The Black Maine Coon is a majestic cat with a unique and stunning coat. Her beautiful appearance can stop anybody in their tracks. Let us learn more about what makes her an attention-grabber and find out if she makes for a great feline companion.
1. True To Her Name
What does a Black Maine Coon cat look like? Also known as the Solid Black Maine Coon, she perfectly represents her name as her physical features are predominantly black. According to the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA), this attention-grabbing feline has thick coal-black fur from root to tip.
Her nose leather comes in black; the same goes for her whiskers. She does not have eyebrows but instead sports long vibrissae hairs above the eyes, which are also black. Her paw pads can either be black or brown.
The eyes of Black Maine Coon cats are one of the few body parts that are not black. When young, they possess blue eyes, which gradually change into one of the following colors as they reach adulthood:
- Amber
- Copper
- Orange
- Gold
- Green
- Green amber
- Yellow
Their almond-shaped eyes are outlined by black rims that look similar to mascara.
2. Has Plenty of Other Color Variations
The Solid Black Maine Coon is only one of the many black-colored varieties of the breed. Here are other known color combinations and patterns:
Black Smoke Maine Coon
From far away, the Black Smoke Maine Coon cat may appear to have an all-black coat. Upon closer inspection, however, her fur looks silvery. That’s because each hair shaft is coal black at the tips but white at the roots.
It is speculated that the Black Smoke Maine Coon’s unique coat is a result of an inhibitor gene that prevents the base of each hair to have pigmentation.
Many curious cat lovers ask: “How to breed a Black Smoke Maine Coon?” A Black Smoke Maine Coon can be produced by having at least one parent with a smoke-patterned coat.
Tuxedo Maine Coon
Also known as the Black and White Maine Coon, her coat is predominantly black, while white fur commonly grows on her bib, paws, and belly, making her appear as if she is wearing a tuxedo.
Bi-colored Maine Coon
Similar to the tuxedo variety, bi-colored Maine Coons also have black and white coats. However, these colors are distributed around her body.
Black Silver Maine Coon
The Black Silver Maine Coon is not acknowledged by the CFA. For this reason, breeders do not go out of their way to breed Maine Coons with this color combination.
Black Tabby Maine Coon
The Black Tabby Maine Coon is also referred to as Brown Tabby because of its brown coloration. Her tabby patterns can come in 3 variations:
- Classic: Forms into a butterfly pattern
- Mackerel: Has distinctive fishbone stripes along the spine
- Ticked: Possesses agouti hairs that have a light and dark banding
Black Tortoiseshell Maine Coon
Nicknamed Tortie, her coat’s base color is black, adorned with red and cream markings.
3. Her Beautiful Black Coat Color Can Fade
Some Black Maine Coon owners face the dilemma of their pet’s coat color turning brown. There are 2 possible causes of this problem:
Tyrosine deficiency
Tyrosine is an amino acid crucial for producing eumelanin, which gives cats’ coats black or brown pigment. Lack of tyrosine can potentially cause the Solid Black Maine Coon cat’s fur to turn rusty brown.
Fortunately, tyrosine deficiency can be prevented by supplementing your Maine Coon’s diet with taurine.
Excessive Exposure to Sunlight
Prolonged exposure to the sun’s rays can wash out the coat color of Black Maine Coon cats. Hence, it is important to limit their time sunbathing. Applying pet-safe sunscreen on their fur also helps in retaining its black color.
4. A Rare Feline to Find
We often come across the question: “Are Black Maine Coon cats rare?” The answer is yes. Black Maine Coons are relatively rare, and it all has to do with their genes.
For a Maine Coon cat to possess a black coat, one of her parents should possess a dominant black fur gene. Therefore, breeders often choose Solid Black Maine Coons to mate with to increase the chances of producing all-black Maine Coon kittens.
Although it is possible for a Black and a non-Black Maine Coon to produce solid black kittens, the chances are meager.
Another curious thing about breeding Black Maine Coon cats is the rarity of females. Most often than not, a litter of these felines is dominantly composed of males. This can make it difficult for Black Maine Coon breeders to find a dam for breeding.
If Black Maine Coons are only relatively rare felines, you might wonder: “What is the rarest color of the Maine Coon?” White silver and solid gold are the rarest color variations of the Maine Coon cat breed. Their eye-catching coloration is caused by an equally rare inhibitor gene that prevents pigmentation in their undercoat.
5. Boasts a Massive Size
Purebred Maine Coons are one of the largest domesticated felines you will ever set eyes on.
On average, male Maine Coons are about 25-40 cm (10 – 16 inches) tall and weigh approximately 4-11 kg (10-25 pounds). In comparison, the full size of females is slightly smaller. They typically measure around 25-33 cm (10 – 13 inches) in height and 3-10 kg (8-22 pounds) in weight.
Depending on the gender, the full-grown Black Maine Coon size will also fall in the same range.
6. Surrounded by Ominous Myths
Generally, black cats get a bad rap because of their coat color. For a long time, they were dogged by persistent superstitions, painting them out to be harbingers of bad luck and death. In the United States and most of Europe, black cats were believed to be familiars of witches.
The Black Maine Coon cat did not escape being associated with these mythical legends. Because of her coat color, she might be less likely to be adopted from animal shelters, much like her fellow black-coated felines.
7. A Big Cat with an Equally Big Heart
Despite all the scary legends surrounding the Black Maine Coon, this large cat is a sweetheart. Her regal appearance might make her seem intimidating, but cat lovers praise her for being very affectionate and playful.
The laid-back disposition of Black Maine Coon cats earned them the moniker “gentle giants.” Proper socialisation at a young age allows them to form friendships with people, children, and fellow pets.
You may also like: Are Maine Coon Cats Good Family Pets?
8. May Come with an Expensive Price Tag
“How much is a Black Maine Coon cat?” is another frequently asked question about this magnificent feline. Providing an accurate estimation of the Black Maine Coon price can be tricky. There is not much information about pricing because of this feline’s scarcity.
However, considering that Solid Black Maine Coons are quite rare, this factor can drive up the price. You might need to spend hundreds, if not thousands, to obtain a purebred Black Maine Coon kitten.
A Word of Caution
Always be careful when looking for Black Maine Coon kittens for sale. Scammers or shady breeders may attempt to sell you a fake Solid Black Maine Coon.
Avoid getting duped by asking for referrals from the vet and close friends or visiting cat shows to find a trustworthy Black Maine Coon breeder.
Earlier, we talked about how abandoned black cats have lesser chances of finding a forever home. So, if you are up to it, think about Black Maine Coon adoption to help provide a better life for these neglected felines.
