Maine Coon Calico Cat Mix Information: Facts, Traits & More

Many people prefer to stick to purebred cats, but plenty of mixed-breed felines can be a lot of fun. Mixed breeds tend to live longer than their parent breeds and often get a little bit larger. One amazing mixed-breed cat to consider is the calico Maine Coon.

This mixed breed feline will melt the heart of even the surliest of people. Along with their gorgeous coats, they are sweet, playful, and incredibly smart. Imagine a giant calico cat that is gentle and cuddly but also likes to play and can show any mouse or unwanted pest the door.

A calico Maine Coon is one of the rarest mixed-breed felines to find. This is because calico cats require a specific genetic makeup to produce their unique coloring. Maine Coon cats are a breed that developed naturally and has a history of cross-breeding. We get into what makes this unique mixed breed so special and go over some things prospective owners will want to know.

Breed History

A Maine Coon Calico mix is a hard-to-come-by, incredibly unique mixed breed feline. Two of the most popular cats of all time, the Maine Coon and the lovely calico, mix to make this one-of-a-kind cat. Finding one of these kitties may not be easy, but finding one is well worth the work.

There is not much known about the first calico Maine Coon, though there are breeders today who specialize in this unique kitty. While both kinds of feline are common, finding this specific blend of kitty is not as easy as one might think.

Any mixed breed can be unpredictable in appearance, size, and personality. This is especially true for The Maine Coon calico mix. Though not much is known about the specific history of this mixed breed, they are pretty popular. It would be quite unusual to find a cat lover that would turn down the chance to have one of these gorgeous kitties.

Calico

The first thing to know about calico is that “calico” is not a breed. Calico is a tri-colored coat pattern that includes white, orange, cream, and black. Colors can include blue-black, blue-gray, brown, and tabby. These kitties are named after calico cloth. Calicos are 25% to 75% white, with patches of color.

These distinctly coated cats belong to many breeds, including the Maine Coon, Arabian Mau, American Shorthair, Manx, Turkish Van, Persian, Japanese Bobtail, Cornish Rex, Scottish Fold, Siberian, Exotic Shorthair, Norwegian Forest Cat, Sphynx, Devon Rex, and Turkish Angora. Calicos may be any number of breeds or breed mixes. It can be challenging, unless an owner knows both parent breeds and bloodlines, to determine the exact breed of a calico.

There is little information available to trace the origin of calico cats. They are thought to have been seen first in Egypt. From there, they spread into the Mediterranean, Europe, and Africa. Calicos are found all over the world now. They are an extremely popular kitty due to their beautiful coats. Of all the feline breeds, calicos have the most colorful coats and are believed to be lucky in many cultures.

One crucial thing about calico cats to remember is that most of them are female. The genes determining coat color in these kitties are linked to the X chromosome. These kitties must have a paternal and maternal X chromosome, each linked to distinct colors. Because of this, male calicos are incredibly rare. Those that do survive are sterile and are often small and unhealthy. Klinefelter Syndrome is a rare condition in male cats. These super rare kitties with an extra chromosome XXY result in a male calico. Because male calico cats are sterile, it is impossible to breed them specifically.

A calico kitty can come from many different breeds or be a mixed breed. Their temperaments can be unpredictable, as can size and appearance. With any mixed breed, unless one knows the genetic makeup of both parent breeds, it may be impossible to predict their appearance. While not impossible, it is difficult to breed for the color pattern. Calico patterned cats must have black, red, and white on their coats. Though shading and density vary, a feline will not be considered calico without these three colors.

Coloring

Calicos can come in a few different patterns, including:

• Traditional – Tri-color coat that has white, orange, and black patches. These cats often have white faces, with black or orange on their ears, foreheads, backs, and sometimes legs. Color patches can be one or both colors.
• Patched Tabby – These cats will have both Tabby features and calico colorings of orange and black. They may have stripes along their bodies and the “M” shaped marking common to Tabby cats on their foreheads. They often have white paws.
• Dilute – Dilute cats have the signature color patches, but their colors are somewhat muted or cloudy. These felines usually have faded coats of orange, black, and white. Black can appear anywhere from gray to blue or smoke colors, and oranges look almost like a cream color. This coloring can be rare, as both parents need to have a recessive gene for this coloring to appear. Calico cats have a piebald pattern with different colored blotches of fur.
• Dense Shell – These kitties have a white base coat with patches of black and different shades of red. These patches of color will not be brindle. However, this kitty has all three standard calico colors present. There can be dilute shell calico cats. This variety looks similar to the dense shell, with muted colors.
• Dense Shaded -These are cats that have darker colorings, white base coats, red and black patches, and shading on their faces, sides, and tails.

