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Orange Maine Coon Cat Breed Info: Pictures, Traits & Facts

Written by: Christian Adams

Last Updated on January 12, 2024 by Catster Editorial Team

Maine Coon

Orange Maine Coon Cat Breed Info: Pictures, Traits & Facts

Breed Overview

Height:

10–16 inches

Weight:

11–18 pounds

Lifespan:

10–20 years

Colors:

Solid red, red classic tabby, red mackerel tabby, and red ticked tabby

Suitable for:

Families looking for a large longhaired cat with a friendly and affectionate nature

Temperament:

Affectionate yet independent, patient with kids and pets

The Maine Coon is famous for being one of the largest domestic cat breeds. These stunning cats combine incredibly good looks with a friendly and outgoing nature. If you’ve been looking for the perfect cat, the Maine Coon could be it!

Maine Coon cats come in a wide range of coat colors, and orange is one of the most stunning. Although you may be tempted to call them ginger cats, their coat color is technically described as red. If you’re ready to discover all the shades of red and orange Maine Coons and what makes these cats so special, you’re in the right place!

We’ll tell you everything you need to know about the charismatic and unmistakable Maine Coon, so you can decide if one of these giant kitties might be the perfect new addition to your family.

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Orange Maine Coon Kitten — Before You Bring One Home …

Orange Maine Kitten
Image by: TalyaPhoto, Shutterstock

Fluffy Maine Coon kittens are incredibly adorable, so be warned that if you visit a litter without being 100% sure you’re ready to own one of the huge cats. You might find yourself inadvertently agreeing to reserve a kitten, especially if you have your kids with you!

Maine Coon cats are affectionate, but they’re also independent, meaning they’re a good choice if you need to leave your house empty during the day while everyone is at work or school. While these cats adore attention, they won’t mind being left to their own devices during the day.

Orange Maine Coons are patient and good-natured, and they can make great companions for kids who know how to interact with cats safely and respectfully. Their longhaired coats need more grooming than other breeds, so you’ll need to set aside time for at least two weekly grooming sessions.

Maine Coons are often likened to dogs, personality-wise. They love human interaction and enjoy learning tricks, playing plenty of games, and even dabbling their paws in water.

Energy
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A high-energy cat needs a lot of physical and mental stimulation to keep healthy and happy, while a low-energy cat needs minimal physical activity, but still needs mental stimulation. When choosing a cat, It’s important to ensure their energy levels match your lifestyle.
Trainability
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Cats that are easy-to-train are more willing and skilled at quickly learning prompts and actions with minimal training. Harder-to-train cats are usually more stubborn or aloof and require a bit more patience and practice.
Health
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Certain cat breeds are more prone to various genetic health problems, and some more than others. This doesn’t mean that every cat in those breeds will have these issues, but they do have an increased risk, so it’s important to understand and prepare for any additional needs they may require.
Lifespan
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Due to their size or potential genetic health issues of a specific breed, some cats have shorter lifespans than others. Proper nutrition, exercise, mental stimulation, and hygiene also play an important role in your cat’s lifespan and quality of life.
Sociability
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Some cat breeds are more social than others, both towards humans and other cats and animals. Cats that are more social have a tendency to rub up on strangers for scratches or jump on laps for cuddles, while cats that are less social shy away, hide, are more cautious, and even potentially aggressive. No matter the breed or gender, it’s important to socialize your cat and expose them to many different situations.

Orange Maine Coon Price

An Orange Maine Coon kitten is a sizeable investment since they aren’t cheap! We recommend budgeting around $500-$1,500 for a pedigree Orange Main Coon kitten. Remember that not all breeders will always have orange kittens available, so you may need to wait until one becomes available or be prepared to pay a premium to reserve a kitten with the perfect coat color.

