Understanding The Dilute Gene

A gene known as the dilute gene (or melanophilin) can be present within the genetic sequences of some cats. Not all cats have the gene, and even those who do are not guaranteed to have a diluted coat.

The dilute phenotype—or diluted color coat—only appears when the cat carries two copies of the dilute gene. This is only possible through the inheritance of the gene from both parents, making the effect autosomal recessive and rare.

The effect is produced because the melanophilin alters the distribution of melanin granules (pigment) throughout the cat’s fur. Cats without the dilute gene have normal pigmentation uniformly through the fur. However, cats with two copies of the gene don’t have uniform pigmentation. Instead, they experience pigment clumping that causes many areas in their hair to have no pigmentation at all.

If that’s the case, why are the colors diluted and not absent? The areas of clustering (both with pigment and without) are on a microscopic level. So, when you see them from your eye, the colors appear blended and diluted because we don’t have microscopic vision.

That means when you see a blue Maine Coon, you’re looking at a black cat with two recessive gene copies of melanophilin. Other dilute colors include lilac, which is from chocolate; fawn, which is from cinnamon, and cream, which is from red.

How Can You Tell What Color a Maine Coon Kitten Will Be?

Determining a kitten’s color is pretty easy regarding Maine Coons because of a fascinating set of genetic rules they follow. Male grey Maine Coon kitten will always obtain both of their color genes from their mother. So, by that logic, male kittens will always be the same color as their mother (or the diluted version).

That means grey male kittens are birthed from black or blue Maine Coon mothers. On the other hand, female kittens receive one color gene from each parent. This makes them more likely to have mixed colors or more unique combinations.