Maine Coon Colors and Patterns

The Maine Coon colors and patterns that are available are quite astonishing. According to the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) and The International Cat Association (TICA), there are over 80 recognized colors and patterns for Maine Coon cats.

These include:

Maine Coon Cat Colors:

1. Red (also known as orange or ginger)
2. Black/Brown
3. Blue (a dilute form of black)
4. Cream (a dilute form of red)
5. White
6. Tortoiseshell (a mix of black and red patches)
7. Blue Cream (a mix of blue and cream patches)
8. Smoke (silver roots color only on the outer tips of the fur)
9. Silver (silver roots with black tipping or color)
10. Shaded (gradual color transition from darker back to lighter sides and belly)

Maine Coon Cat Patterns:

1. Tabby (includes classic, mackerel, and ticked patterns)
2. Solid (self-colored without any distinct patterns)
3. Particolored (Majority of coat is color with some white, usually paws and chest)
4. Bicolor (mainly white with patches of color on head and body)
5. Tortoiseshell (black and red patches; with white would be TriColor or “Calico”)
6. Torbie (tortoiseshell with stripes)

Full Color Examples of Maine Coon Colors and Patterns

To view the various Maine Coon colors and patterns, use the tabs at the top of each color class. They’re broken down here for you with colors and patterns.

There’s plenty of information on the CFA website to read about feline genetics, cat colors, and how Maine Coons get their colors and patterns. There are also plenty of pictures of Maine Coon cats in this directory for you to use as a reference.

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Black Maine Coons

The black Maine Coon cat is stealthy, sleek, and intriguingly beautiful. Although it’s not common to see a solid black Maine Coon, they sure are easy on the eyes when you do see them.

There is something incredibly mesmerizing about  a solid black cat, especially a Maine Coon.  They’re sleek and shiny and just have a special element that no other color possesses. Once you have one in your home, you’ll know exactly what I mean. 

Even more beautiful than a black Maine Coon adult is a black Maine Coon kitten.

See if we have any Black Maine Coon kittens for sale

Black and White Maine Coon

The black and white Maine Coon is usually classified as a bi-color. The distribution of white can be very small, like a white locket on the chest. It can also be in abundance, creating a “van” pattern. When we speak of any cat “with white” or “bi-color”, it is indicated by the amount of white that can be seen on the cat. 

The black and white Maine Coon can also be referred to as a “tuxedo Maine Coon” and that is certainly a phrase that you’ll hear a lot when you a black and white cat.  The tuxedo markings are represented by white fur on the paws, chest, and sometimes a cute mustache.

Black Smoke

When we refer to the “smoke” color in a Maine Coon cat, we’re referring to the silver undercoat that is seen on a solid color cat. It’s not always easy to detect a smoke undercoat in kittens, which can develop and become more prominent with age. See the evidence by checking the cat’s hair shaft roots.

Black smoke is the most popular color of smoke. However, there are many other beautiful smoke-colored variations. An actual smoke color will have silver roots to the hair shaft.

NOTE: The silver coat in a solid-colored Maine Coon is called smoke. In a tabby cat, it’s referred to as silver. It’s the same gene that produces this color. It’s called the silver inhibitor.

Sometimes, people refer to the black smoke as the black and grey Maine Coon cat.

Black Smoke with White Maine Coon

Black Smoke and White Maine Coons are more commonly known as tuxedo cats. With the smoky undercoat, they present a very sultry look.

Black Tabby

There’s something so regal and beautiful about a Black Tabby Maine Coon. This very traditional look is the most sought-after Maine Coon color. They also have the highest win rate at the TICA Cat shows.

The classic version of the black tabby presents a black coat with warm brown swirls as its pattern. Some people will refer to the pattern as a”Bullseye” pattern since you can see a perfectly round spot in the ribcage area. The black classic tabby is also known as the brown Maine Coon tabby, and some will call him “marble”.

The black mackerel tabby Maine Coon will have stripes on its body and legs that resemble fish bones. These cats are marked more like a tiger.

Black Tabby With White

What is the difference between a tabby and a Maine Coon?

People sometimes mistake a “tabby” with a Maine Coon cat, especially if the cat has long hair. Tabby is not a breed of cat, but a coat pattern that can occur in any cat.  Tabby simply means that the cat has stripes on its body. Tabby cats can be black, red, blue or cream. 

The first Maine Coon (pet) I ever owned was a Black Classic Tabby named Finlay. When I went to visit the breeder, she showed me the entire litter. They were all black classic tabbies. I had no idea that these cats came in so many colors at the time.  

