The stunning Black Maine Coon blends into the night seamlessly with only it’s dazzling eyes shining in the darkness. Whilst it is common to have black coloring in a Maine Coon Cat it will not be a solid color if one of the parents possess tabby patterning.
How does it get a full black coat?
In order for a Maine coon to get a full a black coat it needs to have a specific combination of genes. Whilst getting the black coloring comes from a dominant gene (This needs only 1 parent to have the gene), it’s the ability to lose it’s tabby pattern which is more rare. Whilst the Mothers genes are responsible for passing their colors to any male offspring, females are decided by both the Mother and Father. This means that if the Mother is a tabby then their will be no solid color kittens born. However if the mother has solid coloring then the their can still be males with solid colors.
Black Maine coons are more uncommon than their tabby variants. Whilst these creatures are absolutely stunning they are not as widely sought as some other colors. This stems back to people being highly superstitious about black cats.
If you want to see the different color combinations different colored parents can make then try this handy Maine Coon Color Calculator
What other colors can they come in?
Black Smoke Maine Coon
Whilst on first appearance they can appear to be only in black in color they have a hidden secret. When moving and rustling their fur you will notice their undercoat is a much lighter shade. This will give the impression of black and grey as the move which is where the smoke name originates from. In addition to the genes required for a full coat Black Maine Coon they also need to possess the Wideband Allele and Silver Allele. Due to the dominance of these genes it is more common to see a Black Smoke than Full Black Maine Coon
Black and White Maine Coon
Black and white is not a difficult color to find in cats. Often referred to as a tuxedo look the majority of the back of the cat is black whilst the chest, face and paws are often white. Whilst this differs for each cat this same coloring can be found on a Maine Coon. This coloring is rarer than the traditional tabby coloring found in cats but still not overly difficult to find.
It is also possible to find White and Black Maine Coons which have the same colorings as above. These are much rarer due to the base color of White being a lot rarer than that of Black.
How big can a Black Maine Coon grow?
Maine coons are the largest domestic cat breed. They are renowned for their hunting ability as well as being able to survive harsh living conditions, this combined with their large size has made them the perfect companion for a variety of roles. They are often traced back to a Norwegian cat ancestor which were common place on Viking ships to protect limited food supplies from mice.
You should expect a Maine Coon to grow to the following sizes.
| Male | Female | |
| Height | 10-16 Inches | 8-15 Inches |
| Weight | 15-25 Pounds | 10-20 Pounds |
| Lifespan | 12-15 Years | 12-15 Years |
Whilst these are the average expected sizes, check out this huge Maine Coon below which is more comparable to an average dog in size.
How many kittens does a Black Maine Coon have?
You should expect an average litter size of around 4-5 kittens from a Black Maine Coon. There are however a number of factors which can affect this.
Younger/Older cats should be expected to have smaller litters. You should also expect that the number of kittens in a litter to increase as a cat is bred more. Genetics will also play a role along with ensuring a cat is healthy when breeding.
It isn’t rare to see a first litter from a young Maine Coon to produce between 1-3 kittens. Whilst later in life after a number of litters have already been produced it has been know that litters can reach a size of up to 12.
How much does a Black Maine Coon Kitten cost?
The amount a Black Maine Coon Kitten costs can vary dependent on it’s coloring and the quality of breeder used. The below are a rough estimation of what to expect from a respected breeder.
| Full Black Maine Coon Kitten | $1,500 – $2,500 |
| Black Smoke Maine Coon Kitten | $2,000 – $4,000 |
| Black and White Maine Coon Kitten | $1,500 – $2,500 |
Are they hypoallergenic/Do they shed?
No, they are not hypoallergenic and yes, they do shed. How much you can expect your Maine Coon to shed depends largely on the climate you live in. On average you shouldn’t expect them to shed more than any other breed of cat despite their long hair. If you live in a warm climate then you should expect shedding all year round to ensure they don’t overheat. This is in contrast to colder climates where you can expect them to shed in summer to deal with the warmer temperatures with minimal shedding over winter.
Due to their thick dense fur it is recommended that they are brushed 2-3 times a week. This is important to help prevent tangles and matting.
If you are looking for a hypoallergenic cat unfortunately there aren’t any that are fully hypoallergenic such as the poodle is to dogs. Your best bet is to look at either a Devon/Cornish Rex due the fact they shed less than the average cat.
Where does the name Maine Coon come from?
When their ancestors first arrived in America they would mate with the local cats which would result in large long haired kittens. The first part of the name simply refers to where this breed was first recognised and discovered. They are unsurprisingly recognised as the official cat of the state of Maine.
The second part of the names origin is debated and likely came from one of two different sources. The first relates to a British sea captain by the name of Charles Coon. He kept long haired cats on his ship which were known as Coon’s Cats. The other theory relates to the look of their tail which people believe to resemble a racoon, due to this people referred to them as Coon cats with Maine being added to the name after this.
