Maine Coons originated in North America but now these popular pet cats can be found in homes throughout the world. They are perhaps best known for being rather large and possessing fabulous thick fur coats that come in at least 75 different colors and patterns. People ask many questions about the colors of these stunning cats including, “Can a Maine Coon be black?“
Yes, a Maine Coon cat can be black and this particular color has two variations: solid black where every hair on the cat is coal-black from root to tip, and black smoke where the cat appears black but has a lighter undercoat on closer inspection.
There are many other Maine Coon coat patterns that also feature black fur. All are described below.
Black and Part Black Maine Coon Cats
Apart from the all-black Maine Coon, there are several other Maine Coon coat variations, where black is a featured color, as follows:
Solid Black Maine Coons
The solid black Maine coon has a beautiful dense coat, coal-black from roots to tips without a hint of any other color. Solid blacks also have black nose leather and black or brown paw pads.
Their eyes look particularly stunning against their dark coats and range from shades of green to shades of amber and orange. Solid black Maine Coons have an air of mystery and intrigue surrounding them, perhaps because of the historic association of black cats with superstitions – more about this later.
Black Smoke Maine Coons
The Black Smoke Maine Coon looks black and grey when in motion. On closer inspection, their fur is white at the roots and black at the tips with the color change starting approximately halfway along each hair shaft. When they sit still, black smoke Maine Coons can be mistaken for solid blacks but as soon as they move, their white undercoat shows giving the impression of a black and grey coat. A Black Smoke Maine Coon has black nose leather and black paw pads.
Black Smoke and White Maine Coons
Black Smoke and White Maine Coons have the same coat as Black Smokes and may or may not have white on their faces. They always have white fur on their bib, belly, and all four paws. Their noses and paw pads are black.
Black and White (Bi-Color) Maine Coons
Black and white Maine Coons are classed as bi-color and have a combination of black and white fur. Some cats have white on their faces and some don’t. They will have white on their bib, belly, and all four paws.
Brown Tabby Maine Coons
Brown Tabby Maine Coons are one of the most common of this breed and can have one of three coat patterns: classic, mackerel and ticked. Their fur is brown with dense black markings.
Silver Tabby Maine Coons
Silver Tabby Maine Coons also have one of three patterns: classic, mackerel and ticked. Their fur is pale silver with dense black markings.
Tortoiseshell Maine Coons
Tortoiseshell Maine Coons have black coats with patches of red or intermingled with red fur of different shades.
Calico Maine Coons
Calico Maine Coons have white fur with random patches of black and red. They are virtually always female.
Calico Smoke Maine Coons
Calico smoke Maine Coons are white with random patches of black and shades of red. The black and red patches have a white undercoat. Their undercarriages are predominately white too.
Chinchilla Silver Maine Coons
Chinchilla Silver Maine Coons have a white undercoat. Their backs, flanks, heads, and tails are tipped with black which gives them a sparkling silver appearance. They have brick-red nose leather and black paw pads.
Shaded Silver Maine Coons
Shaded Silver Maine Coons have a white undercoat with black shading down their sides, face, and tail. Their legs are the same tone as their faces. Their overall coloring is much darker than a chinchilla silver. The rims of their eyes, lips, and nose are black. Their nose leather is brick red and their paw pads are black.
Tortie Smoke Maine Coons
Tortie smoke Maine Coons have a white undercoat, with deep black tips and patches of red or intermingled areas of red, sometimes of several shades.
Coat Care
Whichever Maine Coon coat you love, proper grooming is essential. Here’s our favorite grooming tool which gets thousands of excellent reviews on Amazon. We use it every day on our two Maine Coons to keep the knots at bay.
Why do some black cats look brown?
It is claimed that just as the sun can lighten our hair, it can also bleach some color out of a black cat’s coat, changing it into a rusty brown color. There is no real proof of this though.
A black cat is more likely to begin looking a little rusty because of a deficiency of the enzyme tyrosine which is responsible for the production of melanin, the pigment that makes a black cat’s fur black.
As it is melanin that protects cats from the sun (just like with us), take care that a cat with this condition doesn’t suffer from sunburn. So, if your black cat is looking a little rusty it’s a good idea to take it to the vets for a full diagnosis.
Why do people love solid black Maine Coon cats so much?
Black cats have a certain allure and air of mystery surrounding them. There is something quite beguiling about the way their bright eyes pop out from their lush, dark coats. Black cats of any breed are incredibly beautiful and they enter a room as if they own it.
Black cats have been associated with good and evil throughout the ages and there are still various superstitions that surround them. However, their pure black faces, free of any markings, give them an innocent, expressionless appearance.
The black Maine Coon is a favorite among many owners. Its appearance is particularly striking. Many owners of black Maine Coons are certain that the Black Maine Coon differs from its relatives of other colors.
They say they have a tendency to look straight into their owner’s eyes and also love to get up close and personal more so than any other color does.
They claim they just want to be lavished with attention and will go all out to get it. So if you want a really affectionate cat, the black Maine Coon may be just the cat for you.
Black cats are super cool and it’s hard to believe that in the past, black cats were feared and even persecuted. Black cat superstition has deep roots in history and this has led to many misguided ideas about them.
Fortunately, there have also been good black cat superstitions where people have admired and even worshipped them.
Bad Black Cat Superstitions
During the Middle Ages, there were many bad black cat superstitions. Some people bestowed evil qualities upon them. Normans and Germanic people believed that a black cat was a sign that a death would soon occur.
They believed it was a sign of bad luck to come if a black cat crossed your path. These fears eventually spread throughout Europe where they were believed to be true which resulted in the mass killings of black cats.
It’s extremely sad to think about how much beautiful black cats were so misunderstood and mistreated.
Witches and Black Cats
Again in the Middle Ages superstition resulted in the persecution of people as witches. Many people were convinced that black cats were sent by the devil to aid witches in their evil work.
It was also believed that witches could turn themselves into black cats to prowl around casting spells on unsuspecting victims.
Good Luck Black Cats
There have been good luck black cat superstitions too. A black cat on a ship was thought to bring luck on a voyage. If a cat embarked and then stayed on the ship, it was a sign of good luck to come.
But if the cat walked on and then off again, this was taken as a sign that the ship would sink.
The wives of fishermen out at sea had black cats at home as good luck charms to ensure the fishermen’s safe return. Some areas o Europe believed that if a black cat walked toward you, good luck was on its way.
Japan still harbors good black cat superstitions today. They are felt to be symbols of good fortune. The Maneki Neko cat statue sits inside many business premises with one paw up, waving in the good fortune.
Many single women in Japan own black cats because they believe they will attract suitable husbands.
Relates Posts:
Orange Maine Coons are stunning too. For all lots of information on this fabulous color, go straight to The Orange Maine Coon.
Alternatively, if you love cool white cats then White Maine Coon Cats is very informative.
What is the Cats Crying at Night Superstition and does it related to black cats in particular?
People often ask do Maine Coons do this, do Maine Coons do that. Now you can read about the top 44 things that Maine Coons do all in one place!