Understanding Orange Maine Coon Cat
Due to their luxuriously thick coats, loving dispositions, and huge cat dimensions, Orange Maine Coon Cat have grown in popularity over the past few decades. This gorgeous orange Maine coon cats breed comes in more than 75 distinct colors and is quite intelligent. If you are a buyer who struggles to make decisions, this variety may be distressing to you.
The Orange Maine coon cats, sometimes known as a ginger cat, belongs to the’red’ color class, according to the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA). The Red Maine Coon (sometimes known as “Orange”) belongs to one of the following four color categories:
Class Solid Color
Tabby Red Color Class
(Including Vans) Red Tabby and White Color Class
Color Class in Bi-Color, Including Vans
Click here to also learn more about the Black Smoke Maine Coon Cat
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Red Maine Coon Color Class
The table below summarises the color classes that the orange Maine coon cats (‘RED’) may be categorized in, and their associated color criteria (source 1):
| Color Class | Color Criteria |
|---|---|
| Solid Color Class (Name: RED) | Same color criteria as the red tabby (above), with or without white on the face (classic, mackerel, ticked). To be included in this coloring, the Maine Coon must have white markings on all four feet, their belly, and their bib |
| Red Tabby Color Class (Name: RED TABBY) | The CFA classifies the red tabby fur coloring as ‘ground color red (classic, mackerel, ticked)’. Brick red nose leather is desirable. Paw pads ideally, also brick red. The lip and chin may have a white trim. Fur markings will be ‘deep, rick red’ |
| Red Tabby and White Color Class (including Vans) (Name: 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 in this coloring, the Maine Coon must have white markings on all four feet, their belly, and their bib |
| Bi-Color Color Class (including Vans)(Name: RED AND WHITE) | The fur will be a mixture of red and white. Both white on the face or no white on the face is permitted. All four paws must have white on them. Bib and belly must contain white coloring |
Maine Coon Colours Also Include Orange
According to the Cat Fancier Association, a number of other Maine Coon colorings include an orange tinge of color within them, though are not classified within their unique color class.
Take a quick peek at the table below if you would like to buy a Maine Coon with hints of orange in its fur.
Rather, than the more orange Maine coon cats colorings characteristic of the ‘Red Maine Coon’ classifications above (source 1).
| Color Class | Color Criteria |
|---|---|
| Brown Patched Tabby Colour Class (Name: Brown Patched Tabby) | Fur is ‘ground color 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 ideal |
| Silver Patched Tabby Class (Name: Silver Patched Tabby) | All Other Tabby Color Class (Name: Cameo Tabby) |
| Parti-color Color Class (Name: Tortoiseshell) | The 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-color Color Class (Name: Tortoiseshell) | The undercoat must be white with a mantle of red tipping shading down the sides, tail, and face. The face and legs have deeper shading than other parts of the body. The the cat will have a white chin, ear furnishings, stomach, and chest (ruff). The fur is visibly redder than the shell cameo color above. Rose nose leather, paw pads, and rims of eyes |
| Parti-Colour and White Colour Class (Name: Calico – Including Vans) | Should be white with un-brindled patches of red and black. Underparts will be predominantly white |
| Shaded & Smoke Color Class (Name: Shell Cameo) | Known as the red chinchilla. The undercoat will be white. The cat’s coat on the back, flanks, head, and tail should be tipped with red, creating a sparkling appearance, characteristic of this coloring. 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 the eyes are rose |
| Shaded & Smoke Color Class (Name: Shaded Cameo – red shaded) | The undercoat is white. The 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. The cat will have a 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 Color Class (Name: Shell Tortoiseshell) | The cat’s 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 the cat looks tortoiseshell. When moving, the cat’s white undercoat is clear. Face and ears have a tortoiseshell pattern with a 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 Color Class (Name: Shaded Tortoiseshell) | White undercoat. Mantle of black and red shading down the sides, face, and tail. The 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 lightly tipped. This color 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 Color Class (Name: Cameo Smoke – red smoke) | The undercoat is white, deeply tipped with red. If the cat is standing still, it will look red. When the cat is moving, their white undercoat is very clear. Points and mask red with a narrow band of white at the base of hairs next to the skin which may be seen only when fur is parted. Rose nose leather, paw pads, and rims of eyes. |
| Shaded & Smoke Color Class (Name: Tortie Smoke) | Same color as a shaded cameo. Face can be with or without white coloring * All four paws, belly, and bib must include white |
| Shaded/Smoke & White Colour Class (including vans) – (Name: Shell Cameo and White) | Commonly known as the red chinchilla. Coloring is the same as Shell Cameo. White may or may not be on the cat’s face. All four paws, belly, and bib must have white on them |
| Shaded/Smoke & White Colour Class (including vans) – (Name: Shaded Cameo – red shaded & white) | White, with unbridled patches of black and shades of red. The cat’s coat on their flanks, back, and the tail should be slightly tipped with black and shades of red. Face and legs can be softly shaded with tipping. The cat’s ear furnishings, chin, chest (ruff), and stomach can be white to very softly tipped with shading. The underparts of the cat should be predominantly white |
| Shaded/Smoke & White Colour Class (including vans) – (Name: Shell Calico) | White, with unbridled patches of black and shades of red. The cat’s 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 cat’s ear furnishings, chin, chest (ruff), and stomach can be white to very softly tipped with shading. The underparts of the cat should be predominantly white |
| Shaded/Smoke & White Colour Class (including vans) – (Name: Shaded Calico) | White with unbridled 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 the face and legs, then the rest of the cat’s body. Ear furnishings, chin, chest (ruff) and stomach might be white, and lightly tipped. This color is far darker than the shell calico. Underparts of the cat are mainly white |
| Shaded/Smoke & White Colour Class (including vans) – Name: Calico Smoke | White with unbridled patches of black and shades of red. Black and red patches to have a white undercoat. The underparts of a cat are predominantly white |
Orange Maine Coon Cats Characteristics
The orange Maine coon cats characteristics are no different from that of the other Maine Coon colors. 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 coon cats 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 owner’s 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 spits.
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 natural instinct is to make friends with other animals, so it is unlikely they would cause issues 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.
They love playing with toys, of which these are their favorite.
f. Good Hunters
Maine Coons are notoriously good hunters, so you should expect a few animals ‘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 newcomers.
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 make a splash in the bath!
Orange Maine Coon Cats 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!
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) |
| 19-40 | 10-16 | 15-25 |
| Length (cm) | Height (cm) | Weight (kg) |
| 48-101 | 25-40 | 6.8-11.3 |
b) Female Orange Maine Coon Size
The tables below show the average female Maine Coon size:
| Length (inches) | Height (inches) | Weight (lbs) |
| 19-40 | 8-14 | 8-12 |
| Length (cm) | Height (cm) | Weight (kg) |
| 48-101 | 20-35 | 3.6-5.4 |
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 fully 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 in 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 you mustn’t overfeed them.
d) Orange Maine Coon Length
A key characteristic of the Maine Coon cat breed is its huge length. They should have very long rectangular bodies, and not look 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 8-14 inches
- If female 20-35cm
How Much Does An Orange Maine Coon Cost?
If you are keen on owning an orange-colored 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:
| Age | Average Cost |
| Kitten <9 months | $1000 (£819) |
| Cat >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 to $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:
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 centers, and animal shelters.
Make your desires for an 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/cat 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 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 colors, 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 characteristic, such as being laid back with other household pets, it is best if you only buy a purebred Maine Coon.
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