Maybe you’re curious about getting a Maine Coon kitten. And, you’re wondering whether there’s something you should keep an eye out for beforehand. Maybe you’re head over heels for your friend’s Maine Coon cat. And, you’re seriously considering stealing her while he’s away. Whatever the case, a grey Maine Coon’s always the correct answer.
Now, we were kidding about the whole “steal your friend’s cat” thing. But, on the off chance that he somehow managed to get his hands on a grey Maine Coon, we might understand your need to spend every waking moment with her.
And, for negative Nancies out there, have you seen the fluff on these stunning creatures?!
Trust me, you can’t go bigger or better than a Coon! Coons are pretty much the embodiment of everything you ever wanted when you were looking for the purrfect pet. They’re affectionate. They adore playing with humans and other Coon cats (and dogs). And, they’re absolutely adorable.
And, grey Maine Coons are bound to make you the most popular friend of the group.
Who wouldn’t want to spend a Sunday cuddling with the fluffiest of felines, chasing after butterflies, and munching on paw-licking, mouth-watering foods? Who wouldn’t want to hang out with someone who happens to have the better version of 50 Shades of Grey?
Whether you end up opening your home to a grey Maine Coon or swooning from afar, you might want to learn a little something about these frisky felines. We’ve gathered everything you need to know before you head off to the nearest breeder and window shop your little heart out.
We’ve got your back – and who knows, maybe you even bring a little something home with you!
What’s the history behind grey Maine Coon cats?
Oh, you wouldn’t believe the mystery that surrounds these curious creatures! Turns out nobody really knows where they came from which seems to have made them that much more popular – on the off chance that was even a pawsibility.
But, there are theories suggesting where and when the original Coons perked up their whispy ears.
Now, we can’t help but start with the wildest theory out of the bunch stating that Coons came to be as a cross between a raccoon and a cat. Sure, that would explain the mystery behind the Coon part of the name and the bushy, fluffy tails. But, these two cannot be crossed together under any circumstances.
But, there’s another theory that somehow involves Marie Antoinette and a bunch of charming Turkish Angora cats. Oh, we’re not lying to you! Turns out Marie Antoinette appreciated her fluffers to the point where she decided to board them on a ship that was supposed to help her escape France.
While she never made the ship, her Angoras did. And, they didn’t waste a moment before reaching Maine, mating with other cats, and bringing little Coons into the world. Sure, that’s a great way to clarify the onset of the Maine part of the name.
But, there’s another theory we shouldn’t brush over because that’s the one that probably happened.
Apparently, Maine Coons came to be when Charles Coon sailed the New England coast with a bunch of cats because he didn’t think much of humans (relatable much?!) And, you can guess the rest of the story! The kittens that were brought to life came to be known as “Coon’s kittens.”
But, the name’s not the only undetermined thing about grey Maine Coon cats.
Appearance antics – Are grey Maine Coons really grey?
Right off the bat, grey Maine Coons are adorable, affectionate fluffers that are distinguished by the color of the fluff (which appears grey to the untrained eye). But, grey Coons aren’t actually referred to as grey.
As a matter of fact, grey Coons officially belong to blue Coons, as confirmed by the Cat Fanciers’ Association.
What does that even mean?! Here’s the thing, when we’re talking about different colors and patterns of a cat’s coat we’re going off of what different cat associations and cat shows determine as right.
Therefore, we refer to grey and silver cats as blue because of the blue hue that appears under certain angles or lights. But, Maine Coons can generally assume an array of colors and patterns.
As a matter of fact, Maine Coons can be white, black, red, ebony, grey, blue, cream, orange, beige, tan, chocolate, brown, and sable (hope we didn’t forget one!) And, as for the patterns, Maine Coons can be solid, bi-color, tri-color or calico, color point, tabby, and tortoiseshell.
But, what makes grey Maine Coons… grey? Turns out that grey, silver, lilac, and blue (every odd shade out of the bunch) come from a gene that’s known as the dilute gene. And, you might have guessed, the dilute genes are responsible for the creation of diluted shades of different colors, such as black.
However, there’s a catch! Both parents of a Maine Coon cat would have to possess the dilute gene for her to have a diluted color coat. And, the dilute gene’s pretty rare (making grey Maine Coons pretty rare, too).
So, when you cross paths with a grey Maine Coon you’re actually crossing paths with a black Maine Coon whose parents share the dilute gene. But, we can’t brush over other diluted shades you might encounter!
1. Grey Coons
As a matter of fact, cats that don’t possess the dilute gene almost always have normal pigmentation. But, cats that possess the dilute gene sometimes have spots and patches without pigmentation (rather than having a uniform diluted color coat).
And, grey Coons are one of the types that have that uniform dilute color around the entire body. Now, they can be a lighter or a darker shade of grey depending on the dilute gene. But, as long as that grey color stretches from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail, they’re considered grey Coons.
2. Grey and cream Coons
Grey and cream Coons, as the name suggests, possess more than one color throughout the body. More times than not, these frisky felines are predominantly grey with cream patches scattered around the body. And, these cream patches are typically scattered around the chest, back, and stomach area.
