Of course, every cat lover and owner has his own preferences regarding the color of his pet’s coat. Some people believe that there is no more attractive cat than the owner of a white fur coat, some prefer fiery red cats, others see beauty in striped fur. The only thing that almost everyone will agree with is that Maine Coons with black coats are especially attractive. Perhaps it’s the timeless classic or the fact that there is something mystical and mysterious about black cats.
Tabby (Tabbies)
If your cat has stripes on his coat, then the color of this Maine Coon is called “tabby” or “brindle”. All tabbies have thin lines on their muzzle that expressively outline their eyes, and on their forehead lines that form the letter “M.” If you look at the fur close up, you will notice that each hair is colored with dark and light stripes. This alternation is called "Agouti". It is commonly believed that tabby is the original color of wild cats.
There are four main tabby patterns:
Mackerel tabby (brindle)
- a pattern in the form of parallel vertical stripes.
Classic tabby (classic)
- wide spiral stripes on the sides, reminiscent of marble stains. In the UK this pattern is called "blotched tabby".
Spotted tabby - (spotted).
Spots throughout the body in the form of intermittent stripes.
Ticked tabby
- sometimes called Abyssinian or agouti. Without stripes or spots on the body, but with a pattern on the face and agouti on the body. This color is typical for Abyssinian cats, but it also occurs in other cats. Ticked colors are not recognized in the Maine Coon breed.
Tabbies come in a wide variety of colors. Tabby color refers to the color of the stripes or the tip of the tail. The main color of agouti varies from faded blue to deep red.
Maine Coon cat, black silver tabby color ns 22
Maine Coon cat red silver tabby ds 22
Maine Coon cat, cream tabby color MCO e 22
Maine Coon cat color black tabby with white (black classic tabby with white) n 09 22
Maine Coon cat, black tabby color (black-classic-tabby) MCO n 22
Maine Coon cat brown mackerel tabby
Maine Coon cat color brown spotted with white (brown mackerel spotted / white) f 09 24
Maine Coon cat brown tabby color
Maintenance and care
Despite the fact that this breed of cat tolerates harsh climates well, the owner of large animals will need to pay a lot of attention to them.
The main nuance of maintenance is Maine Coon fur care. Since there is quite a lot of it, in addition, it stands out due to its length, in order to prevent tangles, the cat will need to be combed regularly. A suitable comb is a blunt-toothed comb. It is recommended to perform such procedures every other day. Long-haired breeds are also recommended to be bathed with shampoo once every 6 months. The animal's claws require attention. As they grow, the ends should be trimmed, avoiding removing the living part where the capillaries are located.
As a kitten grows, its teeth change, but caring for the animal’s oral cavity is mandatory at any time. For these purposes, use a special toothpaste and brush.
Hygiene measures will also apply to the ears. The ears are subject to regular inspection; if various types of dirt are found in them, they are cleaned with a damp cotton sponge. You should avoid using sticks or matches with cotton wool. Cats' eyes should be wiped with a damp swab using boiled water.
Big cats themselves are noted for their cleanliness, so they constantly lick their fur. To help your pet get rid of hairballs in the stomach, specialized pastes are sold for animals that help cleanse themselves from the inside. Neglecting such remedies can lead to constipation and coughing in your cat. In addition, Maine Coon owners are recommended to grow a “cat garden” at home, which will help them cleanse the body on their own.
Cats at any age will be interested in entertainment, in addition to spending time in the arms of the owner. For these purposes, it is worth installing scratching posts, labyrinths and ladders at home, as well as shelves, beds and other interesting devices designed for active pet play. Otherwise, the Maine Coon will use curtains, cabinets and sofas as “sports equipment”.
For cat litter, you can purchase special litter or sand, but cleaning the litter box should be regular in light of the large size and smell of feces of both Maine Coon boys and girls.
The issue of cat nutrition should be approached thoroughly. It is best to individually select dry food for your Maine Coon together with a veterinarian or breeder. However, the animal will also actively and correctly develop on natural food. Super class food will already contain the necessary vitamins for a member of the cat family. When choosing a different type of feeding, your pet’s diet should include raw and boiled beef, chicken, and turkey. You should avoid fatty meats.
The animal should also be given lean fish, dairy and fermented milk products, and boiled eggs. It will be possible to replenish the supply of essential microelements by including sprouted grains in the diet. Vegetables and cheese can also be given to pets. Your Maine Coon will need clean, fresh water. To select the optimal portions of food, you can use a special sign that will indicate the weight of the kitten and its approximate menu.
The optimal age for mating is one and a half years. Maine Coons typically have 1 to 6 kittens per litter per year. Cats have very developed maternal instincts, so they show amazing care for newborns. If the breeder for some reason does not want to breed cats, then castration is carried out for males. It is best to castrate an animal before the age of one year. Cats are sterilized.
Solid colors
If a cat is completely the same color, it means it is “solid”. Solid colors were developed due to the suppression of recessive tabby genes. There are cases when the pattern is not completely suppressed, then a fuzzy shadow tabby is noticeable. If you look at a black leopard, you can see the outline of the pattern, since the leopard also has similar suppressed genes.
Cream and red colors cannot suppress tabbies effectively, so the pattern on these animals is always present to a greater or lesser extent. The monochromatic white color is obtained by the action of different genes that completely suppress the color. Many white kittens have vague shades on the head, where the color is not completely suppressed, this goes away with age.
