Orange Maine Coon cats come in various shades and patterns and are generally known as ginger whilst officially being referred to as red.
A true orange Maine Coon has a bright, vibrant-colored coat. When humans have hair of this shade, they’re often called redheads, and red is the color class that orange fur falls into.
Are true orange Maine Coon cats rare?
Orange Maine Coon cats are rare because they only happen when a cat has specific amounts of two pigments: pheomelanin which produces shades of ginger and eumelanin which is responsible for dark fur. When the balance is just right, a bright orange Maine Coon is born.
Orange Maine Coons are not classified by cat clubs because cats with vibrant orange fur are actually known as red.
What does an orange Maine Coon kitten look like
An orange Maine Coon kitten looks like a short-haired version of an adult orange Maine Coon. It will often have shorter fur during the first 6 months of its life, meaning any pattern in its coat is easy to spot. An orange Maine Coon kitten’s fur often turns darker with age.
Like all Maine Coon kittens, the orange variety is energetic and playful. They possess all the traits of other color kittens and develop at the same rate. Some are larger than others because Maine Coons have quite a size range.
In 2005, an orange Maine Coon kitten joined our family and we named him Harry. In the photo above, he is 5 months old and his classic tabby pattern is clearly visible. You can see how he looked when he was fully grown further down.
Orange Maine Coon cat
Orange Maine Coons cats are technically red. The pigment pheomelanin which produces various shades of red color in human hair, is also responsible for the various reds seen in cat fur.
In order for a Maine Coon to have a vivid orange coat, the level of pheomelanin has to be just higher than the dark pigment known as eumelanin. The higher the levels of pheomelanin, the paler the ginger fur becomes.
Orange Maine Coon patterns
There are 6 recognized orange Maine Coon patterns:
- Red classic tabby
- Red mackerel tabby
- Red ticked tabby
- Red tabby and white
- Red smoke
- Red and white (bi-color)
Solid orange Maine Coon
A solid orange Maine Coon has vibrant orange fur of one shade. This means it should have no hint of a pattern and definitely no white fur.
Because the tabby pattern is dominant in red fur, you will rarely see a totally solid orange Maine Coon. They almost always have different shades of orange fur.
Orange tabby Maine Coon
The orange tabby Maine Coon is the most common.
The tabby Maine Coon pattern has three forms:
- Mackerel or striped
- Classic or blotched
- Ticked or agouti
The photo below is our orange classic tabby Maine Coon, Harry, at 4 years of age. He’s sitting on a bird box – fortunately, no birds were living there at the time!
Orange and white Maine Coon
Maine Coons can have bi-colored coats so it is possible to find an orange and white Maine Coon. There is no set pattern for this coloring so the amounts of orange and white can vary, making each cat unique.
The white markings of an orange and white Maine Coon include a white muzzle, bib, belly, and paws. Its nose, lips, and paw pads are generally pink or rose-colored.
Orange Maine Coon Prices
You should expect to pay anything from $1000 to $3000 for a purebred orange Maine Coon kitten.
This price range is governed by how experienced the breeder is, what is included with the purchase and how much demand there is for an orange Maine Coon cat at the time.
A new breeder may charge less for a Maine Coon until they feel experienced enough to charge more.
Some breeders spay or neuter kittens before selling them which adds to the price.
If a breeder receives a lot of interest in orange Maine Coon kittens, they may increase the price simply because they can.
Is orange the rarest Maine Coon color?
The rarest Maine Coon color is solid orange (also known as solid red). This is followed closely by solid black.
Of course, at times, other colors can be rare because breeders can never guarantee the colors of their kittens. They can aim to produce certain types but cat genetics are quite complicated and not easy to manipulate.
Orange Maine Coon: conclusion
Though some Maine Coons are referred to as orange they are not the bright color of the peel of the popular fruit. This vivid color is really just a shade of red.
Orange Maine Coons, are just like any other Maine Coons in size, personality and health. They are particularly stunning and happen to be a favorite of many people.
If you ever own an orange Maine Coon, don’t be fooled – it is actually you who will be owned!