Maine Coon Central – No.1 Guide to Maine Coon Cats And Kittens. Maine Coon cat breed facts and information.

The orange Maine Coon is commonly confused with the ginger Maine Coon, due to the similarity in their colourings. These gorgeous cats are extremely eye catching. When they look at you with their shiny eyes it's hard not to feel captivated by their beauty. Orange Maine Coon cats are often mistaken for ginger Maine Coons. The Cat Fancier Association breeder colour guide does not recognise orange Maine Coon as being 'orange' though, instead preferring to label them as 'red'. Solid orange Maine Coons are rare. How To Identify An Orange Maine Coon Maine Coons have become increasingly popular over the last few decades, due to their luscious thick fur, gentle personalities and large cat proportions. This highly intelligent cat breed is a real eye turner, and can be found in over 75 different colourings. If you are an indecisive buyer, this amount of choice may cause you a level of distress! According to the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA), the official colour class for the Orange Maine Coon (often called ginger), is actually 'red'. The Red Maine Coon ('Orange') is included within the following four colour classes: Solid Colour Class Red Tabby Colour Class Red Tabby and White Colour Class (including Vans) Bi-Colour Colour Class (including Vans) Orange Maine Coon Red Maine Coon Color Class The table below summarises the color classes that the Orange Maine Coon cat ('RED') may be categorised in, and their associated color criteria (source): Color ClassNameColor CriteriaSolid Color ClassRed* Maine Coon fur should be "deep, rich, clear, brilliant red". No markings, ticking, or shading is permitted within this color group.* Paw pads are 'brick red'* Nose leather must be 'brick red'* Lips and Chin matches the coat colorRed Tabby Color ClassRed Tabby* The CFA classifies the red tabby fur colouring as 'ground colour red (classic, mackerel, ticked)'* Brick red nose leather is desirable* Paw pads ideally also brick red* Lip and chin may have a white trim.* Fur markings will be 'deep, rick red'Red Tabby and White Color Class (including Vans)Red Tabby and White* Same color criteria as the red tabby (above), with or without white on the face (classic, mackerel, ticked)* To be included within this coloring, the Maine Coon must have white markings on all four feet, their belly, and their bibBi-Color Color Class (including Vans)Red and White* Fur will be a mixture of red and white* Both white on face, or no white on face are permitted* All four paws must have white on them* Bib and belly must contain white coloring Maine Coon Colours Also Including Orange According to the Cat Fancier Association, a number of other Maine Coon colourings include an orange tinge of colour within them, though are not classified within their own unique colour class. Take a quick peek at the table below if you would like to buy a Maine Coon with hints of orange in their fur, rather than the more Orange Maine Coon colourings characteristic of the 'Red Maine Coon' classifications above (source). Color ClassNameColor CriteriaBrown Patched Tabby Colour ClassBrown Patched Tabby* Fur is 'ground colour brilliant coppery brown' (classic, mackerel, ticked)* Markings dense black with patches of red.* Nose leather and paw pads should be brown, though black or brick red are idealSilver Patched Tabby ClassSilver Patched Tabby* Fur is clear silver, ground colour pale(classic, mackerel, ticked)* Should have markings that are dense black with patches of red and/or cream. * Lip and chin may have a white trim* Nose leather: brick red desirable. * Paw pads: black and/or pink desirable. All Other Tabby Colour ClassCameo Tabby* Classic, mackerel, ticked: ground color off-white. * Markings red. * Lip and chin may have white trim* It's desirable for the nose leather and paw pads to be rose Parti-Colour Colour ClassTortoiseshell* Fur will be black, with patches of red or softly intermingled areas of red on both the body and the extremities. * The CFA permits the presence of several shades of red. Parti-Colour and White Colour ClassCalico (including vans)* Should be white with un-brindled patches of red and black.* Underparts will be predominantly whiteShaded & Smoke Colour ClassShell Cameo* Known as the red chinchilla* Undercoat will be white* The cats coat on the back, flanks, head, and tail should be tipped with red, creating a sparkling appearance, characteristic of this colouring* Face and legs can be lightly shaded with tipping. * The chin, stomach, ear tufts, and must be white* Nose leather, paw pads and rims of eyes are roseShaded & Smoke Colour ClassShaded Cameo (red shaded)* Undercoat must be white with a mantle of red tipping shading down the sides, tail and face* Face and legs have deeper shading that other parts of the body* Cat will have white chin, ear furnishings, stomach and chest (ruff). * Fur is visibly redder than the shell cameo colour above* Rose nose leather, paw pads and rims of eyesShaded & Smoke Colour ClassShell Tortoiseshell* Undercoat is white. * Coat on the flanks, tail and back is slightly tipped with black, and shades of red. * Face and legs may be lightly shaded with tipping. * Cat will have white chin, furnishings, ears stomach and chest (ruff), which might be very lightly tipped with shading.