Tortoiseshell Maine Coon mix cats are beautiful, bold creatures that carry “the divas of the cat world” moniker with utmost pride. The multicolored fur is what sets them apart from the rest of the Maine Coon clan, but there’s much more to the female-dominated tribe than meets the eye.
Although most meow machines are known to be strong-willed, short-tempered, and straight-up hostile when approached without consent, tortoiseshell cats take things to a higher degree. And, to everyone’s surprise, they’re utterly unbothered by the sheer shock on your face. They just know they’re adorable.
With that out of the way, though, tortoiseshell Maine Coons are addicting for a reason. If you’re on the hunt for a four-legged friend with a huge purrsonality that’ll keep you on your toes, you can’t go wrong with one of these bad boys (or better yet, girls). Read more down below!
What’s a tortoiseshell Maine Coon mix?
With tortoiseshell Maine Coon’s multicolored fur, these curious creatures are one of the most beautiful breeds out there. Named after the uncanny similarity to turtle shells, tortoiseshell cats aren’t a specific breed – they’re one of the rare color variations that can occur in a variety of different breeds.
Tortoiseshell Maine Coon cats are recognized by the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) under the parti-color color class which means they’re considered purebred.
That being said, we do need to mention that tortoiseshell Maine Coon cats are extremely rare and you might have a hard time getting your hands on one – especially if you’re on the hunt for a male tortoiseshell Maine Coon kitten.
With a mixture of red, orange, black, and brown colors, Maine Coon torties are typically described as black cats with asymmetrical patches of red, orange, brown, and sometimes even white.
Maine Coon cats, tortoiseshell or otherwise, are surrounded by a veil of mystery. We know that the tortoiseshell pattern of a Maine Coon tortie occurs as a result of genetics, but we can’t say the same thing about the origin of the breed.
Maine Coon cats are believed to be a combination of a cat and a raccoon – which wouldn’t be possible. Others believe they are the descendants of Marie Antoinette’s cats sent over to America during her foiled escape attempt from France. Needless to say, that sounds highly unlikely, too.
Now, we do know that Maine Coon cats belong to the oldest cat breed native to America that probably originated when the Vikings and other European sailors arrived in America with a myriad of long-haired cats.
Whatever the case might be, tortoiseshell Maine Coon mix cats are a rare bunch that deserves your attention and affection. What are you waiting for?
10 facts about tortoiseshell Maine Coon mix guaranteed to seal the deal
We’ve rounded up a few fascinating facts about Maine Coon torties to ensure you’ve got the deets you need before you head to the nearest Maine Coon breeder. Whether you’ve got your heart set on a tortie with a golden heart or a Maine Coon with a larger-than-life personality, take a peep at what we’ve gathered.
1. Tortoiseshell cats aren’t a specific breed
We already highlighted that tortoiseshell cats aren’t a specific breed, but that’s something we do need to underline. Whether you’re a fan of American Shorthairs, British Shorthairs, Persians, Cornish Rexes, Ragamuffins, or Maine Coons, there’s a chance you might end up with a tortie.
Tortoiseshell refers to the multicolored coat consisting of different shades of black, brown, orange, red, and sometimes even white. Traditional tortoiseshell Maine Coons are almost always black with asymmetrical patches of brown and orange scattered across the face and the body.
Dilute tortoiseshell Maine Coons are lighter and chocolate tortoiseshell Maine Coons are darker due to genetics. Depending on the breeder, your Maine Coon tortie might be completely different from your friend’s Maine Coon tortie. That’s the thing with these beauties.
2. Tortoiseshell Maine Coon mix cats can possess mosaic or chimera coat patterns
When you picture a tortoiseshell Maine Coon, chances are you’re thinking of a tortie with a traditional color combination mixed together without particular rhyme or reason.
Torties with a mosaic pattern are super, super common and that’s why we’re conditioned to think they’re the “default” Maine Coon torties.
We could argue that’s true because they’re the more common ones, but we can’t forget about chimera torties, either. Chimera torties are a rare group with one color on one side of the face and body and a different color on the other side of the face and body.