3. Grey and white Coons
“Argh, what’s the difference between white and cream!?”
Other than the shades not being the same, there’s another prominent factor playing a role here. When we’re talking about grey and cream Coons, we’re expecting the cream patches to be scattered around the body without a pattern.
But, when we’re talking about grey and white Coons, white patches are almost always scattered around the stomach and face, stomach, and socks (of course, we’re referring to paws). But, they’re predominantly grey regardless of the patches.
4. Grey, cream, and white Coons
Oh, now we’re getting somewhere! Grey Maine Coons are some of the most stunning breeds out of the bunch. And, the fact that they possess such versatile coats has to be one of the reasons why. Grey, cream, and white Coons, as the name suggests, possess three colors.
But, they’re not predominantly grey. More times than not, they are white with grey and cream areas neatly arranged around the body. How adorable does that sound?!
5. Grey tabby Coons
Gray tabby Coons happen to be one of the most common types! And, they’re absolutely astonishing with the cream undercoat, predominantly light gray coat, and dark grey markings around the body.
Now, the pattern can consist of different markings such as lines, spots, stripes, and swirls. But, most tabby Coons have that little “m” mark on the forehead that sets them apart from other cats.
And, grey tabby Coons typically possess rose noses and rose paw pads. Now, that doesn’t help with the whole “we want to cuddle them forever” problem.
6. Grey and silver tabby Coon
Grey and silver tabbies are pretty similar to the ones we discussed beforehand. But, the undercoat’s predominantly light grey with a silver coat on top and light gray markings. And, the pattern’s typically that of a tabby with a bunch of stripes, swirls, or other markings.
Oh and, grey and silver tabby Maine Coons possess rose noses and paw pads, too. Now, we’re not saying you should get a grey and silver tabby Coon… But, we’re saying you should get a grey and silver tabby Coon!
7. Grey, tabby, and white Coons
Oh, you have no clue how many greys, creams, and other neutral colors a Maine Coon can sport. Like a true trendsetter, right!? Grey, tabby, and white Coons typically have a light grey undercoat with dark grey stripes and swirls and white patches scattered around the body.
Some might suggest that a grey, tabby, and white Coon should have white patches on the face, stomach, and paws. But, there’s no evidence to back that up.
8. Chinchilla grey silver Coon
“Wait, what? Are we even on the same page or maybe you’re talking about a completely different animal?!” We understand the confusion. But, there are times when colors and patterns are described with a little help from other animals. A fawn color’s a warm cream, for example. So, a chinchilla color’s cold, light grey with a sparkling silver appearance.
And, that’s exactly what the grey Maine Coon we’re talking about looks like! A chinchilla grey silver Coon should have a white undercoat with grey fluff neatly arranged around the entire body. As a matter of fact, the tips of the fluff should be grey giving off that sparkling silver appearance.
9. Shaded grey silver Coon
Now, a shaded grey silver Coon looks pretty much exactly like a chinchilla grey silver Coon. But, without the sparkling silver thing.
Actually, a shaded grey silver Coon typically appears lighter because of the predominantly white undercoat with only a little bit of light grey shading down the sides of the body, face, and tail. And, they have white patches on the face, chest, and paws!
10. Grey smoke Coon
You’ve heard of the black smoke Maine Coon, right!? Here comes the diluted version, otherwise known as the grey-smoke Maine Coon! They are some of the most mysterious-looking breeds out there with a white undercoat sprinkled with dark grey hairs.
They look dark grey while they’re sleeping or lounging on the sofa. But, the moment they move, they reveal the white undercoat which goes purrfectly with white ear tufts and frills. Who wouldn’t want to show off one of these beautiful babies on Instagram or Tiktok?!
What personality do grey Coons have?
You can’t tell me you don’t expect these beautiful beasts to have the biggest purrsonalities because that’s the vibe they’re giving off!
And, you’re not that wrong because Maine Coons are affectionate, gentle giants. Oh, they absolutely adore hanging out with humans, lounging on the sofa, and running after butterflies.
But, don’t be fooled! Sure, they have the most mysterious of fluffs (who thought grey could ever be that expressive?). But, these frisky felines don’t source their temperament from the color of their coat.
So, grey Coons have the same purrsonality as other Coons. And, that’s great because other Coons are pretty darn awesome.
Coons are the embodiment of the phrase “family-friendly.” They aren’t that attached to personal space which means they don’t mind when you hold them, carry them around, and snuggle them to death.
They’re great with humans (and little humans). And, they’re appreciative of the opportunity to follow you everywhere you go (and yes, that means the bathroom, too).
And, on the off chance that you weren’t already looking for the nearest breeders, Maine Coons (gray or otherwise) are as clever as they can be. They’re fun to hang out with. And, they respond great to anything you’re trying to teach them. As a matter of fact, you can even teach them to walk on a leash.
Not only that, but you can teach them to do pretty much everything you want. But, you need to let them spend as much time outside as they want and provide them with snacks. As you can see, Coons are pretty easily bought off.
