Maine Coon colors · Kats Kits, Farmington, Minnesota
Black Maine Coon Kittens for Sale
A black Maine Coon is the breed at its most dramatic: a big, glossy cat with a lion's ruff, long lynx tips on the ears and gold or green eyes that stand out against the coat. Kats Kits has raised both solid black and black smoke kittens.
This page explains the difference between the two, how a black coat changes as a kitten grows, and what to look for.
Available Black Maine Coon Kittens
Jesse
Sweet, calm and affectionate.
What Makes a Maine Coon Solid Black?
Every tabby Maine Coon carries black or one of its variations in its coat. A solid black cat has, in addition, a gene that switches the tabby pattern off, so the coat is black from root to tip with no stripes.
Young black kittens sometimes show faint "ghost" tabby markings, especially in certain light. These usually fade as the adult coat grows in. A black cat with clear stripes on a warm brown base is a different color altogether: a brown tabby.
Black or Black Smoke?
A black smoke looks black at a glance, but the hair is white or silver at the root and black only at the tips. You see it when the cat moves, when the coat parts, or in the pale ruff and the lighter fur on the legs and belly.
In a young kitten the smoke can be hard to spot, and it often shows more as the coat grows longer. To check, gently part the fur on the back: a solid black is dark right down to the skin, a smoke shows a pale band at the base.
The kitten in the photo is a past Kats Kits kitten, a black smoke, in its new home.
Solid Black, Black Smoke or Black Tabby?
Three different cats can all be called black. This is how to tell them apart:
| Color | What you see |
|---|---|
| Solid black | Black from root to tip, no stripes in the adult coat |
| Black smoke | Black tips over a white or silver undercoat that shows when the coat moves |
| Brown (black) tabby | Black stripes or swirls on a warm brown base |
| Black silver tabby | Black stripes or swirls on a bright silver base |
All four carry the same black pigment. What differs is whether the tabby pattern shows and whether the silver gene has taken the color out of the undercoat.
How a Black Coat Changes
A black kitten's coat often looks slightly brownish or dull before the adult coat comes through, and Maine Coons take two years or more to grow their full coat. A healthy adult black coat is deep and glossy.
Black coats can take on a reddish, rusty tint when a cat spends a lot of time in strong sunlight, or sometimes with age. It is harmless, and new growth comes in black again. Good quality, high-protein food helps keep the coat at its best; see what Maine Coons eat.
Eye Color and Looks
Black Maine Coons have gold, copper or green eyes, and the contrast with a black coat is one of the reasons people fall for the color. Blue eyes only occur in white Maine Coons or cats with a lot of white.
On a black cat the breed's features stand out: the long ear tufts, the ruff, the tufts between the toes and the long, plumed tail. Nothing is hidden by a busy pattern, so the shape of the cat does the talking.
Caring for a Black Maine Coon
A black coat needs exactly the same care as any other Maine Coon coat: a brush two or three times a week to stop knots forming, more during the spring and fall shed. Lint, dust and dandruff show up more on black fur, so a quick wipe with a damp hand or grooming glove keeps the coat looking its best. See shedding and grooming for the full routine.
Beyond that, a black Maine Coon is like any other: sociable, playful and big. Read about Maine Coon personality and how big they get.
Black Maine Coon Questions
Can you tell a kitten's adult color at ten weeks?
Mostly. The base color is set at birth, but tabby markings can soften, a smoke undercoat can show more as the coat grows, and the full adult coat takes two years or more to come in.
How much is a black Maine Coon kitten?
A black Maine Coon kitten from Kats Kits is $700, and a $200 deposit reserves one.
What is the difference between a black and a black smoke Maine Coon?
A solid black is black right down to the skin. A black smoke has a white or silver undercoat under the black tips, which shows when the coat parts or the cat moves.
Why is my black Maine Coon turning brown?
Sunlight. A black coat can take on a reddish, rusty tint when a cat spends a lot of time in strong sun. It is harmless and the new coat grows in black again.
What eye color do black Maine Coons have?
Gold, copper or green. Blue eyes only occur in white cats or cats with a lot of white.
Other Maine Coon Colors
- Orange and Red Maine CoonsRed, ginger and cream tabbies
- Blue and Silver Maine CoonsBlue, blue tabby and silver
- Tortie and Calico Maine CoonsTortoiseshell, torbie and calico
- Polydactyl Maine CoonsMaine Coons with extra toes
- All Maine Coon colorsEvery color and pattern explained
- Available kittensEvery kitten ready to go home now
Ask About a Black Kitten
Call Kat on (651) 463-4780 or email katskitscattery@aol.com, and see how kittens travel if you live outside Minnesota.