Contents
Are They Really Blue?
Maine Coon main colors include the colors red, cream, black, white, and blue. If you notice, there is no “gray”. This is because the grayish hue or the dilution of black color is called BLUE when it comes to Maine Coon colors. If you are confused, think of it this way: This is similar to calling orange-colored Maine Coons “red”.
The blue color in Maine Coons is quite subtle and is usually grayish blue rather than the actual blue colors we are familiar with such as Navy Blue, Royal Blue, and Baby Blue.
The “Blue” is the official solid color class accepted by Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) and other feline associations all over the world.
13 Blue MC Styles And Patterns
The Blue Maine Coon has many different styles and patterns.
1. Solid Blue
As the name implies. Solid Blue Color means that the Maine Coon is grayish blue from head to toe, including their tail. The nose, tip of the tail, and their paw pads are also grayish blue.
Their eyes are usually blue while they are kittens and these develop into gold or greenish as they become adults. It takes Maine Coons 5 years to fully develop as an adult. These are the standards set by Cat Fanciers Association for the “Solid Blue” Maine Coon.
2. Blue Tabby
Blue Tabby has a Blue Ivory Base with warm undertones of fawn or patina colors. They may have white trims on their lips and chins as well. Their fur may have the 3 basic patterns of tabbies: classic, ticked, and mackerel.
Since most tabbies have the 3 most common patterns, below we will discuss each one.
- Classic (blotched) – Classic tabbies have complex swirls on their sides and the patterns on the shoulders look like a butterfly pattern. The irregular-sized pattern is the reason why it is sometimes called a ‘blotched’ pattern.
- Mackerel (striped) – Most common type of fur pattern for felines. Thin stripes can be seen on the cat’s back to its belly. These lines seem like fish skeletons which explains the name of the pattern. Because of the stripes, it is also called the ‘striped’ pattern.
- Ticked (agouti) – The ticked pattern is like color bands formed on each fur including rings around the legs and tails. It is commonly called an agouti pattern. Agouti is responsible for the markings a tabby cat has on its fur.
3. Blue Silver Tabby
Blue Silver Tabby has a grayish hue that resembles the color silver. The base is silver with strong blue or gray markings on its fur. Blue & Silver Tabby MC has remarkable blue markings which stand out against its silver background. The patterns may be one or a combination of the 3 main patterns: classic, ticked, or mackerel. They have rose-colored paw pads. Their nose is old rose-colored, with quite a few white trim on the chin area as well as on their lips.
4. Blue Silver Patched Tabby
Blue Silver Patched Tabby looks similar to Blue Silver Tabby except they have cream areas of fur and they have a white undercoat. They also have white fur trim around the mouth and chin area. Their nose and paws are often old-rose colored as well.
5. Blue Patched Tabby
This pattern and color are similar in appearance to the Blue Tabby except for the patches of off-white or cream fur on its body.
6. Blue Patched Tabby and White
This pattern and color is like the previous one, Blue Patched Tabby. The exception is that it has white coloration on its neck and paws. The neck area of a Maine Coon is sometimes called the ‘bib’.
7. Blue Tabby and White
This cat’s fur is similar in apperance to the Blue Patched Tabby and White, except that it doesn’t have patches on its body. It also exhibits white furry bib and white-colored paws and belly.
8. Blue And White (Bi-Color)
This cat’s fur is similar in appearance to the previous one, Blue Tabby and White. The only difference is that it does not have a tabby pattern. Similarly, it has four white paws, a white belly, and a bib. It may also have a few white spots and markings on its face.
9. Blue Cream
Instead of white, this cat has cream-colored patches and patterns on its fur. These beauties are a gorgeous gray-blue color with sumptuous areas of creamy tones on both the body and legs. These cats are one of the most appealing hues in Maine Coons.
In addition, the party color class provides a color/white mix in the following combinations:
- Calico: White with black and red spots and a white underbelly.
- Dilute Calico: The base color of this cat is white. Calico color and patterns can be seen on the cat’s fur with patches of blue fur and some cream. Its belly is also white. This hue is described as faded denim by some, and this variety contains blue and cream spots with white underparts.
