The ginger Maine Coon is sometimes referred to as orange, marmalade or sandy but officially this coat color is known as red. Whatever you prefer to call it, red is one of the most striking coat colors to adorn the stunning Maine Coon cat and there are many variations of shades and pattern.
Ginger Maine Coon Coat Variations
There are 5 recognized ginger Maine Coon coat colors:
- Solid Red – this color usually looks to be all one shade of red but there are very slight variations in color on close inspection. You can see an M on the forehead – a classic tabby cat marking in any breed, not just Maine Coons.
- Red Smoke – smoke color coats are one color at the tips but the roots of each strand of fur are lighter
- Red Classic Tabby – a classic tabby has noticeably lighter large red stripes on its body and rings on its legs and tails
- Red Mackerel Tabby – the mackerel pattern is a more distinctive narrow striped pattern on the legs, body, and tail.
- Red Ticked Tabby – this pattern gives the appearance of ticks all over the body with no spots. stripes or blotches of color.
All red coats are tabby on close inspection. When you look closely at a solid red Maine Coon you will notice some hairs are a little lighter than others giving a
The reason for the varying shades and patterns of red fur is down to the amount of red pigment the cat has. The more they possess and the more evenly it is distributed, the more solid red the cat’s coat appears.
This is all linked to genetics which not only control coat colors but also control shade and coat patterns.
Are All Ginger Maine Coon Cats Male?
Not all ginger Maine Coons are male but a ginger cat is more likely to be male than female because of coat color genetics.
In order for a female Maine Coon to be ginger, she needs to inherit two ginger genes – one from her mother (who has to have one ginger gene) and one from her father (who has to be ginger).
For a male Maine Coon to be ginger he needs to inherit only one ginger gene, which he gets from his mother (who must have one ginger gene).
This is because the gene for ginger fur is found on the X chromosome, and like us, female cats have two X chromosomes and males have one X and one Y chromosome.
If you google this subject you will notice a range of probabilities for red Maine Coons being male or female from 1 in 3 to 1 in 5. They can’t all be right.
There is no comprehensive study from a reliable source that I can find to confirm any of these figures categorically but one thing is fairly obvious – the chances of a red Maine Coon be a male
Are Ginger Maine Coon Cats Rare or Common?
Ginger, orange, or red Maine Coons, whatever you prefer to call them, are fairly common with the exception of the solid coat which is rare to find. If you join any Maine Coon owner’s social media group you will see photographs of plenty of them.
It’s impossible to say what percentage of Maine Coons are ginger and I’m pretty sure no-one has carried out a survey on this subject. But if ginger is your preferred Maine Coon color you shouldn’t find it too difficult to find one. Contact plenty of reputable breeders to register your interest and ask them to let you know when any ginger kittens are born.
Nose Leather and Paw Pad color
When talking about a cat’s nose, professionals refer to the color as the color of its nose leather. Some owners endearingly refer to a cat’s paw pads as its toe beans because of their shape.
On red Maine Coons the nose leather and paw pads are also referred to as red in color – but really, on close inspection, both are dark pink.
Eye Color
A Red Maine Coons eyes can be shades of green, amber, copper, gold or orange.
Is There a Link Between The Ginger Maine Coon Coat and Personality?
I speak from experience when I suggest there may be such a thing as a naughty ginger gene! We have owned a red tabby Maine Coon for 14 years and he does seem to get up to a lot of
Red Maine Coons can be feisty, are definitely confident and friendly, are high-energy, and very vocal. It is thought that color and genetics may be linked so it could well be that different colored cats have different personality types.
A cat’s temperament is generally inherited from its parents, regardless of color.
Ginger Cat Names
Our red tabby Maine Coon is called Harry and to this day I don’t know how we chose this name – but it suits him. His official name is Sundew Red Wizard. Here are some names that sound good on a ginger cat:
- Marmaduke
- Marmalade
- Red
- Amber
- Tiger
- Tigger
- Rusty
- Goldie
- Orangina (Gina for short)
Of course, it’s not compulsory to give your Maine Coon a name that has anything to do with its coat color. There are thousands of names to choose from.
Conclusion – Ginger Maine Coon
Red Maine Coons, orange Maine Coons, ginger Maine Coons, whatever you prefer to call this color are fabulous cats and are a pleasure to own. The genetic odds say you’re more likely to get a boy than a girl. Either way, you should end up with a chatty and entertaining cat.
Some Last Tips
Keep your ginger Maine Coon’s coat in tip-top condition with regular brushing. This is my favorite grooming tool, which I use on my Maine Coons on a daily basis to keep them knot-free and keep shedding to a minimum.
Further Reading
Do you love white Maine Coons? Here’s an article with some surprising facts about this color.