* Nose leather, paw pads and rims of eyes are rose to black. Can also be patched. Shaded & Smoke Colour ClassShaded Tortoiseshell* White undercoat* 'Mantle of black and red shading down the sides, face and tail. Face and legs may be a deeper shading than the rest of the body. * Chin, stomach, chest (ruff) and ear furnishings, can be white to slightly tipped. * This colour should be far darker than the shell tortoiseshell detailed above.* Rose to black nose leather, rims of eyes and paw pads. Can be patched.Shaded & Smoke Colour ClassCameo Smoke (red smoke)* Undercoat is white, deeply tipped with red. * If the cat is standing still, they will look red. * When the cat is moving, their white undercoat is very clear. * 'Points and mask red with narrow band of white at base of hairs next to skin which may be seen only when fur is parted'. * Rose nose leather, paw pads and rims of eyesShaded & Smoke Colour ClassTortie Smoke* The cats undercoat is white, deeply tipped with black. You will notice patches of red or softly intermingled areas of red on both the extremities and the body * A range of different shades of red is accepted* If stood still, the cat looks tortoiseshell. * When moving, the cats white undercoat is clear* Face and ears have a tortoiseshell pattern with narrow band of white at the base of the hairs next to the skin, only noticeable when you part the fur * Ear tufts and ruff are white* It is desirable for the cat to have a 'blaze of red or cream on face'Shaded/Smoke & White Colour Class (including vans)Shell Cameo and White* Commonly known as the red chinchilla * Colouring the same as Shell Cameo* White may or may not be on cats face* All four paws, belly and bib must have white on themShaded/Smoke & White Colour Class (including vans)Shaded Cameo (red shaded) & White* Same colour as shaded cameo* Face can be with or without white colorings * All four paws, belly and bib must included whiteShaded/Smoke & White Colour Class (including vans)Shell Calico* White, with unbrindled patches of black and shades of red. * The cats coat on their flanks, back and tail should be slightly tipped with black and shades of red. * Face and legs can be softly shaded with tipping. * The cats ear furnishings, chin, chest (ruff) and stomach can be white to very softly tipped with shading. * The underparts of cat should be predominantly whiteShaded/Smoke & White Colour Class (including vans)Shaded Calio* White with unbrindled patches of black and shades of red. * The cat should have a mantle of red and black shading down the tail, sides, and face* Deeper shading on face and legs, than the rest of the cats body. * Ear furnishings, chin, chest (ruff) and stomach might be white, and lightly tipped.* This colour is far darker than the shell calico * Underparts of the cat are mainly whiteShaded/Smoke & White Colour Class (including vans)Calico Smoke* White with unbrindled patches of black and shades of red. * Black and red patches to have a white undercoat.* Underparts of cat are predominantly white Orange Maine Coon Characteristics The orange Maine Coon characteristics are no different to that of the other Maine Coon colours. However, some owners do claim their orange Maine Coons are definitely more naughty! Whether this is true or not, we cannot say, since there is no proof to support such statements. If you have purchased a purebred orange Maine Coon, you should expect them to show the following characteristics: Overly affectionate Loyal Gentle Good with other house pets Playful Good hunters Friendly High Intelligent Love Water Orange Maine Coons make great family pets, and are good around young children because they are not prone to an aggressive nature. a) Overly Affectionate Maine Coons are known for being crazily affectionate towards their owners. Sometimes they just cannot help, but force their affection on you even if you don't want it!! This is a terribly endearing quality of the Maine Coon breed. b) Loyal The Maine Coon is one of the most loyal cat breeds, ever. They love their human families, and rarely stray from their owners side. In fact, if they could spend every waking moment by your side, they more than likely would. They are highly sociable, and will flourish if they are able to spend ample time with their owners. c) Gentle Their soft nature has won them the nickname 'gentle giants'. These large cats are anything but aggressive in nature, and rarely hiss or spit. With such a laid