And, you can count on them for whatever escapades you come up with because they’re as adventurous as they come.
What health niggles do grey Coons deal with?
When you’re thinking of purchasing, fostering, or adopting a cat, you should always do your research on different health problems you might encounter on the way.
While a cat’s health depends on a bunch of factors, grey Maine Coons are generally physically fit, strong, and hearty – and the color doesn’t have anything to do with that.
Coons can lead a happy and healthy life lasting anywhere from ten to thirteen years depending on genetics, lifestyle, nutrition, environment, and healthcare. But, they seem to struggle with a couple of health problems you might want to keep an eye out for.
Starting with a bang, Maine Coons seem to be susceptible to a disease known as hip dysplasia. Dysplasia occurs when the joint that connects the femur of the Coon to the pelvis doesn’t form properly. Little by little, the joint rubs against the pelvis causing discomfort, stiffness, and inflammation.
And, to everyone’s demise, there doesn’t seem to be a way of preventing the disease (considering it’s inherited). But, when you diagnose your Coon early on, she should be able to treat the disease and slow down the progression.
Running a close second, Maine Coons are predisposed to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). While these words might sound like Harry Potter chants, there’s hardly anything magical about getting diagnosed with one of the most common cardiac diseases among cats.
But, HCM is a condition that causes the walls of a Coon’s heart to thicken. This leads to a bunch of other health niggles. And, the cause of HCM hasn’t been determined as of now, but there are reasons to believe genetics play a part.
As a matter of fact, HCM seems prevalent among certain cat breeds such as British Shorthair, Sphynx, Chartreux, Persian, and Ragdolls. Coons are pretty healthy, but keep your eyes peeled!
What’s the best way to care for a grey Coon?
When you’re thinking of making yourself the happiest human ever by getting a grey Maine Coon, chances are you’re wondering whether there are things you should keep an eye out for (regarding the care a Coon needs, of course). Luckily, grey Coons don’t require anything out of the ordinary.
First things first, make sure you groom and brush your Coons fluff regularly. Trust me, you don’t want to live to see the day when her fluff becomes, greasy, stringy, tangled, and matted – those are not the words you ever want to use to describe your precious purrincess.
When we say you need to groom her regularly, we’re saying you need to brush her fluff every single day and bathe her every single week – to make sure we’re on the same page. And, you have nothing to worry about considering that Coons absolutely adore getting brushed.
Secondly, make sure you provide your Coon with plenty of physical activities, walkies, playtime, and toys galore. Maine Coons (grey and otherwise) appreciate lounging on the sofa but prefer having something to do.
Trust me, when they’re bored they become annoyed and aggressive. But, you can train them pretty easily which means you don’t have an excuse for not taking her on a walk every single day. And, you can ever get her to play a round of fetch with you – who needs “a man’s best friend” anyway?
Last but not least, make sure you provide her with plenty of delicious and nutritious meals and fresh water. Coons are carnivores (same as other cats) and they require meat, animal protein, and animal-sourced nutrients to thrive.
Commercially available cat food and cat treat have everything you need and you can always ask your vet for advice. Oh, the two of you are going to do great!
What are the living needs of a grey Coon?
So, there was this friend of mine who used to be a foster parent to cats who had a hard time getting adopted. And, throughout a couple of months, he fostered a silver/grey/smokey Maine Coon that had a hard time getting along with people.
But, the moment that she grew to appreciate the effort he was showing, she became the “gentle giant” she was supposed to be (considering she’s a Maine Coon). Oh, there were a bunch of stories about her waiting at the door when he was coming back from work or sleeping outside the bedroom door hoping to get cuddles early on.
However, one time he told us how “he made the biggest mistake when he let her sleep with him because she kept meowing and begging.” Turns out she loved waking him up by kissing him… on the lips… while he was breathing through the mouth rather than through the nose.
At least you can’t argue with the fact that Maine Coons are affectionate – they love humans, they tolerate other cats, and they appreciate dogs for who they are.
And, when we’re talking about a Maine Coon’s living needs, the only thing we can think of (that matters) seems to be the fact that these frisky felines need to feel loved, safe, and secure.
How much money do you need to get your hands on a grey Coon?
Having learned everything you need to know about Coons, you might be thinking to yourself “But, can I even afford to buy and take care of such a beautiful beast?”. Grey Maine Coons can empty your wallet. But, there are ways you can get your hands on one without having to live off of bread and butter for the rest of your life.
First things first, consider the pawsibility of getting a Coon “the old-fashioned way.” Does anybody you know have a Maine Coon that’s about to give birth to little Coons? Have you checked the newspaper to see whether somebody’s giving a Maine Coon away for private reasons?
But, on the off chance that your strategy fails, you might want to go with adoption. Adoption of a grey Maine Coon costs anywhere from 100$ to 400$ depending on the shelter. And, the purchase of a Maine Coon from a reputable breeder costs anywhere from 800$ to 2000$. And, that’s only the beginning!
Make sure you have enough money, not only to purchase the Coon of your dreams but to give her the life that she deserves. Good luck!
