The orange Maine Coon might be one of the most stunning and eye-catching cats we know of. How can one not notice a huge, walking flaming hot Cheeto?
Their gorgeous deep, rich orange color makes them one of the most sought-after Maine Coons within the breed, with many varying patterns and shades.
So in case you’re planning to get an orange Maine Coon or you’re new to this majestic breed, buckle up – this post has got everything you need to know about these ginger beauties.
What are their varying color classes? How rare and popular are they? Are they really as feisty as people claim them to be? I’ll discuss all of that and the somewhat complicated science behind orange coat genetics in detail below.
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Is it Orange, Ginger, or Red?
The orange cat probably has more nicknames than your favorite rockstar. Some call it ginger, while others call it red. To make things worse, many people even resort to the terms marmalade, yellow, or butterscotch, making it all more confusing.
To clear things out, ginger, orange, marmalade and red Maine Coons are all the same – they’re just called different names in different areas of the world. Meanwhile, butterscotch may refer to the diluted orange shade, otherwise known as cream and sometimes buff.
Red is the scientific term as the pigment that results in the orange shade is red. Visually, though, the color is more of a deep orange and sometimes light ginger, so for the sake of this post (and to not create further confusion), I’ll be using the term orange.
Where Do Ginger Maine Get Their Color and Pattern From?
To really understand where this gorgeous pigment comes from in Maine Coons, we need to get into the genetics behind it.
The pigment that results in red fur is called pheomelanin, and the gene responsible for the formation of this pigment is called ‘O’ – a dominant allele. It blocks all black pigment from appearing and only allows for red to form.
This gene also has a recessive allele ‘o’, which results in non-orange fur i.e. brown and black. So Maine Coons that have the O/o gene set – the dominant and recessive allele, both – will be both orange and with patches of black and brown fur. This pattern is known as tortoiseshell, but we won’t get into that in this post.
Why All Orange Maine Coons Are Tabbies？
Here’s where things get tricky. Every orange Maine Coon, or any orange cat for that matter, is always a tabby. Tabby cats have distinctive dark markings and stripes on their bodies, as discussed in the later sections of this post.
You will never come across a solid orange cat without any pattern at all. To understand why, you must know the functions of the agouti and non-agouti genes.
The agouti gene ‘A’ – a dominant allele – is responsible for the tabby pattern. It causes varying pigments in a single strand of hair, so you can see alternative stripes of red, black, and yellow on each hair.
Meanwhile, the recessive allele of this gene ‘a’ – non-agouti – suppresses this shift in colors and results in a hair that’s a solid color from the base to the tip, hiding the tabby pattern. So all Maine Coons that are solid in color will have the a/a gene set.
However, one exception to the a/a gene’s effect is the dominant allele ‘O’. The ’O’ gene is epistatic – it overpowers the non-agouti gene and results in a tabby pattern anyway. So every orange cat ever is a tabby – it doesn’t matter if their genetic makeup is a/a or A/A.
Even if your Orange Maine Coon is termed as solid, it will still have faint stripes and markings on its legs and tail at least. This barely visible pattern is known as ‘ghost markings’, just because they’re only visible if you look close or when the cat is under sunlight.
How Common Are Orange Maine Coons?
Orange Maine Coons are pretty common and also popular among breeders. The brilliant shades of orange with beautiful deep red markings make these Maine Coons one of the most sought-after picks. Who wouldn’t want a real-life version of Garfield?
Solid orange Maine Coons (who still have faint markings) are slightly less common but are still readily available from breeders. They’re just more in demand, so people often have to go on long waiting lists to get their orange fur baby.
What’s really rare is an orange female Maine Coon. In fact, most orange cats are male, and only a mere 20% turn out to be females. As someone waiting to adopt a female orange Maine Coon, you can imagine how hard it must be to find this rare beauty.
Why Female Copper Cats Are Rare？
Buckle up because things are about to get very science-y. The reason why a good majority of orange Maine Coons are male is because the O gene for orange is sex-linked. A sex-linked gene means that it’s located on either of the two chromosomes – X or Y – and in this case, O is located on the X chromosomes.
Now, males have the XY gene set and females have XX. This means that male cats only need one copy of the O gene in order to have orange fur. They can also inherit the recessive gene ‘o’, which results in no orange fur, so a male Maine Coon is either orange or black/brown.
Moreover, male cats only inherit color genes from their mothers, so it really doesn’t matter what color their fathers are.
In female Maine Coons, it’s slightly complicated, as they inherit color genes from both parents, not just the mother. Since they have two X chromosomes, they need two copies of the dominant O gene from both of their parents in order to have an orange coat.
This means that the father MUST be an orange Maine Coon and the mother MUST be either orange or a tortoiseshell for there to be a possibility of a female orange.
Females can also inherit both alleles at the same time – O and o – which means that the fur is orange and non-orange. This results in the tortoiseshell pattern. Since they can inherit both, the chances of a female to be fully orange are further reduced.
When you think about the various factors involved with the O gene’s effect, it’s no wonder why there are so few female orange Maine Coons.