You may find breeders advertising Orange Maine Coon kittens for a cheaper price, and while this might seem like a bargain to start with, we recommend proceeding with caution until you’ve established a few facts first. We recommend asking for the following:

  • Pedigree documents for both parent cats
  • Health checks carried out on parent cats and kittens
  • References from previous customers
  • If you can visit the breeding facilities and meet both parent cats
  • Which breed registry the breeder uses (there are a few)

Reputable breeders will be more than happy to answer any of your questions. Maine Coon cats can suffer from a few genetic health conditions, so it’s vital to take the time to find a breeder who understands how to minimize the risks of these being passed onto the kittens they’re breeding.

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3 Little-Known Facts About Orange Maine Coon

1. They are technically red

While some Orange Maine Coon cats look like an orange or ginger tabby, their breed standard lists them as red. The Cat Fanciers Association’s (CFA) breed standard says the solid red color should be: “deep, rich, clear, brilliant red, without shading, markings, or ticking. The lips and chin should be the same color as the coat, and the nose leather and paw pads should be brick red.”

This base red coat can also end up as a red classic tabby, red mackerel tabby, and red ticked tabby. Red tabby Maine Coons can also have white markings. The CFA also lists red smoke or red cameo smoke. These stunning Maine Coon cats have a white undercoat, which can’t be easily seen while the cat is sitting still, as their topcoat is still a red color. As they move, their paler undercoat is apparent.


2. Orange Maine Coons are the dogs of the cat world

Maine Coons are well known for their outgoing and playful personalities. Some people liken their characters more to dogs than cats. They love human attention, will happily learn tricks, and even enjoy going on walks with a leash!


3. Maine Coon cats can be traced back to 1861

The first written reference to Maine Coon cats was back in 1861, and the cat was black and white. It’s unknown exactly where the breed originates, but they were used as ship cats due to their hunting prowess.

Their name derives from the state that they were found, Maine, and the fact that the original Maine Coon cats had ringed tails, resembling a raccoon.

Orange Maine Coon yawning
Image by: 43260, Pixabay

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Temperament & Intelligence of Orange Maine Coons

Orange Maine Coon cats have a personality that’s as big as their bodies! They love attention, but they’re not overbearing. Maine Coons can be vocal, but only when they want something.

Maine Coon cats love human company, but they’re independent enough to enjoy time alone too. So, if you need to head to work, your Orange Maine Coon cat will be more than happy to entertain themselves while you’re gone.

These cats might love their owners, but they can be standoffish with strangers until they get to know them better. Maine Coons retain the hunting abilities that made them famous as ship’s cats back in the day, so if your Orange Maine Coon is allowed outside, don’t be surprised if they proudly bring back the results of their hunting expeditions.

Are Maine Coons Good for Families? 👪

Orange Maine Coon cats make excellent family cats. They get along great with kids as long as the children know how to play with a cat. They have enough energy to enjoy plenty of games but are relaxed enough to nap on the couch in between.

Do Maine Coons Get Along With Other Pets?

Orange Maine Coons are usually happy to live in multi-pet households, either with other cats or dogs. As long as new cats are introduced carefully, most Maine Coons are happy to live alongside them.

Orange Maine Coons are also fine living with a dog in the household. Their playful natures and inquisitive personalities mean they can often enjoy playing with dogs.

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Things to Know When Owning an Orange Maine Coon

Choosing to add an Orange Maine Coon to your family shouldn’t be a decision that you rush into. You’ll need to take the time to find a reputable breeder who carries out health checks, but you should also be prepared to invest time and money into keeping your Orange Maine Coon healthy and happy. Before you take the plunge, here’s more information to help you decide.

Food & Diet Requirements 🐡

Orange Maine Coon cats are usually active, so selecting a high-quality food with a high percentage of protein is important. Look for real meat as the first ingredient and no fillers, preservatives, or artificial flavorings. Whether you choose to feed kibble, wet food, or raw food will be down to your preferences and budget and what your cat likes!

Maine Coons can be prone to obesity, so you’ll need to keep a close eye on their weight. Your vet can show you how to assess your cat’s body condition, and you can adjust their rations if necessary. Maine Coons can suffer from hairballs due to their long coat, and special diets are available that contain higher levels of fiber to help decrease the chance of them getting hairballs.