If you’re looking for a Purebred Maine Coon, know how to tell if the kitten you’re getting is a real Maine Coon. Don’t let a tabby pattern confuse you.

Black Silver Maine Coon

The black silver Maine Coon has become extremely popular over the last couple of years. Maine Coon Breeders all over the world have put an emphasis on producing Maine Coons in stunning silver colors and patterns.

• Black Silver Classic Tabby Maine Coon Cats
• Black Silver Mackerel Tabby Maine Coon Cats

The silver Maine Coons can have different levels of silver, classifying them as either silver, shaded, or shell. The amount of silver on each strand of hair will determine which class they belong.Silver Maine Coon kittens are typically the first ones to get chosen in a litter, regardless of the other colors available.

Black Silver with White

What is a Silver Maine Coon?

A silver Maine Coon is a cat with a coat that has dark gray and black hairs with light-colored tipping. There are different shades of silver, such as pale, shaded and shell. Shell is the lightest of the silver banded fur. 

Black Tortie

The black tortie is one of those Maine Coon colors that is an absolute crowd pleaser. It certainly is one of my favorite colors!

With her dark mysterious black coat, highlighted with fiery red, she is sure to have a tortietude. In case you were wondering, “tortietude” IS a real thing.

This coat is considered a “solid” coat, also known as non-agouti, since there are no tabby markings on a tortie.

A black tortie with white Maine Coon is the technical term for a calico Maine Coon. With the calico Maine Coon kitten being known for their sassy attitudes, they’re always a family favorite for people that like high-energy, bossy little girls.

A Black Tortie with white embodies a perfect combination of red, white, and black fur.

Black Tortie with White 

What is a calico pattern Maine Coon?

A calico pattern is identical to the tortoiseshell pattern but with an additional white color mixed in causing the black and red/orange colors to be arranged in a more distinct pattern.

Black Smoke Tortie

Ah yes, the black smoke tortie Maine Coon. Imagine a very beautiful black tortie with a white long fur undercoat. One that makes her shine almost with a brilliant silvery glimmer. This would be the black smoke tortie.

Calico cats are generally one of people’s favorite colors of Maine Coon cats. When the smoke undercoat is also present you can see why these beauties are easy to fall head over heels in love with.

If you’ve been considering a calico Maine Coon cat, then the black smoke tortie with white is one to look for. She will have all of the luxuries of the calico, with the added beauty of the silver undercoat. Let’s not forget the sass that comes with the torties that we all love and adore.

Black Smoke Tortie With White

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Black Torbie

A black torbie Maine Coon is a female cat that has fur colors of red and black. She will also have tabby markings.

The black torbie with white Maine Coon is complex yet stunning at the same time. She has a combination of red fur, black fur and white fur. Additionally, she has stripes in her red and black fur which makes her a torbie.

Torbie is an abbreviated version of a tortie and a tabby in one. This means that she doesn’t have a solid coat, but a pattern to identify the tabby. The pattern can be classic, mackerel tabby, or spotted. She can also be a ticked tabby.

An easy way to tell a tortie from a torbie is to check for white eyeliner around the eyes, and white lining of the ears. These features are shown by a torbie, but not a tortie.

• Black Classic Torbie Maine Coon
• Black Mackerel Torbie Maine Coon

Black Torbie with White

Black Silver Torbie

The Black Silver Torbie is a stunning array of rich colors that include red, black, and silver. The torbie has a wonderful pattern of either classic or mackerel.

It’s easy to get a tortie confused with a torbie because they’re both displaying the same colors. However, the torbie will also present tabby markings (stripes) in her fur.  

Black Silver Torbie with White

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Blue Maine Coons

Blue is a diluted version of black. In order for a kitten to be a blue or a variation of blue, both parents must be of blue color, or carry the dilute gene.  Quite often, blue Maine Coon cats are referred to as the grey Maine Coon cat. For good reason, since the coat is definitely grey in color.

Blue With White

Blue Smoke

Are you looking for a blue smoke Maine Coon kitten for sale? Did you even know that this color exists? The diluted version of a black Maine Coon with a shimmery smoke undercoat is sure to please the eyes.

Referred to as grey and white Maine coons, the Blue Smoke with white isn’t a color you see often. This combination always has a beautiful contrasting bi-color that’s easy on the eyes. Often found with “masks” over one or both eyes, the blue smoke with white Maine Coon is unique in many ways.

