Blue Maine Coon Cat: Comprehensive Guide
The Blue Maine Coon is an American native cat breed hailing from the state of Maine in the United States. Maine Coon is one of the largest feline breeds globally. It has long fur and its captivating smokey blue hue give its majestic appearance, making it a favorite among people who appreciate Maine Coons.
If you’re thinking about bringing a Blue Maine Coon into your home but would like to delve deeper into its background and other details, keep reading as we discuss its origin and how it became so popular, and many other cool facts that will help you make an informed purchase.
Origins and Early History of the Blue Maine Coon Cat
The Maine Coon is considered one of the oldest cat breeds in the United States, including the blue variety. Unfortunately, the exact origin remains unrecorded, breeders generally believe it’s likely a close relative of the Norwegian Forest Cat and the Siberian.
It was a popular breed especially in cat shows during the 1800s but the breed faced a challenging period at the turn of the century when other more favorable cat breeds in America led to the decline, almost causing its extinction. Fortunately, the Blue Maine Coon slowly made a comeback, and today it is one of the most admired cat breeds in America.
The Rising Fame of Blue Maine Coon Cats
The Blue Maine Coon gained massive popularity due to its substantial size and long fur, making it look like a giant teddy bear. Initially in the 1800s, people loved having it as a pet, and garnered attention at cat shows.
But then Maine Coon faded into the background and other cat breeds like Angora and Persian cats became more popular. Fortunately, people started loving it again because of its affable nature, especially with kids.
Now, it is one of the most sought-after cat breeds, not just in the United States but all over the world. And guess what? It’s not just popular, but it is also one of the biggest cat breeds.
Formal Approval of The Blue Maine Coon by The Cat Association
The American Cat Fanciers’ Association officially acknowledged Maine Coon cats, especially the blue ones. They are in various colors, excluding lilac, chocolate, and the color point patterns. In 1968, six cat lovers launched the Maine Coon Breeders and Fanciers’ Association. Over time, this association flourished, getting over 1,000 fans and 200 breeders. Since 1980, all the major cat clubs have approved of the Maine Coon.
Spotting A Blue Maine Coon Cat
The term “Blue Maine Coon” is an official solid color class that refers to the Maine Coon cats with solid blue fur, as recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association. Despite being less rare, people commonly mistake them for gray Maine Coons. It is important to note that only solid blue Maine Coons have a striking blue color.
Just like other Maine Coon colors, the blue Maine Coon has many different shades, like blue smoke, blue Tabby, and blue cream. They are all forms of gray, people might mistakenly call them “gray” rather than blue.
According to the Cat Fanciers Association, the blue Maine Coon is included in these color categories:
- Solid Color (one single color)
- Tabby (striped or swirled patterns)
- Bi-color (two colors)
- Parti-color (multiple colors in distinct patches)
So, if you come across a blue Maine Coon, you can use these categories to understand its color and appreciate the different types of them.
Understanding Blue Colors in Maine Coon Cats
To understand how many different blue colors there are in Maine Coon cats, let’s take a closer look at each type.
1. Solid Blue Maine Coon
If a Maine Coon is entirely blue, from its nose to tail, with blue nose and paw leather, it falls into the “solid blue Maine Coon” category.
According to the Cat Fanciers Association, these cats usually have eyes that are either green or gold.
2. Blue Tabby
A blue tabby Maine Coon has a fur pattern with classic, ticked, or mackerel designs. Their fur contains deep blue markings with a pale bluish ivory ground color. They might have a white trim around their chin and lips.
The blue tabby Maine Coon is stunningly beautiful displaying warm fawn or patina shades. They also have rose paw pads and an old rose nose.
3. Blue Patched Tabby
Just like the blue tabby, the blue patched tabby contains patches of cream.
4. Other Tabbies
There are two types of Maine Coons listed in the Cat Fanciers’ Associations classification: tabby and white, and patched tabby and white.
Both of them possess classic, mackerel, or ticked patterns in their fur.
They have the same coloring as the regular tabby or patched tabby and are permitted with or without white on their faces. Both color variations feature white on their bibs, all four paws, and bellies.
5. Blue Silver Tabby
The blue-silver tabby has deep blue markings that stand out beautifully against its background. Their fur displays classic, mackerel, or ticked patterns, with paw pads that often have a rosy tint.
Their nose has an old rose color, and some individuals may exhibit white trim around their lips and chin.
6. Blue Silver Patched Tabby
The blue silver patched tabby resembles the blue silver tabby. Their fur has a classic, mackerel, ticked pattern, and it’s a mix of deep blue markings mixed with cream patches. They have a distinctive white undercoat, and their nose has an old rose color, along with paw pads in shades of rose and/or pink.
This particular blue Maine Coon has a silver, pale background color, with white trim around the chin and lips.
