Black Maine Coon Facts
The black Maine coon cat is the largest domesticated cat breed in the world, apart from the Norwegian Forest Cat, with medium to long silky thick fur that requires regular grooming.
This cat breed originates from Maine, United States, and is often referred to as being a ‘gentle giant’ due to their large build, yet amazingly gentle and laid-back nature.
There are many different Maine Coon colorings to pick from, but the beauty of the black Maine Coon will likely capture your heart immediately.
How To Identify A Black Maine Coon Cat
According to the Cat Fanciers Association and the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy, there are officially four black colors.
The four black color classifications are as follows (source 1,2):
- Solid Colour Class
- Bi-Colour Colour Class
- Shaded and Smoke Colour Class
- Shaded/Smoke and White Colour Class
As you can see, there are many versions of black Maine Coon.
The table below summarises the black color class requirements that a cat must match, to be considered a pedigree black Maine Coon:
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Black Color Class Requirements
There are five different solid coat colors in the Maine Coon cat breed. See here for more details.
Let’s take a closer look at the different black color coat criteria:
Solid Color Class
(Name: BLACK)
- Fur should have a solid
black coal coloring from
root to tip. - No tinges of rust coloring on the tips of their fur.
- No smokey colors on the
undercoat. - Black nose
- Paws are black or brown
Bi-Colour Color Class
(Name: BLACK AND WHITE)
- Combination of black
and white. - May have white on
their faces - Should have white
on the belly, all four paws,
and bib.
Shaded and Smoke Color Class
(Name: BLACK SMOKE)
- Maine Coon has a white
undercoat, deeply tipped
with black. - Whilst resting, the cat
will appear black. Thought
as they move, the white
undercoat is clearly visible. - Paw pads are black
- Nose Leather is black
- Light silver frill and ear
tufts. - A narrow band of white
fur next to the skin, which
can only be seen when fur
is parted.
Shaded/Smoke and White Colour
Class
(Name: BLACK SMOKE AND WHITE)
- With or without white
on the face. - Must have white on
all four paws. - Has white on the belly
and bib
If you are wondering whether your Maine Coon cat is a shaded or solid Maine Coon cat, the easiest way to tell the difference is by looking at each cat’s undercoat.
All black Maine Coons have black nose leather and pads. Whereas it is possible for their paws to be either brown or black.
Solid Black Maine Coon Kitten
If you are searching for a completely black Maine coon kitten, you are in luck, as they do exist!
They are referred to as solid black Maine Coon cats and have a solid black fur coloring from root to tip.
A solid black Maine Coon cat lacks any markings, as their fur is a single coloring.
Whilst a solid black Maine Coon has fully black fur, a shaded black Maine Coon will have a different color present in their undercoat.
Shaded Black Maine Coon
For those of your dreaming of a shaded black Maine Coon cat, look for cats that have a lighter fur color in their undercoat.
Black Smoke Maine Coon
The easiest way to identify a black smoke Maine Coon cat is by looking at the cat’s coat more closely.
Start by looking at the cat’s undercoat.
If the cat has paler or white roots, you are likely looking at a black smoke Maine Coon.
Black smoke Maine Coon cats also tend to have silver ear tufts and silver neck ruffs.
Take time to watch the Maine Coon cat moving when identifying a black smoke Maine Coon cat, since their fur appears grey and black as they move, yet solid black if standing still!
Some black smoke Maine Coon colorings you may encounter, include:
- Black Smoke and White Maine Coons
- Black Silver Smoke Maine Coons
Black Maine Coon Personality And Temperament
The personality of a black Maine Coon cat is no different from that of any other Maine Coon cat coloring.
The black Maine Coon cat temperament is therefore goofy, friendly, sociable, highly intelligent, and family-friendly.
The black Maine Coon personality is often considered to be dog-like in its mannerisms, highly vocal, and the best cat breed in the world!
Learn more about the Maine Coon cat personality in this cat guide which is packed full of lots of useful Maine Coon breed information.
Black Maine Coon Size
The average Maine Coon cat weighs between 8 – 25 lbs, and measures between 19 – 40 inches in length.
Female Maine Coon cats tend to be smaller than their male counterparts, weighing roughly 8 – 12 lbs, but tend to be just as long as their male counterparts.
Male Maine Coon cats weigh an average of 15 – 25 lbs.
Black Maine Coon cats are no different from any other Maine Coon cat color, so you can expect your Maine Coon black size to be as detailed above.
Let’s take a closer look at the black Maine Coon cat-size information.
