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Welcome, Crazy Cat People!
The Maine coon cat is one of the world’s most popular breeds but do we have black Maine coons? What do Black Maine coon cats look like and how popular are they?
I have studied this breed for quite some time and the Maine coon is one of my personal favourites so I have used my knowledge to answer your question!
The pure black coloured Maine coon is one of the rarest colours for this breed and due to their rarity they are often sold at a higher price by most breeders. There are many types of black Maine coon, but the two most common types are the solid black and the black smoke Maine coon.
Later in this post, we look at the average price of a black Maine coon and how you can identify them but we also explore what their personalities are like in a little more detail.
So keep reading my fellow crazy cat people to learn more!
The Different Types of Black Maine Coon Cats
So there are many combinations of Black Maine coon cats, you may even get a white coloured Maine coon with black markings but when we talk of true black Maine coons there are two distinct varieties.
Black Smoke Maine Coon
This is one of the most common black Maine coon cat breeds. Their coats are often an ashy colour and no doubt about it they are stunningly beautiful in every way.
Their coat is a combination of whites and greys, mixed with black colours. They tend to be a little darker around the face with lighter hairs around the chin. The hairs of the smoke black Maine coon are multicoloured and their undercoat will often be an off white and grey colour.
Like most Maine coons their eyes are commonly an amber and golden colour which adds to their natural and stunningly beautiful looks but sometimes their eyes can be a green colour too.
The All Black Maine Coon
The solid black coloured Maine coon is much rarer and often quite difficult to come by.
Unlike the smoke black Maine coon this breed is completely black without an off white undercoat and this solid black colour will travel all over its body from the top of its head to its tail. They almost always have amber or golden eyes and a distinctive black cat look.
If you do spot any other lighter colours in the cat’s hair then they are not a true black Maine coon and are more likely a Smoke black.
I carried out a poll on a popular Maine coon Facebook group and I got 101 responses, I wanted to know What the most popular Maine coon cat colours are.
The results surprised me!
| Blue smoke | Silver | Black smoke | Brown | White | Tuxedo | Tortie | All black | Red | Cream | Mackerel | Grey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7% | 9% | 27% | 8% | 12% | 13% | 1% | 3% | 9% | 1% | 5% | 5% |
As you can see from the table above, the black smoke is one of the most popular colours to have with 27% of all respondents sharing their life with one of these beauties!
Only 3% of Maine coons were pure black which shows just how rare a true black Maine coon cat is.
How Can I Tell If My Black Cat Is a Maine Coon?
Maine coons have some very individual characteristics that will let you know they are a Maine coon.
The first thing you would notice about them especially if they are an adult is their size. The Maine coon is one of the largest domestic cat breeds (5.9 – 8.2 kg (Male, Adult), 3.6 – 5.4 kg (Female, Adult)
It can be very easy to miss-identify and mistake a cat as being a Maine coon as there are other shaggy breeds out there that look similar, however, there are traits that are individual to the Maine coon too which will help you identify them
- Their body shape is often large and muscular and almost a rectangular shape and this is due to the amount of muscle that this breed carries so if your cat is slender and thin they are most probably not a Maine coon.
- Long and shaggy fur – Maine coons have a lot of fur which gets thicker in the winter to protect them from the cold
- They have more fur around their thick bushy tails and their neck which creates the typical Mane seen in this breed
- Maine coons have very large eyes (All the better to see you with my dear)
- Large and fluffy ears – the Maine coon is often compared to a Lynx. Their ears are often very large with little tufty bits at the end
One thing that will distinguish the Maine coon is its personality. They are big friendly giants and their behaviour will be very similar to a puppy.
Friendly, energetic and playful and loyal to the core and unlike some breeds they are not aloof at all.
To find out more about the Maine coons personality please take a look at this post ”Maine coon personality: The ultimate guide”
What Causes a Maine Coon To Be all Black?
For a Maine coon to be black its parents must carry the dominant black gene and it must inherit what is called the non-agouti gene to make sure it doesn’t develop a tabby patterned coat.
You may find some breeders that go out of their way to produce Maine coons in this way but again you are much more likely to find a Maine coon is smoke coloured rather than a pure black cat, this is because finding two pure black Maine coons is not that easy.
Are Black Maine Coon Cats Rare?
Yes, solid black Maine coon cats are very rare but this is not specific just to the Maine coon. Black cats in general are rarer than some of the other colours and some say this is due to less of a demand than some of the other colour combinations.
Believe it or not, there are still some people out there who are suspicious of black cats even to this day which is very sad. I mean come on we are living in the 21st-century folks, not the witch trials!
How Much is A Black Maine Coon Cat?
Maine coon cats are a pedigree breed so generally, they are more expensive to attain than a mixed breed cat.
What we do know is that the rarer a cat is the more expensive they normally are. The price can vary so much and this can depend on several factors such as the cat’s age, their health and if they have had all their vaccinations and been spayed/neutered.
If you get your cat from a registered breeder then you can expect to pay anywhere from $400 – $2000 whereas if you adopt your cat from an animal shelter you may pay anywhere from $50 – $200.
I would always encourage people to adopt a black Maine coon if you are lucky enough to find one but at the same time, I do believe that if you are getting your cat from a reputable and registered breeder then that is okay too.
I know some people are really against obtaining cats from breeders but those kitties do need a home as well!
Are Black Maine Coon Cats Friendly?
Black Maine coos are just as friendly as any other Maine coon.
If you are looking for a breed that is affectionate, loyal and playful you have found the right breed of cat regardless of their colour.
Maine coons get along well with not only humans but they also get along perfectly well with other animals including dogs, they are such a loving breed.
If you have heard that black cats are mean, evil and nasty then a reality check is in order! As I have previously stated we are not in the middle ages anymore and the belief that black cats are less friendly than other colours is pure superstition.
Some of the common black cat myths are
- Black cats are unlucky – Did you know that in Japan black cats are seen as lucky whereas some Italian believe that if a black cat jumps onto the bed of a sick person they will soon die?
- Black cats are witches in disguise
- The Black cat is a demon sent from the pits of hell to assist witches in their dark and evil magic
- In Asia and the U.K., you’re going to be lucky in life if you own a black cat.
So as you can probably see the black cat has had some very negative press in the past but I can assure you the black Maine coon is just as friendly as any other colour.
I share my life with a black female cat called Isis who is named after the Egyptian goddess and she is the most affectionate and loyal cat you could ever meet!
Key Takeaways: Black Maine Coon Cats
- For a pure coal-black Maine coon the parents need to carry the dominant black gene as well as the non-agouti gene
- Smoked colour Maine coon cats are more common than pure black
- Black cats are NOT EVIL, they are beautiful!
- You can expect to pay anywhere from $50 to $2000 for a Black Maine coon.
- If you have a pure black Maine coon please go to my contact me page from my main menu and send me a picture and while you are there feel free to check out all my other posts to learn more about this stunningly beautiful breed 🙂
As always take care of yourself and your little fur babies!
Mark (The Crazy Cat Man)
