Introduction

Colors of Maine Coon-end because of their grand looks and exquisitely beautiful hair shades contribute much to their status among the most coveted cat breeds. According to the CFA, or Cat Fanciers’ Association, over 75 Maine Coon colors exist. Hence, cat parents can choose from smoking to particolored. Read below to find out about numerous Maine Coon variations and most and less frequent colors; if you can predict the color of your kitten before birth will be discussed, also the best diet for your shiny coat and overall health.

Colors and patterns of Maine Coon

Since these long-haired cats have different colors, breeders have based eight main pattern groups so it will be easier to identify them:

  1. TABBIES
  2. SOLID
  3. TORTOISESHELL
  4. PARTICOLORED
  5. SMOKE

There is another category called “Other Maine Coon Cat Colors,” simply because not all colors, such as lavender, have been officially recognized as a variant in the breed Maine Coon.

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Tabbies

Tabby is perhaps the most common pattern in the world of Maine Coons. The Tabby Maine Coons are considered ancestors of the modern Maine Coon and were found in the state of Maine, United States. Their patterns are strange and different from other breeds, for instance, dots, stripes, whirls, etc.

The tabby cats are grouped into three major groupings based on markings and patterns, which include:

Classic tabby pattern:

The classic tabby pattern, Marks are dense, large, and conspicuous, Imperfections or targets on their flanks. An “M” impression on the brow, Whirls on the lips, Lines on the back of their heads flow into pretty patterns down their shoulders, Round marks on their chest and neck.

Tabby Mackerel pattern:

They have clear parallel patterns running along either side of their body. An “M” shaped marking on their head patterns running from the top of the head across to the shoulder. Their necks show unbroken circular patterns.

Tabby ticking pattern:

Ticking is everywhere Tabby markings on the legs and faces are seen. From the back, patterns or dots cannot be seen. White chest and paws tabby kittens fall into this category. Combinations are endless, but the most common are:

  • Tabby white silver
  • Red and white tabby
  • Brown and white tabby

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Solid

While most Maine Coons have complicated patterns with a variety of colors, solids are all one color from head to tail with no stripes or markings. Following are brief explanations of five Maine Coon colors:

White—The fur is snow-white, with pink paws and nose.
Black—The coat is black, with brown feet and nose.
Red—These cats are sometimes known as ginger or orange.
Blue—The skin is a particular shade of gray with a touch of exquisite blue.
Cream—These cats have cream coats, and their noses and paws are pink (as with white Coons).

Tortoiseshell

A tortie’s dominant color is black. They do, however, have cream or red markings. Because the black and red colors are inherited on the X chromosome, they are more common in females than males. Torbies result from a combination of tabbies and torties. An easy way to distinguish them is to check their paws—torbies’ are bright red.

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Particolored

These Maine Coons have two mixed colors, brown and red, on their coat with white patches. What is the most common and least common color of Maine Coon? Tabbies are the most common sort of cat. Their stripes and patterns can identify their actual color. Brown tabby, black, white, blue, and cream are standard Maine Coon colors. The most rare colors of the Maine Coon are gold and silver. The colors are a product of the very rare inhibitor gene, causing an absence of pigmentation in the undercoat. Beautiful but in most popular demand is:

  • Silver
  • Cinnamon
  • Calico
  • Gold
  • Cream

Smoke

The smoke Maine Coons have a monochromatic coat but the same color as solids. The undercoat of smoky Maine Coons is pale silver in coloration, which gives it that faded or smokey look. Of course, the easiest way to determine this is by simply petting or brushing a Maine Coon. There should be lighter roots visible. The difference is not as noticeable in kittens, so you could find after a while that your solid is a smoking Maine Coon.

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Here are some standard smoke colors

  • Cream smoke
  • Tortie smoke
  • Blue smoke
  • Cameo smoke

The colored Maine Coons have light-colored undercoats with a distinctive color on the outer layer of hair. They also come in a range of colors, including:

  • Shaded blue and silver
  • Tortoiseshell shaded
  • Shaded cameo
  • Silver shaded

Fancy Bicolor Maine Coons have one solid color mixed with white. They are pretty easy to distinguish—the pattern goes far up their legs and sometimes reaches their cheeks and bellies.

Maine Coon Color Calculator—Cat Coat Genetics

Breeders often use a color calculator for the Maine Coon to predict what type of color and pattern genetics will throw on a cat. It is not an exact science, but it does predict all possible outcomes. The only way one can be positive is if full ancestry is available for both Maine Coon parents. Such as two black cats that could carry the recessive gene and, therefore, pop out a blue kitten. All kittens are born with blue eyes; the coloring will, however, change over time. You should start to notice the color of your Maine Coon’s eyes beginning to change at about eight weeks old.

Most common eye colors for Maine Coons:

  • Green
  • Gold
  • Green gold

Though rare, the coloring of a Coon’s eyes can be:

  • Blue

Odd eyes—a combination of blue with one of the three accepted colors Blue-eyed white cats are typically deaf due to the pleiotropic gene responsible for white hair. White cats with blue eyes also have a more significant potential for being deaf.

Do colorfully different Maine Coon cats have any particular grooming needs?

Whatever the color, one should regularly groom their Maine Coon. Their coats are so long and thick and luxurious. Therefore, their fur requires to be brushed quite frequently. If left unattended, their shiny fur will develop tangles.

The following is the requirement for grooming a Maine Coon:

  • Brushing—Absolutely no exception; brush their fur two to three times a week.
  • Trimming—Because cutting fur can be an issue, take your feline pet to a grooming service.
  • Nail clipping—As your Maine Coon is going to be more or less indoors, their claws will ultimately become too long. You can trim these regularly or take them to a feline beauty salon.
  • Bathing-you really mustn’t bathe your cat more often than once a month. As human products can be too irritating for your cat’s skin, use shampoo and conditioner formulated for cats.

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CONCLUSION

The colorations of Maine Coon cats are highly diversified and appealing, adding more value to the breed for any cat enthusiast. The Maine Coon colors can suit any owner’s preference, from solid colorings to tabbies and mixtures of the two. These hues add to their grandeur and make them appear magnificently big with their tufted ears. The colors of Maine Coon not only make them look beautiful but their characteristic distinct and energetic personality is reflected in their colors. Generally speaking, the colors of Maine Coon cats epitomize the truly fantastic range and appeal of the breed.