back temperament, it often seems like nothing annoys them! d) Good With Other House Pets Their laidback characteristic makes them one of the best cats to introduce into your home, if you already have another animal living with you. Their nature instinct is to make friends with other animals, so it is unlikely they would cause issue with other pets. e) Playful Maine Coons are known for their playful nature. They are naturally inquisitive, and enjoy exploring and playing for the majority of their lives. f) Good Hunters Maine Coons are notoriously good hunters, so you should expect a few animal 'presents' during their lifetime. Although the sight of a dead animal may make you want to wretch, it is important to understand that your Coon really does just want to show their love for you. g) Friendly If you own a male Maine Coon, you should expect to see them acting considerably more friendly to strangers than their female counterparts. This is not because the female Maine Coons are less friendly, but, actually because they are generally more aloof and wary of new comers. In time, the female Coon will 'warm up'. h) Highly Intelligent The Maine Coon cat breed is known for being immensely intelligent. They can be taught simple tricks and commands, such as 'fetch the ball', or 'no'. i) Love Water Maine Coons are weirdly obsessed with water, they literally love it! They can literally spend long periods of time playing with water i.e. patting it out of the water bowl. Coons are also brilliant swimmers, and many owners report their Maine Coon cats absolutely love to take a splash in the bath! Orange Maine Coon Size Maine Coons are the largest domesticated cat in the world, apart from the Norwegian Forest Cat. Their true lineage remains a mystery, even to this day. Despite this, many folklores still advocate two Maine Coon size theories. The first was that large semi-wild ship cats mated with short-haired domestic cats, when allowed off the Viking Ships. The second idea sees Marie Antoinette's treasured large Angora cats as the answer, believing that these pets reached Wiscasset in Maine, then mated with the local short-haired domestic cats. Whatever the truth, you should expect your Orange Maine Coon to grow into a very large cat, reaching anywhere up to 40 inches in length! Below we discuss the Maine Coon size in greater detail, covering the following areas: Male Maine Coon Size Female Maine Coon Size Orange Maine Coon Weight Orange Maine Coon Length Orange Maine Coon Height a) Male Orange Maine Coon Size To give you a better idea of the average Orange Maine Coons full grown likely weight, height and length, take a look at the tables below. Length (inches)Height (inches)Weight (lbs)19-4010-1615-25 Length (cm)Height (cm)Weight (kg)48-10125-406.8-11.3 b) Female Orange Maine Coon Size The tables below show the average female Maine Coon size: Length (inches)Height (inches)Weight (lbs)19-408-148-12 Length (cm)Height (cm)Weight (kg)48-10120-353.6-5.4 c) Orange Maine Coon Weight When deciding if you would prefer a male or female Maine Coon, keep in mind that the male of the breed often grows far larger than their female counterparts. In fact, you can expect your male Coon to weigh a whopping 15-25 lbs once full grown! That's a seriously heavy cat! The female on the other hand weighs an average of 8-12 lbs. Maine Coons are known for being very slow growers, often not reaching their full size until between 3-4 years old. This makes them unique in the cat world because most other cat breeds reach full size by 2 years! It is important to remember this point, so that you do not overfeed your Maine Coon when they appear not to have reached average Maine Coon sizes. Obesity is commonly linked to the Maine Coon cat breed, so it is critical that you do not overfeed them. If you are concerned about your Maine Coons weight, refer to a breed specific growth chart (click here) identifying the healthy weights you can expect. d) Orange Maine Coon Length A key characteristic of the Maine Coon cat breed, is their huge length. They should have very long rectangular bodies, and not looked squished in proportions, but instead muscular and long. The average male and female Maine Coon ranges between 19-40 inches in length. There are always exceptions to the rule though, for example one Orange Maine Coon, named 'Stewie' became famous for his length. He even made it into the Guinness World Record Books for being 'the longest cat', after reaching a staggering 48.5 inches in length!! WOW!! In recent years, this record is now being challenged by two potentially longer Maine Coons, named 'Ludo' and 'Omar'. e) Orange Maine Coon Height Although no Orange Maine Coon has set any record for being the 'tallest cat' (yet!), you can still expect your 'gentle giant' to reach between an average of 10-16 inches, if male, and 8-14 inches (20-35cm) if female. Stunning 'Red' Maine Coon Cat How