3. Main Coon cats, tortoiseshell or otherwise, are gentle giants
Maine Coon cats are known as “the gentle giants of the cat world” because they’re huge cats with muscular bodies you’d expect to be reserved and detached. But they’re the opposite of that. They’re affectionate, appreciative, and attached to humans more than you can imagine.
Before you get your hands on a Maine Coon tortie thinking she’s going to be a tough cookie to crumble, think again. Maine Coon cats (torties included) are the sweetest feline friends you’ll ever encounter. Moreover, they’re cuter and cuddlier than you’d expect considering they’re actual giants.
4. Tortoiseshell cats are known to possess “tortitude”
Maine Coons are gentle giants, but Maine Coon torties are also drama queens that don’t take no for an answer. We can’t claim that there’s a connection between the color of a cat’s coat and the attitude she ends up with, but there’s a reason torties’ alleged “tortitude” always comes up.
What’s the deal with that? Maine Coon torties are believed to be cats with an attitude – apparently, they’re known for their strong-willed and fiercely independent nature. We can’t attest to that fact, but we can say that we’ve never met a tortie that didn’t throw paws when touched without consent.
5. A tortie’s height, weight, and health vary depending on the breed
More times than not, when shopping for a specific breed, you focus on the expected height, weight, and health because you want to make sure you’re going home with a cat that fulfills your expectations.
Adopt-don’t-shop people wouldn’t agree with that approach, but there are times when you want to know what you’re getting yourself into before you commit.
With a tortie cat, you never know what you’re getting and that’s something you need to keep an eye on. A Maine Coon tortie should have the average height, weight, and health of a Maine Coon, but there’s no way of knowing that for sure.
6. Tortoiseshell Maine Coon mix cats adore being trained, played with, and walked on a leash
With a Maine Coon tortie, toys, cat trees, cardboard boxes, and paper shopping bags are a must. Tortoiseshell Maine Coon mix cats are incredibly dog-like which can be a pro or a con, depending on what you’re looking for.
Torties are friendly, fun, and energetic, which means you’ll spend most of the time playing with them, trying to catch them, and teaching them different tricks. Playing fetch, rolling on the ground, and walking on a leash will be rewarded with a long cuddle session afterward.
7. Torties are almost always female
We can’t get enough of strong female felines, that’s for sure!
You might have a tough task searching for a male Maine Coon tortie because torties are almost always female. Why’s that? Everything boils down to genetics – the female chromosome X carries the gene for both orange and black coat colors.
With two X chromosomes, females can be born with both orange and black coloring while males can be either black or orange. Males can’t be both orange and black, which means male tortoiseshell cats are super, super rare.
8. Maine Coon cats aren’t afraid of water
We said Maine Coon torties are different, right? Overall, Maine Coon cats are known to appreciate water more than your average moggy.
Coons happen to have water-resistant coats, which might have something to do with the fact that they’re strong swimmers and tolerant bath takers.
9. Maine Coons are known to carry the gene for extra toes
Who wouldn’t want to play with a Maine Coon’s toe beans, especially when there are a few extra ones for good measure? We’re obsessed with Maine Coon torties because they’re known to carry the gene for extra toes.
Maine Coon cats might have relied on extra toes to pad through snow, catch prey, and climb aboard ships better than the average cat. We don’t know whether or not that’s the case, but we do know that Maine Coons possess a dominant PD (polydactylism) gene.
10. Tortoiseshells are part of a myriad of myths and folklore
Maine Coon torties are mysterious moggies, but they’re even more fascinating when you figure out that they’re part of a bunch of myths and folklore.
Scottish folk, for example, believe it’s a sign of good fortune when a tortoiseshell cat enters a home. Americans refer to them as “money cats” and Southeast Asians believe they’re a part of “the blood of a young goddess born of a lotus flower.”
At the end of the day, tortoiseshell Maine Coon mix cats are family-friendly felines that deserve all the attention and affection the world gives them.