Maine Coons With Blue Eyes

Blue eyes are one of the most striking - and rare - features a Maine Coon can have.

While all kittens begin life with baby-blue gazes, only certain cats keep them into adulthood.

Let's look at when kitten eyes change color, what the breed standard says, and the unique genetics that make those vivid blue eyes possible in a Coonie.

When Do Maine Coon Kittens' Eyes Change Color?

Born Blue, But Not for Long
One of the sweetest parts of kittenhood is that wide-eyed, innocent stare - all kittens are born with blue eyes.

But here's the twist: that baby-blue gaze isn't permanent for most.

Why All Blue at Birth?

When kittens are born, their eyes don't yet have the pigment (melanin) that determines the final color.

At first, the iris is almost translucent, and the blue is simply a reflection of light scattering through the eye - the same principle that makes the sky look blue.

One of the top searches people make is for an “orange Maine Coon with blue eyes.” In breeder terms, the color is actually red tabby.

This little guy is Whiskers from our 2024 Albums - he started with striking blue eyes as a kitten, which later turned a warm gold. It’s always so neat to see that color change happen!

Another great example is Neo - shown in our albums with bright blue eyes as a kitten that later shifted to a deeper shade as he grew.

The shift from blue to another color is common across all coat types, and it's always fun to see how each Coonie's gaze settles into its adult shade.

The Big Reveal
Around 6-8 weeks, melanin production begins. The amount and distribution of that pigment decide the final shade: gold, green, copper, or the rare case where the blue stays.

Coonies are especially known for their striking gold-to-green eyes, while blue eyes are usually linked to white coats or pointed patterns.

Fun fact: the intensity of color doesn’t fully stabilize until 3-4 months, sometimes later. Breeders often wait until this stage before noting the "official" eye color in pedigrees.

Why the Change Happens
The cells responsible for eye color are melanocytes - the same ones that influence coat shade and skin pigment.

In kittens, these cells are still "waking up" in the iris. Depending on genetics, they may produce a flood of melanin (deep amber eyes) or just a hint (pale green).

That Awkward In-Between Stage
Owners sometimes notice a strange grayish or muddy cast in the eyes during the transition. Perfectly normal!

By adulthood, Maine Coon eyes often glow like gemstones against their big, expressive faces.

A Rare Note on Odd-Eyes
While not common in Maine Coons, heterochromia (two different eye colors) does occur.

It's almost always linked to white coats and happens when melanin only develops in one eye.

So, if you’re waiting on a kitten, enjoy those baby blues while they last. For most, they’re a fleeting phase - one of the hidden chapters of kittenhood.

Breed Standard & Eye Color

According to the Maine Coon breed standard, eye color varies widely: shades of green, gold, and copper are common. White-coated cats, however, may have blue or even odd-colored eyes.

That's why seeing a Maine Coon with true blue eyes is such a rare treat. It usually means the cat is:

• Solid white
• A bicolor or particolor with extensive white

In these cases, you might find one or both eyes blue. Odd-eyes (one blue, one green/gold) add even more uniqueness.

Blue Eyes & Deafness in White Maine Coons

You may have heard that white cats with blue eyes are always deaf. That's a myth - but with a grain of truth.

There is a genetic link between the gene for solid white coats, blue eyes, and deafness. Here's what research shows:

• Solid white cats with non-blue eyes have only a 17-22% chance of being deaf.
• Pure white cats with blue eyes have a 65-85% chance of being deaf.
• Cats with odd eyes fall somewhere in between. Sometimes, deafness only affects the ear on the same side as the blue eye.

It's also worth noting that even mostly-white cats with small patches of color don’t have the increased deafness risk.

So while a white Maine Coon with blue eyes might be deaf, many live full, healthy, and happy lives.

A Real Example: Toebee

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So, while most kittens’ baby blues fade, a few Maine Coons keep that rare eye color into adulthood.

It usually comes with a white coat (sometimes odd eyes too) and, yes, a higher chance of deafness - though many live perfectly normal lives.

A Maine Coon with blue eyes is truly a one-of-a-kind sight!

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