Much Does An Orange Maine Coon Cost? If you are keen on owning an orange coloured Maine Coon, expect to be paying top dollar for one. This particular cat breed is massively popular and definitely doesn't come cheap. The table below quickly summarises the cost of an Orange Maine Coon: AgeAverage CostKitten 9 months$600 (£471)Senior Cat$600 (£471) How Much Do Premium Maine Coon Cats Cost? Those interested in breeding Orange Maine Coon cats, should expect to pay up $2000 (£1580) for a Maine Coon kitten, or cat. These cats are more expensive, since they have not been spayed or neutered. They should also have been screened for genetic defects, common to the Maine Coon breed. Common health issues include: Hip Dysplasia Obesity Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Spinal Muscular Atrophy Finally, should you wish to buy an Orange Maine Coon cat for show competitions, you are likely to pay anywhere up to $2500 (£1975) per kitten or cat. These cats will be the best examples of the Maine Coon cat breed, with perfect characteristics, and no genetic defects. Where To Find 'Cheaper' Maine Coons a) Rescue Centres Many potential owners capable of giving one of these special pedigree cats an amazing, loving home, are often discouraged when they see the high Maine Coon cost. Before you resign yourself to never being able to afford an orange Maine Coon, consider contacting your local rescue centres, and animal shelters. Make your desires for a orange Maine Coon known to them, and check in with them regularly so that they know you are still interested. If you are extremely lucky, you might be able to adopt a Maine Coon from one of these establishments, at a 'bargain' price, where you only cover the cost of the rejected kitten/cats board and medical care. b) Mixed or Purebred Maine Coons If you are keen to buy a Maine Coon, and don't mind whether they are a purebred, consider buying a Maine Coon mix at a substantially cheaper price. Mixed Maine Coon kittens or cats can make wonderful pets. Purebred Maine Coons are famous for many characteristics, including their large size, gentle nature, loyalty, affectionate nature, and highly intelligent qualities. Maine Coon mixes can be found in various different colours, and may even look and act just like a purebred Maine Coon cat. However, it is important to remember that when buying a Maine Coon mix, the common purebred qualities cannot be guaranteed. So, if you're specifically keen that your orange Maine Coon cat has a particular characteristics, such as being laid back with other household pets, it is best you only buy a purebred Maine Coon. Where To Find Orange Maine Coon Kittens For Sale The internet is so littered with various different kittens for sale, that choosing a Maine Coon kitten can be a confusing matter, especially considering their expensive price tag. Put simply, no one wants to get it wrong, and no one wants to be played by the various crooks lying in wait for unsuspecting Maine Coon cat buyers. So, what should you do? And, where can you find orange Maine Coon kittens for sale? For the ultimate guide to buying a Maine Coon cat, check out my article on “Buying A Maine Coon Cat: Complete Guide“. For now though, lets cover the buying basics, and help you start your journey to owning an orange Maine Coon kitten. You will find Orange Maine Coon kittens advertised in the following locations: Registered Maine Coon Breeders Facebook Rescue Centre / Animal Shelter Gumtree / Craigslist Pet Shops Before you start Googling, get clued up on the possible pitfalls that some of these purchasing channels pose, by reading our quick summary below. 1. Registered Maine Coon Breeders First, and foremost, the BEST place to buy an orange Maine Coon kitten (or cat) is from a registered Maine Coon breeder. Yes, you may pay a premium for this, but can confidently say that the kitten you purchase has been vetted for known health issues. Maine Coon breeders are also known for adoring this special cat breed, so you can be confident that the cat has been treated well, had flea drops applied, and been appropriately vaccinated. The kitten will also come with legitimate pedigree status, purebred Maine Coon paperwork. Use the following links to locate your local registered Maine Coon cat breeder: United States: The ‘Cat Fanciers Association’ (CFA) can provide you with a list of your locally registered cat breeders (link to CFA). United Kingdom: Speak to the ‘Governing Board Of The Cat Fancy’ (the UK’s Premier Registration Body), to find registered breeders near you (link). 