Black MCO n
Blue MCO a
Red MCO d
Cream MCO e
White MCO w
Black smoke
This color occurs if the cat’s hair is colored in two colors: the lower part is white, and the upper part is dark. Sometimes the pigmentation of the hairs on the body has different intensity, then the effect of iridescent fur appears on the animal’s fur coat. Black Smoke Maines are often born with light spots due to genetic predisposition, so even dark and smoky fur types are rare.
Smoky colors (Smokis)
If the cat is black or blue in color, but the roots of the hairs are clearly white, then it is “smoke”. Solid-colored cats usually have grayish hair roots; true smokes have distinct white roots. Smokes are a solid variant of the silver tabby. This color is very mysterious and impressive, especially in movement with a beautiful play of color.
Smoky colors are divided according to the length of the dyed hair into the following types:
Chinchilla
– 1/8 of the hair tip is dyed.
Shaded
– 1/4 of the end of the hair is dyed.
Smoky
– 1/2 of the end of the hair is dyed.
Black smoke
- black color with white roots.
Blue smoke
– blue color with white roots.
Silver (Shaded/Chinchilla)
- at birth, kittens have fur so light that it appears white. White color can only be inherited from white parents (not silver). A small tabby pattern is sometimes possible at the tip of the tail, which usually disappears by six weeks. A sign that the kitten is silver and not white is green eyes.
Red (cream) shaded or smoky color Cameo (Cameo)
— kittens of this color are usually born white, and tipping appears gradually.
Maine Coon cat, black smoke color MCO ns
Maine Coon cat color blue smoke MCO as
Maine Coon cat, red smoke color MCO ds
Price
Black Maine Coons are very popular among buyers. Several factors influence the cost:
- age - kittens aged 2 - 5 months are more expensive than adults, since the process of adaptation to new conditions is easier and faster for them;
- gender – the price for cats is higher than for cats, because they are larger and more powerful, which makes a greater impression, and have a more playful and perky character;
- kitten class - representatives of the breed that have some exterior flaws are much cheaper.
A Maine Coon belonging to the pet class, which means it has shortcomings in appearance, will cost the buyer an average of 10 thousand rubles, a representative of the breed class, which can participate in exhibitions - 20 - 25 thousand rubles, a kitten show class, fully consistent with the standard - 50 - 70 thousand rubles.
You can save on purchasing a Maine Coon by purchasing it not in a nursery, but through an advertisement on the Internet or in the market. However, it is important to understand that in this case there is no guarantee that the kitten will be purebred or that it will not have pathologies.
With white markings
White markings, clearly defined (as opposed to the shaded spots of the Siamese) can be present on any color. You just need to add “With white (and white)” to the description of the main color. So, for example, you get “Black and White” or “Cream and White”.
The white areas may vary in size and location, and the most accurate name for the color depends on this:
With white medallion (locket)
- There is a white spot on the chest.
With white gloves (mitted)
– white slippers on the paws.
With white buttons
– the presence of one or more small white spots.
Bicolor (bi-color)
– half white.
Harlequin
- white with several large colored spots.
Van
- all white with color on the tail and head.
Tuxedo (tuxedo)
- white paws and chest. May have some white on head. This definition is informal.
Van
Harlequin
Bi-color
Tuxedo (Tuxedo)
With white medallion (Locket)
With white gloves (Mitted)
Determining the color of future offspring
To determine what color will be obtained when crossing animals of a certain color, a special color table is used. There are also special color calculators on the Internet that automatically calculate the color of future offspring. To do this you need to specify:
- presence of silver, white spots;
- EMS breed coding;
- main color;
- drawing;
- gender of both parent animals.
By the way, the gender of the animal is also coded. The cat is designated by the numbers 1.0, the cat is assigned the code 0.1.
In general, the health of Maine Coons has no connection with color, but there are exceptions. So, you cannot cross white individuals.
The colors of Maine Coon cats come in a wide range of colors. Amazing combinations of patterns and colors, stripes and spots give their magnificent wool a special sophistication and original appearance. The color of the Maine Coon to a certain extent determines the price, but is not the determining factor. To breed good offspring, the more important parameter is the breed type of the cat and its health status.
Red single color (solid)
In fact, redness implies rich terracotta or cream shades of fur without light tan marks or a smoky effect. Each hair must be completely dyed. In the place where the patterns are located on the fur, the shade is 2-3 times stronger. The coat of this color is always accompanied by a pattern, so Maines do not have uniform redness.
To read: Fast and tenacious rat catcher Manchester Terrier: description and reviews of the breed
Blue marble
Blue kittens range in shades from slate gray to light blue, giving each cat a unique look. Rich blue stripes on a lighter coat look impressive. There are individuals whose hairs are colored in three colors at once: white - blue - gray. With such a wealth of colors, the cat's coat looks shimmering and smooth. Unlike merle, this color was obtained through painstaking breeding by breeders.
Black marble
This kind of marble was not bred by specialists, but appeared along with the rock. Wide dark stripes and brown fur helped the animals hide in the forest when hunting. The shade was called marble because when transitioning from one strip to another, the feeling of a stone surface is created. Representatives with marbled fur coats are often larger than their respectable relatives, because their appearance has remained virtually unchanged since the birth of the Maines.
