Maine Coon enthusiasts know that when you talk about gray-colored Maine Coons, you are actually referring to “Blue Maine Coons”. The Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) officially classifies “gray” Maine Coon into the color Blue. The same is true for orange or ginger Maine Coons, which are officially named and classified as Red.
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Decoding the Genetic Blueprint
Gray Maine Coons are called “Blue” instead of “Gray” because it is a dilute black that has a bluish-gray appearance in some lighting. The dilution is due to genetics. The intensity of the two cat pigments (eumelanin/black pigment and pheomelanin/red pigment) responsible for the cat’s fur color is what’s responsible for the dilution of the black color. Gray or Blue color for Maine Coons therefore represents a Diluted version of Black.
Dilution Gene
The dilution gene (melanophilin) causes the eumelanin to be less intense hence the fur looks more gray. In natural lighting, the gray fur can sometimes be viewed with a bluish hue. The gray can still be used to describe the color of the fur but officially, the term used should be ‘blue’. The ‘blue’ color still stands even though the visual perception of the cat’s fur color is grayish in most lighting conditions. This can be confusing to most people but Cat Lovers and most cat owners are already used to this fact and refer to gray-colored Maine Coons as ‘Blue’.
Trivia: Did you know that calling gray, “blue” is not just limited to Maine Coon and other cat breeds such as British Blue, Blue Persian, and Russian Blue? There are also gray-colored horses, cattle, and even Great Danes but all of them are also called ‘blue’.
Understanding Melanophilin
The gray or blue fur of the Maine Coon is a recessive trait passed on from its parents. Both of the Maine Coon’s parents must carry and pass the melanophilin gene for the Maine Coon to get the diluted black color (gray/blue).
The melanophilin or diluted gene is not present in all cats even those who have this gene do not necessarily have a diluted colored coat. The diluted color is only possible if both parents have it.
Also, the color of a Maine Coon that has two copies of the genes from its parents doesn’t have uniform colored fur. Instead, it has clumps of fur whose colors have lesser intensity and sometimes have no pigmentation at all, this produces the grayish blue color of their fur that looks blended and has diluted colors.
This dilution is not limited to black. Other colors also result in an entirely different Maine Coon color. Examples are Lilac (diluted Chocolate), Fawn (diluted Cinnamon), and Cream (diluted Red).
How To Breed Gray Or Blue Maine Coon Kittens？
Guessing the color of the resulting Maine Coon kittens can be a little tricky if you don’t know the ‘rules’. If you want to have a gorgeous blue (gray) Maine Coon kitten, just make sure that the mother is a Blue Maine Coon,
Why? Male kittens will always get their colors from the genes they got from their mother. If the mother Maine Coon is Gray/Blue, there is a strong chance that some of the male kittens would inherit this color.
Male kittens would almost always be the same or similar in color (diluted version) to their mother.
Female kittens on the other hand will get one color gene each from both parents. This will result in mixed colors and even unique combinations. If both parents share the same colored fur, then there is a high possibility kittens will have the same color. There is however the tricky recessive gene which might take genes from the parent’s ancestors and pass them on to the kittens.
Therefore, if you want to have gray/blue Maine Coon kittens, make sure that at least the mother is Gray/Blue. This increases the probability of getting kittens with the colored fur you prefer.
Popularity Of A Gray/Blue Maine Coon
Gray Maine Coon is a rather popular color for Maine Coons. In a survey conducted by CrazyAboutCats.net, the color gray/blue (adding both its plain and smoke variety) ranks 3rd overall most popular color variety of Maine Coons. The colors black (including black smoke) and Black and white (Tuxedo) are the only two colors that are ahead of it when it comes to popularity.
The most commonly preferred type of Gray/Blue Maine Coon are the solid-colored ones and the Blue Smoke Variety. However, there are quite a lot of shades of the Gray Maine Coon. For a more comprehensive list of different shades and patterns of the Gray/Blue Maine Coon, Please Click here＞.
Perceived Personality of Gray-colored Coon
Maine Coon comes in a lot of different colors. We all know that personality cannot be dictated in terms of color but a study made in Mexico showed that Gray cats had the highest score for being shy, intolerant, and aloof. This does agree with some articles online describing the Gray-colored cats are often described to be calmer, more reserved, and dignified compared to cats of other colors.
If we correlate this to the actual temperament of Maine Coon, we can say that the level of tolerance may be higher when it comes to Maine coon. Maine Coon, as a breed in general, is known to be the most friendly and most tolerant domestic cat breed. This is most often the reason why parents get this breed if they still have small kids and other pets.
The temperament of Maine Coon cats also aligns with the every gray cat’s personality of being calm and reserved. Gray Maine Coons are said to be very independent but can be playful when they are in the right mood.
A Maine Coon’s color does not influence its personality. A cat’s personality is shaped by genetics and interaction with its family. How you take care and bring up your Maine Coon dictates its temperament and personality.
5 Reasons People Love Gray/Blue Maine Coon Cats
You may be asking yourself, why would you want a Gray Maine Coon? However, there are some reasons behind our preference for certain colors. Below are some of the most common reasons why people prefer the gray/blue Maine coon variety.
1. Minimalistic
Gray/Blue Maine Coons are preferred by people who love minimalistic looks in their homes, designs, and the color of their pets. Instead of going for multicolored cats, they prefer muted or diluted colors. In terms of diluted colors, the most popular of course is Gray/Blue. Other diluted colors include Lilac, Fawn, and Cream.
2. Photogenic
The muted colors of the Gray/Blue Maine Coon is perfect for those who love pet photography. They are very photogenic in almost all types of lighting conditions. Their eye color stands out more if their coat is gray/blue.
3. Calming Effect
The cool tones of gray/bluish hue of the Maine Coon’s coat have a calming effect on some people. Gray color in general, has a calming, soothing, relaxing, and stabilizing effect on people. The lighter the gray hue, the more it provides a relaxing effect for people who look at the Maine Coon. This plus its purring can help people instantly feel content and relaxed.
4. Perceived Cleanliness
Lighter and diluted colors like Gray/Blue gives the impression of cleanliness which may influence the preference of people who love that their Maine Coon looks clean.
5. Classic Look and Elegance
The gray/Blue colors of Maine Coon give it an elegant and refined appearance. The Maine Coon’s majestic appearance is further solidified by the regal tones of gray or blue.
To Sum It Up
In conclusion, Gray colored cats are called Blue because they are seen as bluish in certain lighting. Blue is also the official color name for most Cat and Feline Associations. Gray-colored cats are actually Black cats with dilution genes. This dilutes the color of the Maine Coon from black to gray.
Gray Maine Coons are easy to breed for as long as both parents are also Gray (with the dilution gene), or at least the mother cat is Gray (or Black with a history of dilution genes).
According to a study, Gray cats had the highest score for being shy, intolerant, and aloof and are described to be calmer, more reserved, and dignified. The personality and temperament of a Maine Coon is influenced by the environment they are in. And this includes their family members and other pets around them.
If you’re curious to learn more about the captivating fur color of grey/blue Maine Coon cats, don’t hesitate to check out on our website.