2. Facebook Although this is not the No.1 place to buy your orange Maine Coon kitten, Facebook is still a valid place to search for Maine Coon kittens. Though, please exercise a level of caution when doing so. IMPORTANT: NEVER send money (deposit or full payment for Maine Coon kitten) outside of your country of residence, if requested to by the seller. NEVER hand over any cash, or make any financial deposits until you have physically seen and held the advertised kitten. Most businesses have an online presence these days, and that goes for Maine Coon sellers too. Check out the sellers on Facebook to get a gut feel for what type of business they are, and whether they are legitimate. Ask yourself whether the Facebook Page appears knowledgeable on the subject of Maine Coons? Do they offer help and guidance to other Facebook users, who have questions relating to the Maine Coon cat breed i.e. cat health? Does the Maine Coon seller have good reviews on Google? Check out the following Maine Coon Facebook pages, where you can raise any questions you have in relation to this specific cat breed. They may also be able to guide you towards recommended Maine Coon breeders in your locality: Maine Coon Cat Nation Maine Coon ID Maine Coon UK Maine Coon Cat Lovers Maine Coon 3. Rescue Centre / Animal Shelter Rescue centres do an amazing job of looking after abandoned cats, from all cat breeds. They care for animals until new owners can be found. Whilst under their care, cats the medical assistance they need, plus food to eat, human love and affection, and a warm safe place to sleep. As sad as it is, irresponsible pet owners will always exist. Therefore, if you keep in regular contact with these types of organisations, and express a particular interest in adopting a Maine Coon kitten or cat, your efforts may ultimately prove fruitful, should a Maine Coon get rescued. If you live in the United States, or United Kingdom, here are a few well known reputable rescue shelters that you could speak to: Maine Coon Rescue (link) – United States Maine Coon Adoptions (link) – United States Cat Chat (link) – United Kingdom RSPCA (link) – United Kingdom 4. Gumtree / Craigslist Many orange Maine Coon kittens are sold on sites like Gumtree, and Craigslist. Despite advertisements often looking genuine, you should avoid purchasing from such platforms, due to the higher than average number of backyard breeders that frequent them. 5. Pet Shops You should also avoid purchasing your orange Maine Coon from a pet shop. The Maine Coon is a speciality bread that requires a certain level of care, and treatment i.e. a high level of human interaction and contact. It is unlikely that a pet shop would be able to offer the amount of care required to keep a Maine Coon happy, and content. Registered breeders are aware of this issue, so very rarely allow pet shops to sell their precious kittens. Maine Coon Size - Kittens Grow Big! How Common Are Orange Maine Coons? If you have been studying the Maine Coon breed, you will probably have come across many different orange Maine Coon cats. This colouring is quite common since the gene for the orange colour is located within the X chromosome. Thus, if a cat with this orange gene breeds, it is highly likely that their kittens will also be orange. Those interested in the orange Maine Coon genetics might also be interested to learn that an allele is a variant form of a gene. It is either 'O' for orange, or 'o' for non-orange. The male Coon only has one X chromosome, therefore, if they are carriers of the orange gene with the 'O' allele, it is inevitable that they will have an orange colouring. However, those carrying the orange gene, but with the 'o' allele will actually have fur that is brown or black! Those particularly keen to buy a female orange Maine Coon may be disappointed, because from each cat litter you only get 1 in 5 female orange Maine Coons. This is because the gene for the orange colour is found in the X chromosome, which mainly produces male offspring. Genetically, the female orange Maine Coon is less common, since the females have two X chromosomes. If the female is carrying the orange gene, her alleles will be either (source). 'OO' - This combination results in the cats fur being orange 'oo' - The cats fur will be brown or black 'Oo' Fur will have a tortoiseshell appearance Conclusion Maine Coons come in a wide range of colours, partially due to breeders deliberately breeding certain shades, whereas other colours are the result of more natural unions between different cats. If we look at the orange Maine Coon in particular, you will quickly see that there are multiple types of 'orange' colouring to choose from, from smokey, to striped, to tabby markings. Many do have freckles on their face though, which add to their beauty. All orange Maine Coon fur is a combination of red and yellow, so if you are hoping to find a solid orange Coon, you will quickly realise that they are somewhat rare, since most orange Maine Coons have some form of markings over their bodies. The Orange Maine Coon officially falls under the 'red' classification. However, I'm sure no one will hold it against you if you call them 'orange' or 'ginger'!

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