7. Dilute Calico
The dilute calico showcases a primarily white coat, adorned with patches of blue and cream and mainly white underparts.
8. Blue Cream
The blue cream Maine Coon seems blue, embellished with gentle mixes of cream patches or cream-colored fur.
9. Blue and White Maine Coon
The blue and white Maine Coon is recognized by its blend of blue and white fur. They showcase white on all four paws, bellies, and bibs, and some individuals may also have white markings on their faces.
10. Chinchilla Blue Silver
Some Maine Coon like chinchilla blue silver are not very common, so they might come with a higher price. They fit into the shaded and smoke-colored group. People love them because their shiny silver look creates an awesome impression.
These cats have an entirely white chin, chest, ear tufts, and stomach. Their nose and paw pads have a rosy color. The region around their eyes, nose, and lips has a blue outline, and their back, sides, head, and tail often have a fragment of blue on the tips.
11. Blue Cream and White Maine Coon
Frequently referred to as the blue-cream Maine Coon. White spots can be found on all four paws, their bib (chest area), and belly.
12. Shaded Smoke and White Color Class
Some of these cats have white on their faces, others do not. Numerous have blue patches or shades of cream running through their fur. All four paws, the belly, and the bib tend to have white on them. The Dilute Calico Smoke has mostly white fur below.
13. Various Shaded and Smoke Colors in Maine Coons
The Shaded and Smoke color class in Maine Coon cats covers a variety of attractive shades, such as:
- Blue Smoke
- Blue Cream Smoke
- Shaded Blue Silver
- Shell Blue-Cream
- Shaded Blue-Cream
They all have a white undercoat, some of which are deeply tinged in blue. Their paw pads and nose leather can be blue to rose in color. Most have white ear tufts.
Unique Characteristics of Each Type:
Blue Smoke: The “blue smoke” appears blue when resting. A narrow band of white hairs is found next to the skin when the fur is parted.
Blue Cream Smoke: The “blue-cream smoke” looks blue-cream when stationary. A narrow white undercoat becomes evident when they are moving.
Shaded Blue Silver: Their legs match their face tone, with preferred blue outlines around their lips, eyes, and nose.
Shell Blue Cream: The “shell blue cream” has flanks, tail, and back tipped with blue and shades of cream. Some have a soft shading on the face and legs.
Shaded Blue Cream: Unique because they contain blue and cream shading along the tail, face, and sides.
10 Fascinating Facts About Blue Maine Coon Cats
- Many people refer to the Maine Coon breed as a “gentle giant.”
- A Maine Coon cat Stewie grasps the Guinness World record for the longest cat measuring more than 4 feet at 48.5 inches.
- Maine Coon is native to the American state of Maine.
- There are many stories about the origin of the Maine Coon. One tale suggests that in the 1700s, the Queen of France, Marie Antoinette, was responsible for the creation of Maine Coon. According to the story, Marie Antoinette was trying to escape and sent her belongings, including six Turkish Angora cats on a ship sailing for the Americas. Even though she was imprisoned before leaving, her cats might have mated with local wildcats, making the Maine Coon.
- A Maine Coon named Cosey won the first-ever cat show in 1895.
- Maine Coon is quite healthy, often living more than 13 years.
- Only solid Blue Maine Coons have a beautiful blue color. Bi-color cats display a similar gray shade.
- The Maine Coon is the second-largest breed in size, relative to the Savannah cat.
- These cats possess thick fur to protect them from harsh weather and even curl their tail over their body to stay warm.
Investigating the Distinctive Qualities of Blue Maine Coon Cats
The Blue Maine Coon is a special variety of the Maine Coon breed, valued for its unique blue-gray coat color. Let’s discuss some characteristics that make the Maine Coon Blue a stunning cat.
The Blue Maine Coon cat is a big, robust cat with a broad chest and a long, bushy tail. Along the cool blue-gray fur, the eyes can range from green, gold, or copper, making them more attractive.
The coat is thick and water-resistant, keeping them warm in cold weather. The fur is shorter around the shoulders and longer towards the rear and tail. Brushing their fur regularly is essential to keep it smooth and knot-free.
Personality: Blue Maine Coon cats are affectionate, friendly, and social, making them good for families. They are smart, easily trainable, and often called “gentle giants.”
Size: Maine Coons are famous as one of the biggest cat breeds. Males weigh around 13-18 pounds and females weigh 8-12 pounds.
Lifespan: Maine Coons live an average of 12-15 years. Some Blue Maine Coon can live into their late teens with proper care and regular veterinary checkups.
Activity Level: Blue Maine Coon cat is not as active as some other cat breeds, but they are still moderately energetic and enjoy playing and interactive toys.
It is important to remember that Blue Maine Coon might look different but it’s still a Maine Coon, so most things like characteristics and care remain the same. The main difference which makes the Blue Maine Coon rare is their cool blue-gray coat color.
