Is There a Gray Maine Coon Cat Color?

From Solid Blue to Silver Tabby

If you've ever spotted a what looks like a gray Maine Coon cat with that stunning steel coat, you might wonder what the official name for that shade is.

Here's the twist: on the Maine Coon color chart, "gray" doesn't actually exist as a recognized term.

Ok, then what is a gray Maine Coon? It's one of the following:

come see what is inside our membership.
come see what is inside our membership.

Instead, breeders and cat associations use names like blue, silver, and black smoke to describe what most of us would casually call gray.

Knowing the difference is a fun deep dive into the breed’s color genetics - and it might just change how you describe your own Coonie's coat!

Blue Maine Coons – The Most Common 'Gray' Look

In cat color genetics, blue is simply the dilute form of black. It creates a rich, even slate-gray tone from root to tip.

In a solid Blue Maine Coon, the color is consistent across the coat, giving that plush, velvety appearance.

This tone can also appear in patterns. Maine Coon markings like Classic Tabby, Mackerel Tabby, or even Patched Tabby (which adds splashes of cream) are possible.

Depending on the lighting, these cats can look anywhere from a soft dove-gray to a deeper steel tone.

"What color is a Russian Blue cat? Is this the steel gray we are talking about?"

Yes! The Russian Blue's famous coat color is essentially the same "steel" color people picture when they think of a gray cat.

In cat fancy terms, that color is actually called blue. It's caused by the dilution gene, which lightens black fur to a soft, bluish-gray.

The result is that silvery, almost metallic sheen Russian Blues are known for.

blue gray maine coon face closeup.

So when we’re talking about a "gray" Maine Coon, if it’s that same soft, solid color, it's most likely the same base color as a Russian Blue.

The twist is that in Maine Coons, it might also be mixed with tabby markings, silver undercoats, or smoke patterns.

Also, with their coat of varying layers and textures, their "gray" can look different from the uniform, almost luminescent color of a Russian Blue.

Fun fact: In both breeds, the dilution gene turns black pigment into this soft grayish-blue, and the translucent hair tips give it that silvery glow.

A visual comparison: Russian Blue and solid blue Maine Coon

russian blue breed cat sitting loaf style.Russian Blue Cat
purebred solid blue maine coon cat sitting on a coffee table.Solid Blue Maine Coon Cat
small gray maine coon kitten sleeping and flopped over.

Cathy H in Cross Plains, IN shares her little girl Grace in our 2022 Album, saying that she loves to cuddle on her own terms. Grace really has that steel-colored look.

(Something we hear a lot from parents of girl Coonies!)

two adorable blue maine coon kittens laying together

Steve in Laguna Hills, CA shares his beautiful boys Odin, a Blue Smoke Tabby, and Loki, who is a Blue Smoke with a solid pattern.

To a passer-by, their coloring might just look 'gray'!

person holding up small 6 week old gray kitten.

Gordon and Louise in Scotland shared their boy, in 2016: "Billy ~ Blue is the name of our baby Maine Coon who is just under 6 weeks old in the pic.

He is going to have plenty of fun playing with our 2 wolf dogs & 2 Ragdoll crosses."

Silver Maine Coons – A Related Shade

Other times, when you talk about or hear about a gray Maine Coon, the cat is actually a Silver Tabby.

To our eyes, it’s easy to call the color gray. The tabby markings can definitely read that way at first glance.

In cat color terms, though, silver is all about the undercoat. Each hair starts out white (or nearly white) at the base, with darker color bands on top, which are usually black, blue, or even red.

This creates that frosted, almost shimmery look that's so striking, especially in the sunlight.

Silver Tabbies come in patterns like Silver Classic, Silver Mackerel, and Silver Patched. Some even have a warmer, golden tone mixed in - but that's a whole other conversation!

two silver tabby maine coon cats side by side.

Diane Morrison in Poland, Maine shares: "Sterling and Delilah are grandfather and granddaughter.

Unfortunately we lost Sterling about 6 months ago to illness. We are now looking for a playmate for our sweet Delilah."

lovely purebred female silver tabby maine coon cat

Julie Koester in Franklin, MA shared her "sweetest girl," Willow, also in our 2022 Album.

Julie says that this Silver Tabby beauty is curious, playful, always gentle, and loves to snuggle.

Black Smoke - The Surprise Gray

And sometimes, that "gray" Maine Coon you’re looking at is actually a Black Smoke.

From a distance, they can seem gray, but get closer and you’ll notice the magic. The hair shafts are white at the base and black on the tips. When the fur moves, the white undercoat peeks through, giving a misty, smoke-like effect.

Black Smokes are especially eye-catching in motion, whether it’s a flick of the tail or a full-on stretch in a sunny spot.

They tend to look darker and more dramatic than a Silver Tabby, but still have that grayish tone that tricks our eyes.

cute black smoke maine coon kitten with front legs stretched out.

Christine tells us of her little girl Anastasia: "She is just going on 15 weeks and is an absolute sweetheart.

She loves people, toys, brushing (even the belly and pits!), and most of all her big brother Gus!"

Can you see how this smokey girl might be called gray?

blue smoke maine coon cuddled up against a person.

Speaking of smokes, Yeti is a Blue Smoke and really has that "gray Maine Coon" cat look that you might be thinking of! It's like a slate, or steel color and almost mystical.

Lainey in McKinney, Texas says that Yeti "is quite the extrovert and enjoys human social gatherings, he sometimes watches from the mantle, bookshelf, or other cat-friendly cubby!"

So if you’ve heard about - or are staring at - a "gray" Maine Coon, now you know it's probably something a little fancier in the cat world: a solid Blue, a Silver Tabby, or maybe even a dramatic Black Smoke.

Whatever the official name, that gorgeous grayish coat is just one more reason these cats turn heads.

This is just one shade in a whole rainbow of possibilities. See the rest in our Maine Coon Colors guide.

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