Orange Maine Coon Color Classes
As mentioned earlier, orange Maine Coons are all tabby cats. Tabbies are classified as cats with dark stripes and specific markings on their coat. One of these includes the ‘M’ shape on the forehead – the most distinctive and striking feature of a tabby.
The Cat Fanciers Association classifies orange tabbies into three main categories – the classic, mackerel, and ticked. Meanwhile, orange can also be found in more diluted forms that fall under the cameo and smoke categories. These shades technically aren’t a true orange, but some people still refer to them as orange Maine Coons.
1. Orange Classic Tabby Maine Coon
The orange classic tabby has one of the most stunning patterns ever. With orange as the base color, these Maine Coons have the M marking right above the eyes in a deep, rich orange shade.
The fur on the back has an intricate butterfly-shaped pattern, with three stripes running down on each side. You’ll also find patches of dark orange on the sides separated by the base orange shade.
Classic tabbies have leg bracelets in deep orange running up to meet long unbroken bracelets across the chest and the neck. The cheeks have beautiful swirls of dark orange and the tails have dark rings evenly spaced out. All of these markings with the blend of light and deep orange make for a captivating pattern.
2. Orange Mackerel Tabby Maine Coon
The reason this pattern is called mackerel is because it resembles a fish skeleton. Orange Maine Coons that are mackerel have the usual M marking on their forehead as classic tabbies, but their neck and chest bracelets are much thinner.
The main difference, though, is the pattern on their back. An unbroken deep orange colored line runs down their spine. Many narrow lines emerge from this, running down the sides of the body. These dark lines are, of course, separated by the base orange color.
This pattern can make orange Maine Coons look like mini tigers sometimes!
3. Orange Ticked Tabby Maine Coon
Some orange Maine Coons look like solid at first sight, but in reality, they’re just ticked tabbies. The ticked pattern shows no well-defined pattern or markings on the body. Instead, each individual strand of hair has alternate banding of orange and deep orange, otherwise called ‘ticking’.
While there are no visible patterns or stripes, ticked orange tabbies do have the M marking on their forehead, as well as faint bracelets on the legs. This is known as the ghost markings I mentioned earlier. You may also notice darkened fur along the spine/back area.
4. Orange Tabby and White
The orange tabby with white is a separate color class within most Maine Coon breed standards. These cats can either have classic, ticked, or mackerel patterns, with the base color as orange and deep orange markings.
The only difference is that these Maine Coons also have areas of white fur in their coats, found on the chest, belly, and all four feet. This is also known as bi-color and is as beautiful as any other orange tabby.
5. Other Varieties that Include the Orange Color
There are other categories of Maine Coons that include a good majority of the orange tone but are not technically considered orange cats. The first such category is the cameo tabby, which has an off-white ground color, but the markings and stripes are orange. They can either be classic, mackerel, or ticked, giving a very orange overall look to the Maine Coon.
The second is the cameo smoke, where the base of the hair is a stunning silvery white with the tips shaded orange. So only when your Maine Coon moves or the hair is parted will you be able to see a white undercoat. Otherwise, such cats look pretty orange, and some of them may also have very light ghost markings like those of tabbies.
There are other varieties too, such as the shaded cameo or the red and white Maine Coon (non-tabby), but they have too little orange to be visually considered an orange cat.
Is the Orange Cat Personality Any Different?
Many people claim that orange cats are more mischievous and ‘troublemakers’. However, orange is just a coat color – it doesn’t determine a cat’s personality traits.
A 2015 study delves into people’s perceptions of a cat’s personality based on coat color. The majority viewed orange cats as more friendly and less aloof. Yet, it’s vital to understand that this is subjective, lacking scientific evidence linking a cat’s color to its behavior.
The same holds for orange Maine Coons. Some may exhibit more spirited and mischievous behavior, while others are exceptionally well-mannered, affectionate, and avid cuddlers. It hinges on the cat’s individual personality and breed, unrelated to coat colors.
With orange Maine Coons, you’re likely to encounter an outgoing and energetic feline companion, fond of human interaction, craving attention, and potentially fixated on flowing water.
Have Special Grooming Needs?
Orange Maine Coons share grooming requirements with their counterparts. Unlike white felines, special shampoos or conditioners aren’t necessary for their coats.
Regularly bathing them with a nourishing and moisturizing shampoo, frequent brushing (minimum 4-5 times weekly), and a diet abundant in omega-3 fatty acids and high-quality protein suffice.
Final Thoughts
The orange tabby Maine Coon is quite like the real-life version of Puss in Boots – they’re extroverted, adventurous, and absolutely sweet when they want to be, just like the beloved movie character.
The beautiful deep orange striping and blend of other orange tones make these Maine Coons very dazzling, to say the least. It’s no wonder why this coat is one of the most sought-after within the breed.
Luckily, orange males are easily available at every cattery that breeds Maine Coons, and you can find a reputable breeder on TICA’s webpage.
If you’re keen on uncovering more about the origins, genetics, and personalities of Orange Coons, feel free to check out the article: Orange Main Coons Explored: Ginger Kitty Ninjas.