Health Issues Blue Maine Coon Cat Can Face
The Blue Maine Coon, similar to other Maine Coon cats, lives around 12 to 15 years. There are some health issues you should know to keep your cat healthy.
Here are some health problems Maine Coon Blue may face:
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA): It is a rare genetic disease that affects the nerves in the spine. It can cause muscle weakness and affect the cat’s mobility.
- Hip Dysplasia: It is a condition in which hip joints don’t form well, and it can lead to pain and arthritis as the cat gets older.
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: It is a heart disease that affects the heart muscles. The muscles thicken, leading to problems with pumping blood.
Good breeding can minimize the risk of these problems. When getting a cat, it is important to ask your breeder about tests for these diseases and the health of the cat’s parents. Proper veterinary check-ups, a balanced diet, and managing your cat’s weight can also avoid health problems and ensure your Blue Maine Coon cat has a healthier and happier life.
See Also: Are Maine Coon Hypollergenic.
Grooming Of Blue Maine Coon Cats
Grooming your Blue Maine Coon cat is important for their good health. Following are some health tips for your Blue Maine Coon.
- Bathing: Maine Coons enjoy the water, but it is not necessary to bathe them regularly. Bathe can be given to extract all the dirt and grease or to assist with shedding.
- Brushing: Brushing helps in removing loose hair and avoiding matting. Do it 2-3 times a week using a slicker brush or stainless steel comb.
- Dental and Ear Care: Clean your cat’s ears frequently to avoid ear infections. Brush their teeth with pet-friendly toothpaste.
- Nail Trimming: Every 2-3 weeks trim your cat’s claws to avoid injuries and overgrowth.
It is important to give your cat a good environment for their growth. Provide them with interactive toys so they can play. A cat tree and scratchers help your cat stay active. Visit your vet and discuss the best-balanced diet for your cat.
Price Of Blue Maine Coon Cat
Owning a Blue Maine Coon cat can be costly that can range from $400 to $2500. Their price range depends on many factors like vaccination, genetics, and certification. Cats with legitimate pedigrees might cost more.
There are various types of Maine Coons with different prices. Following are some prices you can expect for each option.
- Purebred Kitten: $1000 or £811
- Purebred cats: $600 or £487
- Non-spayed/Non-neutered kitten: $2000-$2500 or £1561-£2500 Show cats: $2500 or £1952.
- Mixed Maine Coon: Prices vary
Consider your budget when deciding on the right Maine Coon for you.
The Genetic of Blue Maine Coon Cats
Understanding the genetics of Blue Maine Coon can be a bit complex. Many different traits can be found in their genes, some dominant and some more recessive traits. To understand the origin of the Blue Maine Coon cat, we look at their genetics.
To understand cat genetics, it is important to know about some key terms.
Pattern: Pattern indicates whether the Maine Coon cat is shaded, tabby, smoked, or other patterns.
Color: The color refers to the cat’s solid color e.g. whether it is blue, black, red, cream, etc.
Color/Pattern: This term is used when both the color and pattern are influenced.
Now, you must understand the genetic differences between the male and female cats:
Male: Male kittens receive their color genes solely from their mother (also referred to as ‘the dam’). This leads to the male offspring being either the color of the dam or one of the colors. It happened especially in the case of parti-color, or the dilute form of the dam’s color.
Female: In contrast, female kittens take a color gene from both parents. This is important since it means that females always share a combination of the dam’s and sire’s colors or a diluted form of both.
Conclusion
Blue Maine Coon cat is a unique and captivating variation of the Maine Coon cat breed. Their size is remarkable, gentle personality, and striking blue-gray coat. They have gained popularity among cat admirers.
Some characteristic features of Blue Maine Coons include their strong build, fluffy tails, and large and tufted ears. They are famous for their playful and sociable nature. They get along with both pets and people. However, maintaining their fur and overall health requires proper grooming.
The origin of the Blue Maine Coon cat remains a topic of discussion, their undeniable allure and beauty consistently captivate cat lovers globally. Having a Blue Maine Coon as a pet is a wonderful experience for those seeking a loyal, and impressive feline companion.
Looking for more Maine Coon colors? Our guide covers a lot, including orange, white, black smoke, grey, and more!
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Blue Maine Coons hard to find?
Blue Maine Coons are not as common as other colors, but they are not considered extremely rare. They are a unique and desired variation within the Maine Coon breed.
What makes Maine Coon special?
Maine Coons are famous as a “gentle giant” of the cat world. They are known as easygoing, they are easy to train, making them one of the most popular breeds.
What is the preferred diet for Blue Maine Coons?
Maine Coons prefer a diet rich in fish or meat, as these sources provide vital amino acids, such as taurine, important for their energy levels and muscle development.
