Rare Maine Coon Colors

Explore the different colors of Maine Coons and the unique coat patterns we breed

Welcome to our guide on Maine Coon coat colors and patterns. Understanding these different colors and patterns helps highlight what makes each cat unique.

At Bellspurr, we present the diverse beauty of Maine Coons. This guide details the specific features of their coats, from different smoke coat variations to various silver and tabby patterns.

Rare Colors maine coons

Did you know that there are rare colors that can be found in the Maine Coon breed? On this page will discuss the rare colors of Maine Coon cats. These colors make them beautiful and unique. We’ll discuss terms such as rare Maine Coon colors, colored Maine Coon cats, colors and patterns, coon coloration, Maine Coon rare colors, and dark brown.

First off, let’s clarify what we mean by “rare” colors. Some colors and patterns are less common in this breed than others. However, all colors are considered special and valued by some people. These rare colors add a touch of exclusivity to the already desirable breed.

black silver maine coons

A Black Silver Maine Coon features a clear contrast. The black color is present only at the tips of the furs, with the roots being a bright silver-white. This gives the coat a shimmering, light appearance. While appearing mostly silver, the black tipping is distinct upon closer look.

Black Silver Maine Coon kitten with striking silver fur and black tips, sitting inside a woven basket, showcasing its curious expression and playful demeanor.

Black Silver Maine Coon

Etienne Black Silver Tabby Maine Coon Kitten for sale, maine coon breeders

Black Silver Maine Coon

Maine Coon kitten named Venezia, showcasing a striking black silver coat with tabby patterns, sitting on a beige surface against a textured background, emphasizing the breed's unique beauty and features.

Black Silver Maine Coon

The uncommon colors we focus on  at Bellspurr Maine Coons are silver Shaded and High Smoke. Silver coated cats have a unique shimmer to their fur because the white undercoat shows through The silver gene removes brown tones from the coat, creating a clear contrast.

Our focus is on black cats carrying these inhibitor traits. This genetic combination can make a black coat appear white. Even in our lightest cats, they retain a black nose and black eyeliner rather than the pink nose and red eyes of a white cat.

Additionally, there are several variations of red in Maine Coons. Red tabby coats have a dominant gene that produces a reddish-orange hue with distinct stripes or swirls. Some cats can have a gene that makes their fur a bright solid red color, without any other markings. this color variation is known as “solid red” or “red self.” 

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Black silver shaded maine coons

In a Black Silver Shaded Maine Coon, the tabby pattern is lost but there are still some blotches. The shade of the rest of the coat has turned silver from the inhibitor gene. Imagine a white cat walking under the shade of the tree, that’s what a black silver shaded actually looks like. It has black eyeliner around its eyes and around its nose, which makes them look stunning and wild, unlike a true white cat with a pink nose and rabbit eyes.

maine coon kitten, silver shaded maine coon kitten

Black silver shaded maine coons

Black silver shaded maine coon cat

Black silver shaded maine coons

Black silver shaded maine coon female

Black silver shaded maine coons

Black Smoke Maine Coons

A black smoke maine coon is a solid black cat with the I inhibitor gene so its roots turn silver while its tips remain dark. With age, the rough around their neck and all areas that grow longer coat will appear lighter. The nose and paw pads are solid black.

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Black Smoke Maine Coon

Black Smoke Maine Coon Kittens For Sale

Black Smoke Maine Coon

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Black Smoke Maine Coon

Black tabby Maine Coons

Also known as “Brown Tabby,” this is a common Maine Coon pattern. Black Tabby Maine Coons have rich brown tones with clear black markings, stripes, or swirls. Their eyes are often green or gold, matching their coat.

Black tabby Maine Coon

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Black tabby Maine Coon

Clove Black Tabby Maine Coon Kitten For Sale

Black tabby Maine Coon

Blue Silver Maine Coons

Combining the dilution of black with the silver gene, the Blue Silver Maine Coon has a refined look. Their coat features blue-grey (diluted black) tipping over a clear, silver-white undercoat. Similar to Black Silvers, the blue color is at the tips, creating a soft, light effect.

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Blue Silver Maine Coon

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Blue Silver Maine Coon

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Blue Silver Maine Coon

Moving on to more subtle colors, we have cream and blue Maine Coons. Cream refers to a dilution of the red pigment, resulting in a pale off-white or beige coat. Blue fur appears silvery-gray because it is a diluted black pigment, not actually blue.

Humans have it all wrong, they call a red cat orange, a blue cat, grey. Cat colors are all about genetics, and are an interesting subject to study.

Blue tabby Maine Coons

Blue Tabby Maine Coons show a softer version of the tabby pattern. Their markings are a slate-grey or blue-grey color, set against a lighter, often cream or buff-toned background. The “blue” color in cats is a diluted form of black, resulting in this grey shade.

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Blue tabby Maine Coon

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Blue tabby Maine Coon

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Blue tabby Maine Coon

Cream silver Maine Coons

Cream Silver Maine Coons are less common. The cream color, a dilute form of red, appears on the tips of the coat, while the undercoat is silver-white. This combination creates a delicate appearance with light, peachy highlights over a light base, resulting in a pale off-white or beige coat.

Cream silver Maine Coon Kittens for sale in Dallas

Cream silver Maine Coon

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Cream silver Maine Coon

Silver Cream Kittens For Sale with tufted ears

Cream silver Maine Coon

My favorite color is one of the rarest colorings in Maine Coons: is the shaded, Shell, or chinchilla coat. Smoke Maine Coons are another rare color among the breed.