Blue Cream and White: More commonly referred to as the blue-cream Maine Coon. All paws are white, plus their bib and belly both have white on them. A stunning combination of blue and cream patches with a spotless white underbelly, stockings, and bib.
10. Chinchilla Blue Silver
This is probably the rarest type of Blue MC. The price may be a little more premium than other colors and patterns. They have a pure whitish undercoat and their fur, head, as well as their tails are usually tipped with both black and silver. These cats have white chins, stomachs, bibs, and their ear tufts. Their paw pads and nose are both colored roses.
Unlike the Blue Smoke, the roots of their fur are dark gray and the tips are silvery.
11. Blue Smoke
A Blue Smoke Maine Coon looks like a solid blue cat when it is not in motion. On closer inspection or when it moves, you can see its coat is white at the roots and blue at the tips. It has gray points and a gray mask on its face. It also has a white ruff and white ear tufts.
12. Shaded Blue Silver
The Shaded Blue & Silver MC have the same color on their legs as that of their face. Based on the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) guidelines, the Shaded Blue & Silver MC should have grayish blue outlines around their lips, eyes and nose.
13. Shell Blue Cream
The Shell Blue Cream Maine Coon Cat has some soft shading on their face and legs. Their tail and back’s fur have blue and cream shades on their tips.
They are like normal Maine Coons. They are usually born with blue eyes. This, however, changes to gold or copper, or even green when they grow into adulthood. Those who have bluish eyes till maturity are in danger of developing a variety of vision disorders (myopia, astigmatism, hyperopia, and even blindness).
To prevent any issues with the eyes of your Maine Coon, make sure you have them checked up regularly especially if the blue eyes do not seem to change while they are growing up.
Are Azure Maine Cats Rare?
They are not rare. Blue is one-fifth of the main colors of the Maine Coon. Red, cream, black, and white are the other four main colors. The rarest colors for Maine Coon are gold and silver.
Cute Names For Blue Maine Coons
There are a lot of appropriate names for your Blue MC but to help you select the perfect name, here are some suggestions.
- Luna – Named after the moon, perfect for your Blue & Silver MC.
- Gandalf – Named after the iconic gray wizard of “The Lord of the Rings.”
- Ash – Perfect for your Blue MC with fur as gray as ashes.
- Cinder – Refers also to Ashes, perfect for your Solid Blue MC.
- Nimbus – Nimbus clouds are gray and fluffy, just like your Blue MC.
- Storm – The beautiful X-Men character can lend her name to your equally stunning Blue MC.
- Grey – Just because you want the color to be obvious.
- Asher – This has “ash” as its root word but the whole name means ‘happy or blessed’.
- BlueSteel – Zoolander fans would know what this is, and if your Blue MC looks so regal like a model, this name is perfect!
Why Is Blue Significant In Cats?
Maine Coons, and generally all cats’ most preferred color is blue. Why? Cats have lower saturation than humans so they do not perceive colors as vividly as intensely as we do. Blue, on the other hand, is a hue that cats can see clearly, therefore it sticks out more.
To Sum It Up
“Blue” Maine Coons have quite an assortment of fur colors and patterns. The Blue in Maine Coon is actually the color gray. This is due to the grayish tone of the fur resembling a bluish color when viewed from a specific angle.
Therefore, when people talk about Blue MC, just know that they aren’t talking about Maine Coons that are literally colored blue. They are talking about Grayish-Blue MCs. If you’d like to learn more about the genetics, personality, and characteristics of Gray/Blue Maine Coons, please click here＞.
Why call them Blue instead of just calling them Gray to avoid confusion? This is probably because many people associate gray with dullness and averageness, and cat enthusiasts from way before want their cats to stand out.
The colors of cats, particularly Maine Coons, are a bit confusing because of calling grayish-colored fur blue. However, there is another confusing color in felines, and that is the color red and orange. These are interchangeable for most people but for cat enthusiasts and owners, they would rather call orange-colored cats, red just as much as they would rather call gray cats, blue.