Hair

Calico kitties can be both long and short-haired. Many of the short-haired kitties around will be classified as Domestic Shorthairs. This is because most calicos are mixed breed. Short-haired cats of an unknown mixed breed are called domestic shorthairs. Other shorthair breeds like the American Shorthair and British Shorthair can often have calico patterns.

Long-haired calico cats are often Norwegian Forest Cats, Persians, Ragdolls, or Maine Coon. All are highly popular long-haired cat breeds. Their long, luxurious coats are already quite beautiful. However, a long-haired calico is a fantastic animal to see.

Maine Coon Cats

Maine Coons are the largest breed of domestic felines around. These big cats are native to New England, specifically the area known as Maine. These big kitties have been nicknamed the gentle giant due to their generous size and charming nature. They have long, thick coats, muscular bodies, and sturdy legs, adapting over time to survive harsh New England winters.

Some captivating origin stories and legends surround this breed. One quite popular tale is that they are a cross breed of a feral cat and a raccoon due to the ring-like markings often present on this cat’s long bushy tail. Another variety of this story says the breed is a mix of an American bobcat and a feral domestic cat, likely due to the wild-looking coats this giant breed has. Neither of these stories is true or even biologically possible. Domestic cats and raccoons cannot cross-breed. While there might be some rare cases of an American bobcat and a domestic house cat, even a feral one, mating, these two species are far too different to reproduce.

Gentle giants are quite simply enormous. These kitties can reach 20 to 25 pounds when they are fully grown. They will stand between 10 and 16 inches tall and have incredibly long bodies. Their tails are much longer than the average cat’s. These felines are covered in long shaggy fur, making them look even bigger than they already are. They are known for their tufted ears and mane-like ruff of fur around their necks.

Maine Coon cats are often referred to as the dogs of the cat world because they are highly trainable and love to play games like fetch. This big breed loves being outside and can be trained to walk on a leash. They can accompany owners all over on their adventures if appropriately trained. They are skilled hunters and love to explore.

Gentle giants are extremely sweet and affectionate and love to be around people. Maine Coons can make wonderful house cats, although they will need owners who are sensitive to their generous size and homes with enough space for them to move around. Outdoor access is not necessary, though this breed is one that genuinely enjoys exploring the great big world outside.

This breed is highly intelligent and sometimes has a stubborn streak, so training them can be challenging. They take much longer to mature than many other cat breeds, growing until they are between 3 and 5 years old. This extended period of growth means that these big kitties retain a kitten-like mentality well into their adult years. Gentle giants live on average between 10 and 15 years, though many have lived much longer.

Maine Coon Calico Mix

A calico Maine Coon will be a large, soft, long-haired kitty with a stunning coat of glossy fur. This mix breed will be noticeably big and can reach 20 pounds or larger. They will stand fairly tall, between 10 and 16 inches. Expect a kitty with a long, bushy tail. This cat will combine some of the best physical qualities we look for in feline companions.

Temperament

All felines are unpredictable when it comes to personality. However, gentle giants are known for their friendly and sweet nature. Most breeds mixed with the gentle giant result in an amiable, adorable cat that enjoys human companionship. This mixed kitty will likely be a gentle, sweet, intelligent, good-natured kitty. However, there will be a lot of variances in this breed’s personality. Looking at the parent’s behavior is a good indicator of different traits a mixed kitten may have. Expect a clever feline that likes people and dogs but may have a bit of a wild streak.

These kitties will vary from being incredibly outgoing to being quite docile. As most feline owners know, there is no tangible way to predict a cat’s personality until they are fully grown. This kitty may make a chirping or trilling sound rather than a meow. They will be opinionated and not hesitant to let people know what they think.

Size & Appearance

Any breed of feline mixed with a gentle giant will be large. Maine Coon calicos will be larger than the average female cat. Females are smaller than the huge males, so a mixed breed will weigh around 8 to 14 or more pounds. Keep in mind that this is an estimate. This is another area where looking at the parent cats can indicate how big a mixed breed will be.