The smoke gene is also recessive and typically produces a diluted version of the base color. Black smoke is different from blue smoke , which is a diluted version of the grey or blue base coat. Smoke Maine Coons have a striking contrast between their dark tipped fur and lighter colored undercoat.

One of the most popular and well-known color variations in Maine Coons is the classic tabby pattern. This includes stripes, swirls, and spots on a background of red, cream, gray, or brown. The tabby gene is dominant and can be found in many other cat breeds as well. Despite its commonality, each tabby pattern is unique to each individual cat.

Chinchilla or Shell Maine Coons

Chinchilla Maine Coons have the lightest form of tipping, where only the very tips of the individual furs are colored. This creates a light, almost white appearance with only a hint of color at the surface.

Chinchilla Maine Coon Kittens For Sale

Chinchilla Maine Coon

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Chinchilla Maine Coon

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Chinchilla Maine Coon

Torti Maine Coons

A tortoiseshell Maine Coon cat sitting upright against a solid gray background, looking directly forward.

Torti Maine Coon

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Speaking of patterns, let’s not forget about the beautiful tortoiseshell or tortie, a tortie maine Coon is red and Black female. A calico is a red and black and white female. These are particolors or bicolors, not unusual in females but less comon than solid or bicolors. (also known as calico) coloring found in Maine Coons.

Male Tortie Maine Coons and Male Calico Maine Coons are very rare.

It is actually quite rare, but not impossible, for a male cat to be calico or tortie. This is because male cats typically have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome, while female cats have two X chromosomes.

Tortie cats have patches of black and red colors on their fur. Calicos are red and white and include white patches. This is because they inherit two different color genes on the X chromosome.

Male cats cannot have calico or tortie coats because they only have one X chromosome. This means they can only inherit one color allele.

Some male cats can have two X chromosomes (XXY) due to rare genetic abnormalities. This allows for inheriting two different color alleles and showing a calico or tortie coat pattern. abnormalities associated with those colors in males often cause infertility.

Rare colors and patterns found in Maine Coons include solid black, dilute calico (also known as blue cream), and tabby with white. Each of these adds a unique touch to the already stunning appearance of these cats.

Calico Maine Coons: Genetics Behind Their Unique Tri-Color Coats

Bicolor Patterns: A mix of colors that includes a white markings combined with any of the previous described colors. Calico Maine Coons have coats with three distinct colors: black, red (or orange), and white. These color patches are typically clear and spread across the coat. Genetically, most Calico cats are female, as the genes for black and red color are carried on the X chromosome. Each Calico Maine Coon has a unique pattern.

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calico Maine Coon

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calico Maine Coon

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calico Maine Coon

White Maine Coons

White Maine Coons: why white is not a real color it's a mask

A solid white Maine Coon cat sitting upright against a light gray background, looking directly forward.

White Maine Coon

White Maine Coons are often thought to be a color, but they are not actually considered a color. This is because the white coat is actually just a masking gene that covers up the cat’s true base coat color. This masking gene can be present in any breed of cat, not just Maine Coons. The only colors a cat can have are red and black.

A Blue Tabby is actually a black cat with genetic variations such as dilution and the tabby pattern. Similarly, a White Maine Coon is not actually white, but rather a cat with a masking gene that covers up its true color.

Another misconception about white Maine Coons is that they are albino. However, this is not the case as albinism is caused by a lack of pigmentation in both the fur and eyes. White Maine Coons still have pigmentation in their eyes, which is why they can have different eye colors.

So why do we still refer to them as “white” Maine Coons? Saying “white” instead of “Maine Coon with a masking gene” is easier. Plus, many people find the white coat on these cats to be visually striking and unique.

One interesting fact about white Maine Coons is that their eye colors can vary greatly. Some may have two different colored eyes, while others may have blue or gold eyes. This adds to the unique and diverse appearance of these cats.

The range of colors and patterns in Maine Coons highlights the breed’s genetic diversity and natural beauty. Each coat contributes to the specific charm of these cats.

Ready to find the Maine Coon whose colors and patterns appeal to you?

Tabby Maine Coons

Black Golden Tabby Maine Coon kitten with warm copper tones and traditional tabby markings.

Black Tabby Maine Coon

A red tabby Maine Coon cat looking forward, showcasing distinct facial markings and coat patterns.

Red Tabby Maine Coon

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Blue Tabby Maine Coon

Maine Coons come in a variety of colors like brown tabby, red tabby, cream, blue, and white. Some coat colors and patterns may be harder to find, but the breed has many standard recognized colors to choose from. These colors can also have different tabby patterns, like classic mackerel tabby and ticked tabby.

In conclusion, rare Maine Coon colors add another layer to the already fascinating world of this beloved breed. is not only a result of genetics but also serves an important purpose for their survival in the wild. Maine Coons are beautiful cats, whether you like traditional coats or unique colors. They are truly one of nature’s most stunning creations.

Remember, a cat’s fur color doesn’t affect their personality or behavior. So whether your black maine coon is red, black maine coon, blue, or white – they are all equally lovable and wonderful companions.

Now that you have learned these things, tell me:

  • Are Blue Smoke Maine Coons rare?
  • Are light colored “black smoked” Maine Coons rare?
  • How rare are white Maine Coon cats?
  • Is there such a thing as a grey Maine Coon cat?
  • What Colors can Maine Coon cats be?
  • Can a black and white cat be a Maine Coon cat?
  • Can a Maine Coon be black?
  • What is a blue Maine Coon cat?
  • Does the Maine Coon cat have blue eyes or not?

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