The Maine Coon is distinguished by an incredible variety of colors, which is what makes it so charming! 😻 With this informative capsule, you will discover the different possible shades of this magnificent breed. However, although the palette is vast, some colors are simply impossible in the Maine Coon.
🌟 The two main colors and their dilutions
All Maine Coons have one of two color bases:
Black 🖤
Red 🧡
These basic colours can then be diluted:
Black ➔ Blue (Grey)
Red ➔ Cream
💡 Did you know? Red females are only born if they receive the Red gene from both parents. This is because the X chromosome determines the color. A female (XX) must receive two Red genes to be a redhead, while a male (XY) only needs one Red X to be a redhead.
For a kitten to be Blue or Cream, it must receive the dilution gene from both parents. This gene is recessive, so if only one parent gives the Black or Red gene, the color will remain unchanged.
📸 Tip : To differentiate a Red cat from a Cream cat, wet its fur. If the fur turns dark red, it's a Red. If the difference is minimal, it's a Cream!
Tokyo Maine coon Solid Black vs Daenerys Maine coon Solid Blue
🎨 So-called “solid” or plain dresses
Solid dresses are recognizable by the absence of marked patterns. They exist in five variations:
Black 🖤
Red 🧡
Blue (Grey) 💙
Cream 🤍
White 🤍
The Red cat may have a more discreet ghost marking , but if the outline of its eyes is white, it will be considered a tabby.
💅 The white dress
The White coat is special because it acts like a coat hiding the underlying color of the cat. This gene (W) completely masks the markings and the actual color of the coat.
Additionally, white Maine Coons may have blue or odd eyes (one blue, one a different color). However, they should be BAER tested for possible deafness.
More information about the BAER test:
👀 The madness of blue eyes
Recently, Maine Coons with blue eyes without white have emerged. This mutation results from crossbreeding or genetic malformations, which can cause deafness and vision problems ("Waardenburg Syndrome"). These cats often have wider eye spacing and altered facial proportions.
💡 If you are looking for a Maine Coon with blue eyes, choose a white cat or a coat with white (≥ 50% of the body).
🤍 Two-tone dresses (With white)
Bi-color Maine Coons have white spots on their colored coats. Here are the different types:
Van : Colorful tail and head 🐾
Harlequin : Color on tail, head, back and legs 🎭
Two-tone : Maximum 1/3 white 🖤🤍
Cap & Saddle : Color on the back and tail 🏇
Mask & Mantle : Colorful head, upper back and tail 🎭
Tuxedo : Colorful body with white legs 🤵
(See the diagram at the end of the capsule for an illustration of each dress.)
🌟 The tricolor dresses
These dresses combine three colors : Black, Red and White. Depending on their arrangement, they take different names:
Tortie : Mixed colors, with smoke markings 🐢
Calico : Distinct color zones 🎨
Torbie : Mixed colors with stripes (tabby) 🐯
🧡 The particularity of tricolor dresses
Tricolor cats are almost always female (≈99%). Why? Because the color is carried by the X chromosome .
Genetics:
Female : XX ➔ Possibility of having a Black X and a Red X = Tricolor
Male : XY ➔ One X only = One color only
The rare tricolor males have Klinefelter syndrome (XXY) and are usually sterile .
🐾 Here are some examples to differentiate torties from torbies:
🔮 Conclusion
With this knowledge, you will be able to better identify the coat colors of Maine Coons and understand their particularities. In a future capsule, we will talk about marking , which is added to these superb colors! 😉🐾
📸 Don't hesitate to consult the diagram to visualize the different dresses!
References:
Alyse Brisson Book - The New Purebred Cat
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