White Maine Coon Cats: 8 Facts Every Cat Lover Should Know

Imagine you enter your living room to find a beautiful cat with the cleanest, white, snow-colored fur walking across your floor. It’s a large cat, and gorgeous! Its fluffy coat beckons to be rubbed and played with. But this isn’t just any cat. It’s a white Maine Coon, one of the most beautiful colors of America’s gentle giant cat breed.

These are special cats. Unlike most other cat breeds, white Maine Coons are unique in their genetics, personality and care.

If you are thinking about adopting a snow white cat, or you’re just interested in buying one, this blog will help you answer all your questions about these magnificent cats.

What Makes a White Maine Coon Cat Unique?

What you may not realize is that the white Maine Coon is not white in the characteristically “white” sense. Surprise! These cats don’t have a full-white coat. 

Their white coat is due to a special genetic masking trait that covers or conceals their true color underneath. They have a dominant masking gene (known as the “W” gene) that is so dominant, it covers whatever the original color would have been. 

Here’s an interesting fact – sometimes when a white Maine Coon kitten is born, it can have a tiny colored patch on its head that can represent a glimpse of their “real” color hidden under a leuco (white) Maine Coon coat. 

That tiny spot usually disappears as they grow out of their baby fur – revealing them as a “completely” white Maine Coon.

Many people mistakenly think that white Maine Coons are different from other Maine Coons, but they are not albino. Albinism is a genetic mutation that results in the complete absence of pigment, which ultimately affects their melanin (a pigment) production. 

If you look closely at a Maine Coon and an albino cat’s eyes, you can see the difference – albino cats will have a pinkish or extremely blue eye color due to their complete lack of pigmentation while a white Maine Coon can have a variety of eye colors.

How is a White Maine Coon Different from Other Maine Coons?

As white Maine Coons share many similar traits, characteristics and behaviors with Maine Coons of different colors, they have the same personalities – they are friendly, intelligent and curious (playful). The main difference stems from appearance- they stand out in a crowd for their white coats!

Care of the Maine coon usually involves special considerations for white Maine Coons specifically regarding grooming and coat maintenance. 

The bright white color will show dirt easily, much more than darker colored cats, which means their coats may require more frequent grooming to keep them looking their best.

Without proper grooming, many cats’ white coats may become slightly yellow with time, not especially true for outdoor cats. 

These cats also have the same double coat as Maine Coons in general. They have the soft, velvety undercoat and the longer, water-repellent outer coat. 

This means you should groom them regularly (2-3 times per week) to avoid tangles and mats from forming. During shedding times, you may have to do a daily grooming session to keep up with all of the white fluff!

What Eye Colors Do White Maine Coons Have?

One of the beautiful features of white Maine Coons is the eye color. While colored Maine Coons have green, gold or copper eyes, white Maine Coons can have blue eyes, copper eyes, green eyes, or odd eyes (each of two different colors).

Although you may find blue eyes in Maine Coons, they are a rarity and normally reserved for white Maine Coons or Maine Coon with substantial white markings. 

That is because the same genes that cause their white fur can also affect their eye color. The bright blue eyes against pure white fur produce an absolutely gorgeous cat.

Interestingly enough, are the “odd-eyed” blue-eyed Maine Coons i.e. one blue eye and the other eye is a different color, typically gold or green. 

This is called heterochromia and occurs because the amount of melanin (the pigment that produces color) differs in each eye. It is somewhat uncommon, and the appearance can be fascinating.

Are Maine Coon Cats Truly White or Just Have a White Coat?

As we’ve learned, “white” Maine Coons are really not “white” in a genetic sense – they are cats with another color wearing a white “mask”! 

The “white” gene is dominant, which means it takes only one copy of the gene to make a cat white. This also means that at least one of the parents must be white in order to produce a white kitten! 

The true genetic color of the cat is hidden under their pristine coats of white, but the true color could be that of black, blue, red, cream, or any one of the Maine Coon colors.

Breeders will sometimes know what the underlying color of a white kitten is because there might be that first tell-tale colored mark appearing on their heads before they get older. 

Genetic masking of color is not the same as albinism. Albinism is when there is a total lack of pigmentation due to a genetic mutation; while in genetically white Maine Coons, the white gene can mask normal pigment production. 

If you were to compare their eyes, albino cats always have a pale blue/pinkish colored eye; while white Maine Coons will have a variety of eye colors.

How Common Are White Maine Coons in the Breed? 

If you have never come across a white Maine Coon, it’s because they are pretty much non-existent! White cats, in general, make up about 5% of all cats, and for Maine Coons it is much lower at 1.5%.