The table below summarises the following information:
- Black Maine Coon Length
- Black Maine Coon Height
- Black Maine Coon Weight
| Gender | Length (inches) | Height (inches) | Weight (lbs) |
| Male | 19-40 | 10-16 | 15-25 |
| Female | 19-40 | 8-14 | 8-12 |
Black Maine Coon Length
One of the key Maine Coon physical characteristics is its very long rectangular body.
Their bodies should never appear squished, or out of proportion, but instead long and muscular.
Although the male of the breed tends to achieve larger physical proportions in general than their female counterparts, this is not the case when it comes to a Maine Coons length.
Both male and female black Maine Coons reach anywhere up to 40 inches in length!
Therefore, you can expect your black Maine Coon to grow into an impressively long Maine Coon cat.
The longest Maine Coon ever recorded in the Guinness World Records was set by a Maine Coon named ‘Stewie’.
Although Stewie was not a black Maine Coon, he certainly was long, reaching an astonishing 48.5 inches in length!
Sadly Stewie does some years back, so the title for the longest cat went to ‘Ludo’, another Maine Coon cat. Read about him here.
As of 2018, however, a new contender has been awarded the title of the longest cat in the world, by the Guinness World Records. This cat’s name is Barivel!
Black Maine Coon Weight
Although there will always be exceptions to the rule, the general consensus is that male black Maine Coons weigh more than their female black Maine Coon counterparts.
The average male Maine Coon weight is 15-25 lbs (6.9-11.3 kg), and the average female Maine Coon weight ranges from 8-12 lbs (3.6-5.4 kg).
Maine Coon cats grow at a very slow rate of growth, not reaching their full Maine Coon size until between 3-5 years, whereas normal cat breeds reach full size by 2 years.
It is therefore very important that Maine Coon cat owners do not overfeed their black Maine Coon cat, thinking that their cat has not reached the expected full-grown Maine Coon cat size.
If you are concerned your black Maine Coon’s not gaining enough weight, contact your local veterinarian to check your cat is in good health.
You can also make a Maine Coon growth chart to check your cat is growing at a healthy rate for this large cat breed.
Here is a great chart about Maine Coon kitten weight which explains how quickly your Maine Coon cat will grow.
Black Maine Coon Height
The average male Maine Coon will reach 10-16 inches (25-40 cm) in height, whereas the female Maine Coon height is usually somewhat smaller, at an average of 8-14 inches (20-35 cm).
Take a look at the infographic below, for more Maine Coon size information, across the genders:
Black Maine Coon Eyes
Whilst all Maine Coon kittens are born with stunning blue eyes, it is common for their eye color to change as they age.
Black Maine Coon cats have large, slightly oblique-shaped, green or gold wide-set eyes. You might also notice the following colors in their eyes:
- Yellow
- Green Amber
- Amber
- Copper
- Orange
It is rare to find adult Maine Coon cats with blue eyes.
Find out what causes Maine Coon yellow eye, in this article.
There are a few Maine Coon eye issues that owners need to be aware of, including:
- Hyperopia
- Myopia
- Astigmatism
- Strabismus
Black Maine Coon Price
If you are looking to buy a black Maine Coon cat, you have two choices:
- Buy A Purebred Maine Coon
- Buy A Mixed Maine Coon
1. Purebred Maine Coon Price
Purebred Maine Coons are expensive pedigree cats.
The average price for a purebred black Maine Coon kitten ranges between $1000 – $2000.
However, if you are interested in purchasing a black Maine Coon kitten for breeding purposes, expect to pay anywhere up to $2000+ per kitten.
Cats specifically bred as a show Maine Coon will also come at a premium price, costing a buyer anywhere up to $2500 (£1975).
Pedigree Maine Coon cats definitely do not come cheap, so if you find black Maine Coon kittens are over budget, but you are still keen to own a Maine Coon, consider giving an older Maine Coon a loving home.
Older Maine Coon cats will cost roughly $600 (£474) each.
You can find Maine Coon cats available in a variety of places, including:
- Registered Maine Coon Breeders
- Rescue Centers
- Shelters
- Online
2. Mixed Maine Coon Kitten Price
Maine Coon kittens with mixed heritage are cheaper than purebred Maine Coons, since their genetics are not pure to the Maine Coon cat breed.
Maine Coons with mixed genetics are not official pedigree cats, though they may massively resemble purebred Maine Coons in terms of character, looks, and personality.
Whilst there may be several similarities between purebred and mixed Maine Coon cats, it is impossible to identify which personality traits the mixed Maine Coon kitten has gotten.
Traits will only become apparent over time, though you could take a look at the kitten’s parents to make an educated guess on the matter.
Ultimately, there is no reason why your mixed Maine Coon kitten would not make just as an amazing family pet, as a purebred Maine Coon would.
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