These gorgeous kitties will have long, glossy, calico-covered fur. The type of coloring will vary. Gentle giants are known for their tufted ears, oval-shaped eyes, and a thick ruff of fur around their necks, causing them to look like wildcats. A mixed kitty may or may not have these tufted ears, paws, and shaggy manes. This mixed breed is quite beautiful, a graceful cat with a subtle wild look. They may have bright, multicolored eyes. Heterochromia is a condition that runs in gentle giants and several other feline breeds.

Coat & Colors

Maine Coon cats are known for their long shaggy coats. Calico kitties can come in long and short hair varieties, though it is likely that any breed crossed with a gentle giant will have medium to long-length hair. These coats will be soft to silky smooth, depending on genetics. They will retain some thickness and may not be as soft as some other long-haired breeds, like the Persian. These cats can come in a range of colors. However, a cat must have orange, black, and white fur. Some cats, especially the gentle giant, will have different shades of red, brown, blue, cream, and even smoke or lilac mixed in.

Grooming

With a coat that is this fabulous, cat owners will want to spend a lot of time grooming their fabulous coats. Long-haired cats need regular grooming at least twice a week, if not daily, to keep their coats free of debris, pests, parasites, and other irritants. Consistent brushing along with their self-grooming keeps their skin healthy and keeps owners aware of any issues, itching, or different skin and coat problems they may be experiencing.

This mixed breed feline will shed and have seasonal periods where they shed more. Be prepared for significant hair loss at these times and regular shedding throughout the year. Consistent brushing also helps keep shedding to a minimum and is high-quality time to spend bonding with your fantastic kitty.

Living Requirements

Maine Coon mix cats need homes where they have room to explore. These kitties love to hunt, climb, and explore. They will do plenty of this indoors and often find themselves getting into messes for climbing up in places they should not be. Due to their generous size, these felines might be perceived as clumsy. Providing them with a home with room to roam, places to climb, and access to outside time will keep them happy and healthy.

These kitties will need owners who do not mind being followed around but are also ok with their cats being left alone if they need to be. They should have places to hide and nest away in the house, as well as multiple points of access to water. A home that is kept at a moderately cool temperature and is free of potential choking hazards will keep this big curious breed safe. Owners should always keep this mixed breed’s litter box clean and tidy. They can be quite fussy about their litter box, and with long shaggy coats, there is a chance of spreading germs and feces throughout the home. This can be an unpleasant situation and a health hazard to both humans and felines.

These kitties should not be left outside unsupervised or for very long periods of time. While many wild kitties and even some domestic ones do perfectly fine outdoors, a calico Maine Coon is so rare and unpredictable that it is not wise to allow this breed to roam too far or be alone outside.

Exercise

All kitties will need regular physical activity and exercise, especially bigger felines. At least two solid play sessions a day of about 15 to 20 minutes each, with access to plenty of toys and opportunities to run freely, are also a good idea. Gentle giants are known for their hunting abilities and high energy. Mix breeds will be moderate to high energy, though there are those mixes that are pretty docile. Make sure this breed has plenty of time to play and use up some of that boundless energy.

This gentle mixed breed might be able to be trained to play games and walk on leashes and will need plenty of mental stimulation as well as physical exercise. Providing a variety of toys, obstacles, and other mental stimulation will help keep them from getting bored. A bored big house cat can be quite destructive, which is something to avoid.

Training

This mixed breed will be intelligent, clever, stubborn, and can be trained to play games and do tricks. They can be easy to train or may be a challenge. That simply depends upon each individual cat. Sometimes highly intelligent felines can be challenging to train because they are very independent. A calico Maine Coon needs an owner that can set firm boundaries and enforce them. These cats can be quite gentle and respond well to positive reinforcement like treats, kind words, and cuddles. As with any mixed breed, they can be tricky when it comes to training.

