Maine Coons are one of the largest cat breeds that are kept at home without any problems. They have a special appeal and are always easy to get along with people and other pets. Maine coons of tortoise color look especially beautiful and refined, which will be discussed later. In this article we also get acquainted with the opinion of felinologists on how to predict the birth of tortoise kittens.
Main characteristics
Tortoiseshell kittens appear quite rarely, since this is due to complex genetic processes that occur in the feline. Typically, tortie color involves mixing two, three or more colors on the hair of a cat or cat. Speaking of the Maine Coon breed, one can safely note that dozens of original combinations and variations of color mixing on animal hair can be found in nature, but, as a rule, specks of black and red shades are most often found. And you can also see the "turtle on white."
Most often, tortoiseshell females are born. For cats, it is a serious rarity to have such a color, as a rule, experts attribute this to serious gene mutations.
Consider the main types of tortie color.
- Classical. The classic tortoise color implies an alternation of orange (red) and brown shades on the coat of the animal. If the Maine Coon parents have a very beautiful coat, and a chocolate shade prevails on it, then kittens can have a tortoise color with chocolate and black spots.
- With white. Turtle color with a predominance of white implies that white spots will be especially noticeable on the legs of the animal, on the back, muzzle and stomach. They will contrast with a different dark shade.
- Blue with cream. With such a tortoise color, the white color on the wool, as a rule, is not present at all. But throughout the cat’s body, one can easily observe the alternation of dark blue and cream (milk) spots. Maine Coons of this color are considered one of the rarest in their breed. Felinologists spend more than one year to get this color. At the same time, the blue-cream cat-girl will be very kind and soft in nature.
- Calico. The predominance of white, red and black colors on the wool. Obtaining such a color is very common. In foreign folklore, you can find information that cats with this color bring good luck and become very attached to their owners.
Of course, these are just general ideas about the tortoiseshell colors of Maine Coons. There may be other variations in the combination of shades and colors, but in general it is important to understand that the tortoise color implies the presence of spots of different sizes, smoothly transitioning to the hair of a cat or, in rare cases, a cat.
Predictions of felinologists
For many years, many breeders have been trying to get such a rare and beautiful tortoiseshell color, because you can never predict it in the next offspring with absolute certainty. And this is due to many factors.
Turtle pattern, in addition to complex genetic factors and processes, also depends on the individual characteristics of the parents, their age and pigmentation of the color of their coat. It is almost impossible to predict the receipt, for example, of tortoise color with the dominance of blue and milky colors. And it is also obvious that to get kittens with this color you can not knit red and black Maine Coons, even if somewhere in their pedigree there are cats or cats with this color, it is not a fact that their descendants will be like that.
The drawings on the body of small kittens in the first days of life are very difficult to see, but over time they are likely to amaze with their originality. Moreover, such kittens are most valued in nurseries and sold at higher prices.
What will kittens be like?
Each tortoise color will surely have its fans. After all, how can color not be enchanted with fuzzy smooth transitions from one spot to another. Also on a cat or Maine Coon cat. Soft overflows of chocolate, black, blue and white colors will certainly not leave anyone indifferent.
If the mother cat is the owner of the tortoise color, then in her litter, most likely, there will be kittens of both the usual color and the tortie. Calculating the color will be more difficult. After all, it can be a combination of shades of wool and a cat-mother, and a cat.
Experts believe that if the color of the coat of the alleged parents of the cat and cat is the same, then it is likely that male kittens with the same color will be obtained.
To more accurately predict the color of future offspring, it will be necessary to study not only the analysis of the dominant genes of the alleged parents, but also their immediate ancestors according to the pedigree. And also consider the prevailing colors on the wool and their pigmentation. Of course, not all breeders are professional genetics, and therefore it is sometimes just nice to expect Maine Coon kittens without any special calculations with their original tortoise color. In addition, they may appear unexpectedly, even if the parents do not have a tortoise color at all.
Interesting facts about Maine Coons are waiting for you in the video below.