The reason for this rarity comes from the genetics of breeding. Because the white gene is dominant, at least one parent would have to be white in order to produce white kittens. 

Again, breeding white cats takes a conscientious effort for possible health concerns, like deafness, which we will explain later.

Even though white Maine Coons are rare, they are very much wanted by cat lovers for their unique beauty.

Must Known Fact About White Maine Coon Kittens

White Maine Coon kittens are unbelievably cute—just picture little white bulbs of fluff bouncing and scurrying around your home. Like all Maine Coon kittens, they grow and mature at a relatively slow pace, not reaching their full size until they’re 3 to 5 years old.

If you’re bringing a white Maine Coone kitten home, be aware that you’re getting a cat that grows slowly and then ultimately becomes a lot bigger. 

Male Maine Coons usually will weigh in the fully grown stage at 13-18 pounds or more, while females will weigh in at 8-12 pounds. Some extraordinary males will weigh rates of 25-30 pounds or more.

You will need to groom your white Maine Coon kitten, so start early to adjust them to the grooming process. Early socialization is key so your Maine Coon will develop their naturally friendly, outgoing personality. 

The handling and play you give your kitten will help develop a healthy, happy Maine Coon because they are inherently social and loving cats.

Are White Maine Coon Cats Rare and Why?

Yes, white Maine Coons are rare. There are estimated to be about 1.5% of the Maine Coon population that is white and this is mainly due to the genetics involved in the production of white cats, which are the result of a dominant white masking gene.

The process of breeding white Maine Coons is complicated because you need to know the cat’s actual genetic colour, which is masked by the white fur. 

If a kitten is white, it is often hard to tell the cat’s genetic colour unless there is a small head patch of colour left. Most of the time, though, the head patch disappears and is gone by the time the kittens are 4 weeks old.

White Maine Coon Kittens Cost

White Maine Coon kittens rank among the rarest and most popular Maine Coons, which is reflected in their pricing. Expect to pay between $1,500 and $3,500 for a kitten from a quality breeder in the U.S. 

Their pricing can range up to $4,000, if the kitten comes from a pedigree of award winners or has particular rarities such as blue or odd colored eyes. 

Some breeders are charging upwards of $4,000, $6,000, or more for exceptional quality or rare traits, kittens with show-quality lineage, or breeding rights. 

Factors that influence the price include: 

• Rarity of the white coat and eye color
• Reputation and health guarantees of the breeder
• Pedigree and bloodline
• Location and demand.

White Maine Coon Kitten Prices (USA, 2025)

Note: White Maine Coons are rare, so expect to be placed on a waiting list and pay a premium for these stunning kittens.

Are White Maine Coons at High Risk for Deafness?

One significant health factor associated with white Maine Coons is their increased risk of deafness. Deafness in association with white fur is not coincidental, but based on genetics. 

Melanocytes, which are cells that produce pigment, are not only found in the skin and fur. They are also part of the inner ear and eyes. 

Because white Maine Coons have white masking, this means their melanocytes are missing which increases their risk for hearing problems, especially if they have blue eyes. 

The statistics are amazing: white Maine Coons with non-blue eyes have a chance of being born deaf at 17-22%. If they have one blue eye, the chance increases to 40%. 

If they have two blue eyes, the chance of being deaf increases to 65-85%! This form of deafness may affect one or both ears and is congenital.

The Best Names for Your White Maine Coon Cat

Selecting an appropriate name for your white Maine Coon may be a fun way of celebrating their distinctive color. Common names for white cats often highlight their snowy color, mythological ties, or their elegance.

Should You Get a White Maine Coon?

If you are thinking of adding a white Maine Coon to your family, there are many things to consider. They are undeniably beautiful with their snowy white coats and bright, expressive eyes, but there are some unique factors to be aware of, too. 

First and foremost, you will have a loving, smart, and friendly friend who gets along with your kids and other pets. On the other hand, white Maine Coons need a lot of grooming attention to keep their coats in top condition. 

They may be more prone to deafness, particularly those with blue eyes. Also, they are scarce so they may be more of a challenge to find, and you may pay a little more than other Maine Coon colors. 

If you decide that a white Maine Coon will be a good addition to your family, you should expect to commit to 12-15 years or more if properly cared for. 

They provide so much companionship and fun, along with all of the Maine Coon magic you can expect from one of America’s most rewarding breeds.

References

1. https://www.gccfcats.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Maine-Coon-Breeding-Policy-Sept-2024.pdf
2. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11373664/
3. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/maine-coon-cat
4. https://icatcare.org/articles/inherited-deafness-in-white-cats
5. https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/ask-elizabeth-white-cats-and-blindnessdeafness