Common Training For Cats

There are a few essential areas in which all cats should be trained to ensure a happy cohabitation with their human family members. These include:

• Basic commands: sit, jump, stay, no, high five, roll over, etc.
• No scratching or biting of people or pets
• No scratching people
• Do not scratch furniture
• Use the litter box
• No spraying
• Games
• Walking on a leash

Health

In most cases, mixed-breed felines are healthy. This mixed kitty will have a lifespan of 13 to 14 years. They may be predisposed to some health conditions because of their larger size and genetic makeup. When it comes to feline health, genetics matter. Maine Coon cats are prone to some medical conditions, and some are genetic. Other health concerns are related to size, and as with any mixed breed, there is always a level of unpredictability. Learning as much as possible about the parents is the best way to prepare for any diseases or medical conditions that may affect this mixed breed.

Health conditions that might affect this mixed feline include:

• Hip dysplasia
• Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)
• Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)
• Orthopedic and joint concerns
• Joint dysfunction
• Tumors
• Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)
• Feline asthma
• Allergies
• Parasites and infection
• Digestive issues and malfunction

Nutrition

This active kitty needs a well-balanced, high-quality diet with ample animal proteins. This will be especially important for their proper growth and development. This breed will be large and will need this protein to fuel them throughout the day. Felines need to eat meat. Chicken and fish are reliable sources of healthy animal proteins. This mixed kitty will be long-haired and need Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids to help support coat health. Long-haired cats are at risk for increased hairballs and need diets high in fiber to help prevent excess hairballs. Carbohydrates support growth, as do amino acids, vitamins, and minerals.

Avoid budget brands of cat food and brands that use a lot of fillers and artificial ingredients. They will need high-quality food their entire lives, but especially in the first few years as they are growing. Low-quality foods will not have the appropriate nutrients to support this breed’s growth or keep their coats healthy. Kitties need different foods when they are kittens, adults, and senior kitties. Keep this in mind and discuss any dietary changes with your veterinarian.

Breeders & Kitten Costs

A Maine Coon calico kitten will be one of the most expensive cats ever found. This breed is rare and highly sought after, so it can be hard to find. These gorgeous kitties can cost a LOT. $1,500 to $2,500 or more is not unusual. Some breeders may sell for less, but it is rare to find these kittens for less than $800. Expect to invest a few thousand dollars in adopting and getting set up with one of these kitties. They will need regular care and kitten shots, as well as spaying.

Always make sure to look for reputable breeders. Your vet can be an excellent place to start for recommendations, as well as the Cat Fanciers Association. Ask a lot of questions and ask to see the parent cats. Reputable breeders will be happy to answer questions, show you around, and provide documentation of genetic testing and health care.

Rescues & Shelters

There is always a chance that a shelter cat will end up being one of these rare mixes. However, they are not commonly found in shelters. Kitties from shelters will cost much less than those from specialty breeders. If looking for one of these mixes in shelters, it can be helpful to reach out to Maine Coon or calico rescues. Local and national Animal Humane Societies are also good places to look. Adopting an older kitty can also be less expensive and give a beautiful kitty a loving forever home.

As Family Pets

A calico Manie Coon cat will make a fantastic pet. They will be lively yet affectionate, intelligent, clever, and fun. These mixed felines have a luscious coat like almost no other breed. For many cat owners, this mix is the ultimate cat. They will likely do well with children and dogs. These kitties will need to learn to be socialized but will be loving, loyal companions once trained. They may have an independent streak and be challenging to train, so they may not be the best breed for first-time cat owners.

This mixed kitty will need room to move, but since most are female, they will not get as large as purebred gentle giants. They can live in apartments, small houses, and big homes. Because this breed will have a lot of hair, they will shed and may not be the best for people with strong cat allergies. They will take longer to mature, so they need a tolerant, understanding owner. This kitty will act like a kitten for most of her life and can be an excellent companion for people of all ages.

Final Thoughts

The mixed calico Maine Coon is a rare kitty many cat lovers would be thrilled to have. They can be larger than most other breeds and will be fluffy, multicolored beauties. This mixed breed is rare, so they are hard to find. Most calico cats are female, so a male is an especially hard feline to find. This mixed breed is expensive but well worth every penny. They are one-of-a-kind cats, highly intelligent, and full of charm.

There is no way to tell exactly what any feline, purebred or mixed, will be like until they are fully developed, but this guide has set some reference points to help owners know what to expect this craft kitty will be like. Anyone lucky enough to bring home one of these special kitties has a big responsibility. They need top-notch care, quality nutrition, and regular medical checkups to live long, healthy lives. The calico Maine Coon is one amazing breed, and cat owners everywhere adore this sweet kitty, both for her looks and personality.