Blue Smoke with White

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Blue Tabby

Blue tabby Maine Coon cats are a splendid and fun color. Since this color is not as common as some of the black Maine Coons or red Maine Coons, it’s certainly one that shouldn’t be overlooked.

The depth of blue fur with the light creamy stripes of a tabby make this a very beautiful and majestic Maine Coon.

Blue Tabby with White

Blue Silver Tabby

Blue Silver Classic Tabby and Blue Silver Mackerel Tabby Maine Coons are not found as often as the black silver Maine Coon. The gene that produces the blue cat is called the dilution gene. Unless both parents are actually blue in color, then both parents must carry the recessive dilution gene to produce this color.

Blue Silver Tabby with White

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Blue Tortie

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Blue Smoke Tortie Maine Coon

The Blue Smoke Tortie Maine Coon is a beautiful array of colors that include blue (some refer to it as grey), and cream.

In addition to these lovely colors, she will also have fur that is silver at the root. This is referred to as “smoke” and portrays a luxurious coat in all blue smoke torties.

Blue Smoke Tortie with White

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Blue Torbie Maine COon

If you’re a believer in “tortietude”, you’re gong to love the blue torbie Maine Coon. Imagine the exquisite color tri of a black tortie, with sun bleached colors. Blue and cream overlay the tabby pattern on these wonderful Maine Coon Kittens.

Blue Torbie with White

Red Maine Coons

The red Maine Coon cat is another large crowd favorite (also known as the orange Maine Coon) . They speak more to the lovers of traditional colors and capture the hearts of ginger lovers across the globe. Red coats can be challenging to identify if you’re not familiar with the markings of a solid red. Due to their ghost markings (they appear to be that of a tabby) you can easily mistake them for a red tabby.

To clearly identify a solid red Maine Coon, look at the lining of the ears. They should be red, not white. Additionally solid red Maine Coons do not have a white muzzle.

If you’re unsure about whether you have a solid red or a red tabby Maine Coon, you can check the pedigree. If both parents are non-agouti, then solid red is the only possibility.

Red with White

Red Smoke

Smoke Maine Coons have swept the cat shows and exhibitions all over the world.   This unique characteristic changes the dimension of the cat’s fur. Offering a majestic appearance, the red smoke Maine Coon does look amazing sitting at the top of a large cat tree with its huge paws hanging over the side. 

Red Smoke with White

Red Tabby

Oh, what a crowd-pleaser the red tabby Maine Coon is! A large majority of the population refer to these ginger kitties as “orange Maine Coon cats“, but their technical color is red.

Red Tabby Maine Coon cats are furnished with white markings around their eyes, the lining of their ears, and on their muzzle. They have a persona of being some of the most lovable, friendliest cats in town.

Red Tabby with White

Red Tabby with White Maine Coons are definitely one of the most requested colors. They have a gentle charisma about them which makes them easy to love.

Red Silver

Red Silver Maine Coons are simply magnificent. They reduce the richness of the red color in the coat by adding a sparkly silver undercoat. In order to produce red silvers, at least one parent must have the inhibitor gene. This is a dominant trait and will be passed down to the kittens.

Red Silver with White

Cream Maine Coons

Cream coloring on a Maine Coon always makes the crowd go wild. Somewhat the color of a sexy glass of champagne, the cream Maine Coon can dazzle your eyes with warmth and beauty.

Just like blue, the cream is a diluted version of its parent color, red.

Cream with White

Cream Smoke

Cream Smoke with White

Cream Tabby

The cream tabby Maine Coon cat isn’t one of the more popular colors, but it certainly is easy on the eyes. This diluted version of red seeps into your soul with its creamy and smooth appearance. 

We like to say that the cream tabbies are like butterscotch, sweet and soft.  They’re also quite nice to cuddle with in the winter.

Cream Tabby with White

Cream Silver

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Cream Silver with White

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White Maine Coons

Like the black Maine Coon, the white Maine Coon is rarest Maine Coon color.. Both majestic and beautiful, the white Maine coon is easy on the eyes. There’s something very angelic about a solid white coonie.

They say that white makes everything look bigger, and black makes things look smaller. If you’re looking for a very large cat that looks even bigger, then white may be the color for you!

Be sure to check out the video of Omega and see just how large your white Maine Coon can get!

If you’re in love with any of the Maine Coon colors you see on this page, head over to our available kittens’ page and see if your favorite color is available. If you have your eye on a particular color and you’re hoping to get a kitten from one of your preferred Maine Coon Breeders, talk to them about what colors they can produce and ensure they have what you’re looking for!