Maine Coon cats are the way to go, but what’s the tea with white Coons? Whether you’re looking high and low for a Casper with a favorable, fun-loving purrsonality or a Luna with a tendency to nap on your lap for hours and hours, you can’t go wrong with a white Maine Coon cat.
What do we know about these mysterious moggies? Maine Coon cats, white or otherwise, are affectionate, appreciative animals that adore hanging out with humans, napping, and munching on paw-licking treats. Coons are purrfect pets because they’re gorgeous, gentle, and patient, no matter what.
Whenever we touch upon the origin of Maine Coon cats, we need to underline that nobody knows where these curious creatures came from. We’ve got myths and tales aplenty, but you’re free to speculate whether your Coon came from a lovely raccoon and cat litter or a scary Viking ship.
We aren’t kidding! Maine Coon cats’ origins are attached to three theories that might help you understand the allure of these alabaster animals. Were Coons a combination of a raccoon and a cat? Were these fluffy felines somehow related to Marie Antoinette’s Turkish Angora cats?
Or, were these boisterous beasts a part of the crew on a British sea captain’s ship that sailed the New England coast? We might never know, but we know that most cat connoisseurs agree that Maine Coon cats reached the state of Maine around the 1850s, thanks to the generous seafarers.
Whatever the right story of origin might be, Maine Coon cats managed to become one of the most popular, prominent breeds out there, with millions and millions of humans struggling to choose between white, cream, red, blue, black, tabby, bi-color, parti-color, tortoiseshell, shaded, and calico Maine Coons.
What’s there to know about a white Maine Coon cat?
What’s a white Maine Coon?
White Maine Coon cats are a sight for sore eyes, there’s no question about that. Maine Coons attract attention because they’re big, bold, and beautiful, but there’s something about white Maine Coons that makes everyone stop and stare.
We don’t know whether that’s because they’re equipped with the perfect contrast of pearly, white coats and bright, blue eyes or because they’re built for winter in more ways than one, but we do know that they’re anything but vanilla. White Maine Coons aren’t white.
Now, white Coons were formally accepted by the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) around 1976 and, three years later, by The International Cat Association (TICA), too. But white Coons are rare because the color white, at least when we’re talking about cat coats, isn’t a color – it’s a lack of color.
What do we mean by that? White Coons are born with a specific gene that suppresses melanin and leads to a lack of pigmentation. Depending on whether the gene’s recessive or dominant, a Maine Coon cat can be completely white or dotted with white spots.
White, cream, or spotted, Maine Coon cats are a sight to be seen. With big-boned bodies, long, luscious coats, and pointed ears topped with whispy tufts of hair, these bold beauties are guaranteed to become the stars of your family. Needless to say, they’re not lacking in temperament, either.
White Coons are soft, sophisticated fluffers that can get away with anything because they’re great with humans. What’s there to know about white Maine Coon cats before bringing one home, though? We’ve gathered a few of our favorite fun facts to help you make up your mind. Read more down below!
What’s there to know about white Maine Coon cats before bringing one home?
1. White Maine Coon cats are rare
White Maine Coon cats aren’t your average alabaster animals – because of the “shining, shimmering, splendid” coat color, they’re considered rare. We brushed over the fact that white Coons come to be thanks to a gene that suppresses melanin and causes them to be born white or with white spots.
To make matters even more strange, not more than 5% of cats come with pure white coats. Actually, white kittens with the recessive gene responsible for the lack of pigmentation are typically born with a spot of color on top of their head called a skullcap.
Skullcap represents the color that the kitten would be without the recessive gene, but the strange spot fades away when the kitten gets older. White Coons are full of surprises, aren’t they?
2. Maine Coons are gentle giants
Planning on getting an adorable white Maine Coon kitten? Maine Coon cats are deemed “gentle giants of the feline world” because they’re the cutest, cuddliest cats out there. People get scared when they meet a humungous cat with a muscular build and heaps of hair, but Maine Coons are far from scary.
