The Blue Smoke Maine Coon: The ‘Ghost’ Cat#

There is a moment in every judge’s examination of a Blue Maine Coon when they pause, blow gently into the fur, and smile. They have found the white root.

The Blue Smoke is a cat of mystery. At rest, he appears to be a solid Blue (grey). But in motion, he shimmers. The white undercoat flashes through the slate-grey topcoat, creating an effect like moonlight on water.

Genetically, this is a Dilute Black cat with the Inhibitor gene. Here is how to identify a true Smoke.

The Genetics: Dilution + Inhibition#

The Blue Smoke combines two major mutations:

1. [cite_start]Dilution ($dd$): The cat has two copies of the recessive dilute gene, which clumps the black pigment granules, turning them blue. [cite: 2911]
2. [cite_start]Inhibitor ($I-$): The dominant Inhibitor gene suppresses pigment at the root. [cite: 2916]
3. Non-Agouti ($aa$): The cat is solid, not tabby.

[cite_start]The Genotype: $a a B- d d I-$ [cite: 3016]

The “Ghost Pattern”#

Even though a Blue Smoke is genetically a “Solid” ($aa$), you will often see faint tabby markings on kittens. These are called Ghost Markings. [cite_start]Robinson’s Genetics notes that because the Inhibitor gene suppresses the “background” color more than the “pattern” color, the underlying tabby pattern (which every cat has) often shines through. [cite: 3015] In a Blue Smoke, this manifests as “Ghost Barring” on the legs and a faint “M” on the forehead. Judges prefer a “clear” smoke, but some ghosting is often unavoidable.

How to Tell if Your Cat is a Smoke#

Many owners think they have a “light blue” cat when they actually have a Smoke. The Test:

1. Wait for the cat to sit in bright sunlight.
2. Part the fur on the collar (ruff) or the flank.
3. True Blue: The hair is grey all the way to the skin (or slightly lighter grey).
4. Blue Smoke: The root (bottom 1/2 inch) is stark, crisp white. [cite_start]The contrast must be distinct. [cite: 3015]

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Conclusion#

The Blue Smoke is one of the most sophisticated colors in the Maine Coon palette. It combines the softness of the dilute blue with the drama of the high-contrast smoke.

References#

1. Vella, C. et al. (1999). Robinson’s Genetics. “Smoke,” p. [cite_start]164. [cite: 3015]
2. Robinson, R. “Blue Dilution,” p. [cite_start]140. [cite: 2987]
3. CFA. Maine Coon Breed Standard: Smoke Division.
4. Walsh, L.G. (2013). The Maine Coon Cat. “The Colors of the Coon,” p. [cite_start]16. [cite: 1074]