a bit of “cattitude!”
4. Shaded And Smoke Coats
These coats are incredibly eye-catching. In shaded or smoke Maine Coons, each hair is banded with color and ends in a lighter or white tip.
- Shaded: More light-tipped hairs, giving the coat a shimmering, gradient effect.
- Smoke: A darker coat that appears solid until the cat moves, revealing a white undercoat.
Popular shaded and smoke colors:
- Black smoke
- Blue smoke
- Red shaded
- Cream shaded
These Maine Coons often look like mythical creatures thanks to their glowing, multi-toned coats.
5. Tabbies With White (Tabby Bi-Colors)
These cats are a mix of tabby striping with white patches. They combine the vivid markings of a tabby with the softness and contrast of a bi-color cat.
Common examples:
- Brown tabby with white
- Red tabby with white
- Silver tabby with white
These combinations are widely popular and incredibly photogenic, especially in show-quality cats.
Genetics Behind Maine Coon Colors
Understanding the genetic mechanics behind Maine Coon coat colors gives you a deeper appreciation of your cat’s unique look.
Here’s a brief breakdown:
- Melanin: Two types of melanin (eumelanin and pheomelanin) produce all cat coat colors.
- Black-based coats stem from eumelanin.
- Red-based coats come from pheomelanin.
- Dilution genes lighten colors (e.g., black becomes blue; red becomes cream).
- Agouti gene (A/a) determines whether a cat has tabby markings or a solid coat.
- White spotting gene (S/s) controls how much white a cat has.
- Silver inhibitor gene (I/i) suppresses yellow pigmentation in hair, producing silver and smoke effects.
- Sex-linked red gene (O/o) determines if a cat will be red or tortoiseshell. This gene is on the X chromosome, which is why males rarely exhibit tortie or calico coats.
Genetics also explain why solid black Maine Coons may turn slightly rusty in the sun – the melanin in their fur oxidizes and fades with prolonged UV exposure.
Maine Coon Color Table
Here is a simplified breakdown of popular Maine Coon color and pattern combinations:
| Color / Pattern | Description | Rarity | Gender Bias |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solid Black | All-black coat, glossy fur | Common | M/F |
| White | All white with pink nose and paws | Less common | M/F |
| Brown Tabby | Rich brown with black stripes | Very common | M/F |
| Red Tabby | Orange/red with clear tabby stripes | Common | Mostly male |
| Tortoiseshell | Black and red mottled coat | Rare | Female only |
| Calico | White with red and black patches | Rare | Female only |
| Blue Smoke | Blue topcoat with silvery white undercoat | Uncommon | M/F |
| Silver Tabby | White undercoat with black/grey tabby stripes | Uncommon | M/F |
| Cream Tabby with White | Pale orange stripes with white belly and paws | Uncommon | M/F |
| Shaded Silver | Pale silver coat with dark tips | Very rare | M/F |
Are Some Maine Coon Colors More Expensive?
The color and pattern of a Maine Coon can influence the kitten’s price.
While breeders generally prioritize health and pedigree over appearance, certain coat colors tend to attract more demand:
- Rare patterns like smoke, shaded silver, or blue-eyed whites may cost more due to their uniqueness.
- Popular looks such as brown tabby with white are in high demand.
- Torties and calicos, being genetically more complex, are rarer and typically female-only, increasing their value.
Expect to pay anywhere from $1,000 to USD 3,500+ for a Maine Coon kitten, depending on color, pedigree, and breeder reputation.
How To Identify Your Maine Coon’s Color
If you’re unsure what color or pattern your Maine Coon has, try the following:
- Look at the base color of the fur.
- Check for stripes, spots, or swirls to see if it’s a tabby.
- Observe the nose leather and paw pads – their color can give clues.
- Examine the fur under bright light to see if there’s shading or smoke.
- Consider a genetic test to determine color genetics, especially if you’re curious about breed purity or planning to breed.
You can also consult your cat’s breeder or vet for help identifying the exact color and pattern.