When you get to know them better, you’re going to notice that these curious creatures spend most of the day napping on the sunny side of the floor, munching on breadcrumbs that fall off your plate, and following you around. What’s not to adore?!
3. Coons are Chatty Cathys
Maine Coon cats, white or otherwise, aren’t afraid of speaking up. Coons are communicative, and they’re more than happy to meow, chirp, trill, and chirrup when they’re trying to communicate with you. Contrary to popular belief, Coons don’t produce the same sounds you’d expect to hear from an average tomcat.
Coons are more prone to producing peculiar chirping sounds that go on and on, especially when you’re trying to get away from them. Maine Coon cats adore attention, and they’re not shy about it.
4. White Maine Coon cats aren’t albino
Albino cats are white, but white cats aren’t albino. What do we mean by that? Albino cats are born without melanin, which happens to be the reason why they’re born with white coats and blue eyes, for the most part.
White cats, on the other hand, possess some melanin and pigmentation although they appear to be fully white. White Maine Coon cats, for example, can come with darker eyes or dark spots on their paws or noses. Albino cats and white cats are caused by two completely different genes, too.
5. Maine Coon cats aren’t afraid of water
Cats and water don’t go together, but Maine Coon cats are an exception. We don’t know why Maine Coons tolerate water better than Sphynx or Devon Rex, but we’re pretty sure you’re going to adore bringing your Coon to the beach or showering with her.
Maine Coons possess water-resistant coats and are strong swimmers, and that’s probably why they’re more likely to be cooperative during bathtime than an average moggy. Whatever floats your boat, Coon!
6. White Coons can get sunburned
White Coons need sunscreen, too! White Maine Coons can get sunburned because of the suppressed melanin we mentioned beforehand. Melanin affects much more than the color of a cat’s coat or eyes – melanin protects a cat’s skin from the harmful effects of ultraviolet light.
Without melanin, white Coons are more susceptible to skin damage and diseases.
When hanging out by the window or napping outside, white Coons need extra protection. Whether you put sunscreen on them, add UV-blocking film to your windows, or prevent them from spending too much time outside when it’s hot, that’s up to you.
7. Maine Coon cats, white or otherwise, carry the gene for extra toes
Polydactyl cats possess a dominant Pd gene that can cause them to come with an extra toe or two on each paw. Most cats come with five toes on their front paws and four on their back paws, but polydactyl cats are born with six or more toes on each paw.
Maine Coon cats carry the gene for extra toes, but that doesn’t mean that all Maine Coon cats are polydactyl.
More often than not, the gene for extra toes needs to get triggered by another gene. Maine Coon cats can pad through snow, catch mice, and run around ships better with a little help from an extra toe or two, so they’re more than happy to participate.
8. Coons are dogs of the cat world
Where do we even start? Cats have a reputation for acting up, being detached and reserved, and attacking anyone who dares touch them without consent. Contrary to what everyone seems to think, Maine Coon cats are the opposite of that.
Maine Coon cats are referred to as “dogs of the cat world,” because they’re happy to play fetch, walk on a leash, and learn tricks. Moreover, they’re attached to humans and they’re happy to be part of a big family with plenty of family members. Coons make for purrfect pets, there’s no question about that.
9. White Maine Coons are often deaf
We talked your ears off with different genes that cause different Maine Coon features, but we promise we’re ending the article with the gene that causes white Maine Coons to be deaf.
White Maine Coons possess a gene that suppresses melanin, but the same gene causes a reduction of melanin-producing cells called melanoblasts, too. Without melanoblasts, the little hairs inside a Coon’s ears die off and cause the poor thing to become deaf.
White cats and cats with white spots are at high risk of deafness because of that, but that doesn’t mean that all white Maine Coons are deaf. Deaf or not, white Maine Coons are worthy of your attention and affection.