Orange Maine Coon
Image Credit: mamizaza, Pixabay

Exercise 🐈

Orange Maine Coons enjoy plenty of exercise and the opportunity to explore their surroundings. If your cat goes outdoors, they will probably get enough exercise themselves, but if they’re an indoor cat, you might need to encourage them to play so they don’t gain too much weight.

Maine Coons love games, so having a good selection of toys can help keep your cat happy by indulging their instinct to chase and hunt. You can create food hide-and-seek games around the house, sprinkle catnip for your Orange Maine Coon to enjoy, and more!

Ensuring your cat has plenty of enrichment around the house is important, even more so if your cat lives indoors. Adding vertical components, like cat hammocks, scratching posts, shelves, and cat condos, will provide interest and entertainment.

Training 🧶

Orange Maine Coons are intelligent and can quickly be trained to learn commands. From teaching your cat to walk on a harness and leash to training them to sit, stay, and even high-five, the only limit is your imagination!

Orange Maine Coon cats will respond well to positive reinforcement techniques, such as using a clicker to mark the behavior that you want them to repeat and a food reward to let them know that they’ve done the right thing!

Orange Maine Coon Cat
Image Credit: Wunky, Pixabay

Grooming ✂️

Besides their stunning orange-red coats, Orange Maine Coons have a dense long coat. They need grooming at least twice a week to ensure it doesn’t become matted and tangled. If your Maine Coon goes outside, they may need more grooming.

Most Orange Maine Coon cats love being groomed, but it’s a good idea to get your kitten accustomed to it while they’re still young. Maine Coon coats shed more than most cats, so besides regular brushing sessions to remove loose hairs, you may need to vacuum your house more frequently as well.

Health and Conditions 🏥

Maine Coon cats fell out of favor in the 1900s, and as a result, the number of breeding cats declined to a low number. While they’re now a popular breed again, all Maine Coon cats are descended from a small gene pool. This means they can suffer from a higher-than-average number of health conditions.

The color of your Maine Coon cat won’t affect which conditions they may inherit, so Orange Maine Coons will have the same chance of suffering from a particular health condition as any other coat color.

We’ve outlined the main health conditions below, but any reputable breeder will be happy to talk to you about the health tests that they carry out on parent cats and their kittens.

Minor Conditions
  • Stomatitis
  • Periodontal disease
  • Obesity
Serious Conditions
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
  • Spinal muscular atrophy
  • Polycystic kidney disease

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Male vs Female

Perhaps you’ve decided that an Orange Maine Coon will be the perfect addition to your family, and we don’t blame you! These adorable cats have amazing personalities. Now, all that’s left to decide is if you want a male or female kitten!

We advise that you wait until you meet the sweet litter of kittens before you make up your mind. Maine Coons are a popular breed, so if you want an Orange Maine Coon, you may not get a choice of whether they’re male or female. It will all depend on the parent cat’s color and genetics, how many kittens there are, and which color and sex each kitten is!

Red or Orange Maine Coons are often male, so if you’re sure that you want a female Orange Maine Coon, you may need to wait a little longer or track down multiple breeders.

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Final Thoughts

The Orange Maine Coon is instantly recognizable due to their huge size, distinctive face, and sweet tufted ears. These cats make lovely family pets, thanks to their playful and affectionate personalities and laid-back natures. While they love to play (including in water!), they’re just as happy to relax while you’re away from home.

This breed can suffer from more health problems than other breeds, so it’s vitally important to take the time to find a reputable breeder with the experience of producing healthy kittens. Orange Maine Coon cats from healthy bloodlines can live up to 20 years. Finding a specialist breeder will give you the best chance of finding a kitten that will have a long and healthy life. If you adopt an Orange Maine Coon, we’d love to hear more about them!


Feature Image Credit: Mariamichelle, Pixabay

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