What Color is my Maine Coon Kitten...
If you got your Maine Coon from a breeder, you shouldn’t have to ask other people what color your kitten is… I see these posts constantly in all Maine Coon groups on Facebook and Reddit. Someone shares their beautiful Maine Coon and asks, “Does anyone know what color he/she is?” And every time I see one, I think… your breeder should have told you this. Even worse, the actual breeders asking. This is really basic information.
Your breeder should know the color classification of the kitten they produced, and they should be able to explain what that color may look like as the kitten matures. Baby coats can change A LOT. Some colors become dramatically different as the adult coat comes in. Eye color continues developing too, and your breeder should be able to give you some idea of what you may eventually see based on the kitten’s genetics and color. Notice how much Dolores’ eye color changed too.
And just to clarify, yes, there are technical color codes too! Someone actually shared her beautiful silver blotched tabby in the comments on my MPMC Facebook account as “ns 22.” That kind of information is useful for pedigrees, registration, genetics and people who want to dig deeper into color. But your average pet family isn’t going to come into a fun Maine Coon Facebook group to show off their cat and say, “Here’s my ns 22.” They just need to know they have a silver blotched tabby. When I’m talking to my own pet families, I use black smoke, black tortie, silver tabby, blue smoke, etc. because that’s the information that actually means something to them.
Nobody is expected to know everything. I’ve been raising companion pets for 16 years and I still research things, double-check myself and learn new things all the time. But there’s a difference between continuing to learn and not knowing the basics of the animals you’re producing.
Unfortunately, Maine Coons have become so popular that we’re seeing more and more people get a couple of Maine Coons, put them together and start selling kittens without ever really learning what they’re doing. Color genetics isn’t the most important part. Not even close. Health, genetics, temperament, husbandry, reproduction, pregnancy, delivery and neonatal care matter far more. But that’s actually what makes this concerning.
If someone can’t even tell you what color kitten they produced, what else didn’t they take the time to learn? That’s the part that would make me stop and ask questions. Because your breeder shouldn’t just be the person who hands you a kitten. They should actually know the cats they’re breeding. ❤️
This is Dolores as a kitten and adult. If anyone would like to follow her and her sisters instagram, just tap the photo.
Your breeder should know the color classification of the kitten they produced, and they should be able to explain what that color may look like as the kitten matures. Baby coats can change A LOT. Some colors become dramatically different as the adult coat comes in. Eye color continues developing too, and your breeder should be able to give you some idea of what you may eventually see based on the kitten’s genetics and color. Notice how much Dolores’ eye color changed too.
And just to clarify, yes, there are technical color codes too! Someone actually shared her beautiful silver blotched tabby in the comments on my MPMC Facebook account as “ns 22.” That kind of information is useful for pedigrees, registration, genetics and people who want to dig deeper into color. But your average pet family isn’t going to come into a fun Maine Coon Facebook group to show off their cat and say, “Here’s my ns 22.” They just need to know they have a silver blotched tabby. When I’m talking to my own pet families, I use black smoke, black tortie, silver tabby, blue smoke, etc. because that’s the information that actually means something to them.
Nobody is expected to know everything. I’ve been raising companion pets for 16 years and I still research things, double-check myself and learn new things all the time. But there’s a difference between continuing to learn and not knowing the basics of the animals you’re producing.
Unfortunately, Maine Coons have become so popular that we’re seeing more and more people get a couple of Maine Coons, put them together and start selling kittens without ever really learning what they’re doing. Color genetics isn’t the most important part. Not even close. Health, genetics, temperament, husbandry, reproduction, pregnancy, delivery and neonatal care matter far more. But that’s actually what makes this concerning.
If someone can’t even tell you what color kitten they produced, what else didn’t they take the time to learn? That’s the part that would make me stop and ask questions. Because your breeder shouldn’t just be the person who hands you a kitten. They should actually know the cats they’re breeding. ❤️
This is Dolores as a kitten and adult. If anyone would like to follow her and her sisters instagram, just tap the photo.