Maine Coon Colors

Tabbies, Torties, Tuxedos, Solids, With White and More!

The variety of Maine Coon Colors is huge! Most of us have admired a Classic Brown Tabby. A rainbow of colors are possible.

information about the members area.
information about the members area.
collage of colorful maine coonsA collage of colors!

Since they are a natural breed, a rainbow of beautiful colors are possible. The variety is really amazing.

max is a black and white maine coon catMax is a black and white Maine Coon cat

Here is a comprehensive look at all those beautiful Maine Coon colors.

What you won't find: Maine Coon cats are not bred to be lavender, chocolate, or to have pointed tips, like the Siamese.

What you will find is everything else, from Solid to Tabby, Black to White, (or Black and White!) and everything in between.

A Maine Coon can have gold, green, or bronze eyes. White Coons might have blue eyes, or odd colored eyes!

Maine Coon cat colors are even complimented by their leather. This is their nose and paw pads. So darker cats such as brown, black, or blue will have leather from brown to black.

A light or red colored Maine Coon will have leather in shades of rose or pink, all the way to brick red.

All The Maine Coon Colors:

The Solids:

Spooky and Bubu are Solid colored siblingsSpooky and Bubu are Solid colored siblings

These are fairly straightforward, such as pure White, Black, and Cream. Also there is Blue, sometimes called Maltese. It is an even shade of blue-gray. 

Ice and Jet are White and Black Maine Coon Cats, respectivelyIce and Jet are White and Black Maine Coon Cats

In addition, there are Solid Reds. All these cat colors will be uniform, with no variation or hint of Tabby markings.

A Solid Black Maine Coon Cat should have no hint of rust. That is sometimes difficult because black cats commonly have a gene that causes their black fur to take on a rust tint after being exposed to sunlight.

We see that with our Alice, even though the only sun she gets is in the windowsills.

Before heading out to a cat show, a breeder will sometimes use a special shampoo on their black cat in order to get that pure black color shining again.

Do you just adore the dark, mysterious black color? Check out our community album of Black Coonies to see pictures of purebred Black Coonies of all ages and getting into all sorts of shenanigans!

The Smokes

Bo is a handsome Black Smoke Maine Coon CatBo is a handsome Black Smoke Maine Coon Cat

A Smoke is a solid cat with a "faded" or lighter undercoat. They are very pretty.

The cat will look like a Solid, but when you ruffle the fur of the undercoat, it will be much lighter.

Some are more pronounced than others, even having a smoky look to their chest as well.



The Black Smoke Maine Coon Cat Color:

black smoke maine coon cat on a wooden shelf

The Black Smoke Maine Coon color stands apart from pure Black, both in appearance and genetics, and it’s undoubtedly one of the most visually stunning! This majestic and distinctive coat pattern is a result of intricate genetic mechanisms that create its striking beauty.

This captivating coloration emerges from the interplay of genes that govern fur color and pattern.

Is it the most alluring of the Maine Coon colors? Quite possibly!

Let's talk about this unusual and enchanting color, explore the fascinating genetics behind it, and share photos of gorgeous smokey Coonies.



Want to see these colors in real life?

Our community albums feature photos of real Coonies from all over the world - grouped by coat color, with shimmering smokes, classic brown tabbies, and more on the way.

Browse by color:


collage of nine beautiful silver or smoke maine coon cats.

Silver & Smoke Stunners: Silvery tabbies and smokes with that eye-catching shimmer. One of our most striking albums.



collage of nine gorgeous pure black maine coon cats.

Black Beauties: Real-life examples of black Maine Coons in various coat patterns, from solid to shaded.



collage of gorgeous blue maine coons.

Blue Tones & Soft Grays: Cool-toned and dreamy, this album features blue solids, blue tabbies, and gentle gray variations you'll want to see up close.



six portraits of red silver maine coons.

Red Silvers: With their soft red tones and pale undercoats, these Red Silvers - also called Buff or Cream - have a refined, luminous look that really stands out.




The Tabbies:

Jackson has that classic Tabby lookJackson has that classic Tabby look

These are perhaps the most well-known of the Maine Coon colors. The Tabby markings can come in two different patterns.

