Orange Maine Coon Cat Color

When people talk about an orange Maine Coon cat, they're usually describing a red tabby.

"Orange" isn't an official color term in the breed standard, but it's a nickname that plenty of owners use in everyday conversation.

The deep red tabby coat is striking, and it’s easy to see why people reach for a bright, everyday word to describe it.

Why People Say "Orange" - and What It Really Means

Many owners casually describe their fluffy tabby this way, even though breeders don’t use that word at all.

In the world of official cat colors, there’s no such thing - the correct term is Red Tabby.

That's why you'll see two different ways of talking about the same thing. Everyday language leans on "orange," because it feels like the best match for the bright, sunny look of the coat.

Breeders and cat associations, on the other hand, stick with "red," since that’s the recognized color in the standard.

So when you hear someone say orange Maine Coon, what they really mean is a Red Tabby.

If you’d like to see the full breakdown of the genetics, different red patterns, and a gallery of photos, you’ll want to head over to our page on the Red Tabby Color.

My Orange Maine Coon Look-Alike

What About a "Light Orange Maine Coon"?

Sometimes people describe their cat as a light orange Maine Coon, especially if the coat looks more washed out or pastel compared to the rich, fiery Red Tabby.

In most cases, what they're really seeing is a Red Silver Tabby.

The silver undercoat softens the red, giving the overall appearance of a paler orange or even a peachy tone.

Breeders recognize this as one of the silver variations, but to the casual eye it often just looks like a lighter shade of red.

You can see beautiful examples of this color in our Red Silver Maine Coon photo gallery.

From Our Community:

If you describe red or ginger cats the same way, you are not alone! Here are a few comments and submissions from our readers:

Heather, on Chester's page: "our orange M/C runs into the bathroom as soon as he hears the water go on, and sits in the shower as soon as it goes off. Such the water cat! I think he is part Golden Retriever!"

Donna, on our Maine Coon Mix community page: "I recently adopted an orange Maine Coon mix kitten (or at least, I think he is!). He's got fluffy fur, big paws, and little tufts on his ears. He's also a total lap cat but has bursts of energy where he zooms around like crazy.

Mark F, on Tiger's submission: "I would say it is too young to tell by those pictures, especially if you don't know her parentage. [They] can come in most any color or pattern. Mine current coon is pure black, my first was orange tabby. Both were mixes but grew larger than other adult cats..."

Kathy in California shares her boy, Jude: He reached out a paw at the shelter and made the choice himself. "I turned around, and there he was  - a little orange guy with a runny nose," she says. From goofy sleeping positions to photobombing the camera, Jude’s story is one worth reading in full.

Pavel, on our Maine Coon Lifespan section, says of Dewey: "I thought he was grey due to the dirt, but he was actually a beautiful light orange, probably about 1-2 years old."

Truly Grace in Minden, NV has a stunning purebred boy named right after this color! She shared, "My Maine Coon, Karrot - short for 24 Karrot Orange Crush - is 3 years old now, and still full of energy and mischief. He's a beautiful orange boy, always purring and full of love."

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Whether you call them orange, red, or ginger, the meaning is the same - these cats are show-stoppers.

Owners may use different words, but everyone agrees the color is striking and full of personality.

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what you call it, as long as you've got a happy, healthy Coonie by your side.

Curious about more fabulous Coonie colors? We've put together a full guide to all the official Maine Coon colors, from silvers to solids to torties.

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