A Mackerel Tabby has stripes running down his body, with a connecting stripe down his back.

A Classic Tabby has stripes on his legs, face and tail. His body has a random swirl pattern.

The classic look of a Brown Maine Coon will make anyone stop in their tracks!

The Red Maine Coon Cat

Gryphon is a Classic Red Maine Coon CatGryphon is a Classic Red Tabby Maine Coon Cat

The Tabbies come in every color. The name of their color is determined by the color of their stripes, as well as the color of the undercoat.

A good example of this is the Red Maine Coon cat. A Classic Red Tabby has an undercoat color of Red with markings in a darker Red.

A Red Silver Classic Tabby has an undercoat of Cream, with markings in Red.

These cat are so vibrant and charming, we have a whole page devoted to them: The Red Maine Coon Cat.

purebred red silver maine coon cat perched atop a boulder outdoors.Karrot

Karrot's mom says, "He’s orange of course, and a fluff ball with a very strong personality." 

Check out Karrot’s stunning red-silver coat, featured among our 2022 Coonies.


Red Silver Maine Coons Album: Check out these beautiful cats in our curated album, featuring some of the most stunning Red Silver Maine Coons and their unique coats. 

Each cat in this album is a unique example of this beautiful color variation, from playful kittens to grown Coonies. Enjoy the vibrant personalities and stunning coats of these incredible felines!

Torties, Torbies, and More

Stinky is a beautiful tortie girlStinky is a beautiful tortie girl

A Tortie is short for Tortoiseshell. This cat has a base color of Black, with patches of Red and Cream.

A Tortie can be difficult to discern. It has the stripes of a Tabby, and patches of different color mixed in.

Our list wouldn't be complete without mention of the beautiful Calico pattern, which is that classic tri-color look with mostly white, and also the Black and White Maine Coon Cat. They are all beautiful!

Because Coonies can be almost any color, and many people research the heritage of their kitty, a question sometimes comes up: "What is a Maine Coon and Calico mix?" Here, we discuss what the actually means!

With White

Lincoln is a Classic Red Tabby With WhiteLincoln is a Classic Red Tabby With White

When one of these colors has a White chest and paws the term "With White" is added to their color.

So, for example a Silver Tabby with white would be just that: Classic Silver Tabby With White. This is also called "parti-color".

Speaking of Silver, visit our dedicated gallery celebrating the Silver and Smoke Maine Coons, featuring stunning images and stories from our community.​


What is the difference between Silver and Blue, you ask? 

Jane from Staffordshire, UK, had a similar question about her two kittens. When she received their paperwork, she noticed the girls were listed as "Blue Tortie and White," yet the breeder had described them as "Silver Tortie and White" when she first bought them.

It's a great question and one that many new cat owners ask. Jane's question brings to light the subtle difference between Blue and Silver.


Blue is an unusual and stunning color! Hop over to our curated album of Blue Maine Coons to see photos and examples.



So, now that you know all the Maine Coon colors, what would your favorite be?

They are all so gorgeous, it's an impossible choice!


More About Markings and Patterns:

When we talk about markings, we mean the unique patterns and patches of color on a cat’s coat that make each kitty look totally one-of-a-kind. The different ways color shows up on the fur. 

Let's take a closer look at what’s behind them - from patterns and colors to a bit of fun coat genetics: Coonie Markings & Patterns


More About Markings and Patterns:

Meet Tiltill, a Red with White kitten - and check out his parents! His father is Brown with White, and his mother is Silver with White.

Tiltill’s red coloring likely came from his mom, who carries the gene for dilution and possibly red, even though it doesn’t show in her silver coat.

brown with white maine coon male king.Tiltill's Dad
purebred red with white maine coon kitten sitting pretty.Tiltill
beautiful silver and white maine coon female queen.Tiltill's Mom

Red is a sex-linked color, so it’s often passed down through the maternal line to sons.

We love seeing how colors show up in kittens, especially when the parents look nothing like them! It’s one more reason Maine Coon genetics are such a fun puzzle.


The Maine Different Colors of Maine Coons: In Photos

Welcome to our first Celebration of Colors Event! There are many different colors of Maine Coons. Here, we shine a light on each, with lots of community photos!


Top of Maine Coon Colors