Published Apr 18, 2025
As a kitten, Richie seemed like the average gray Maine Coon. But as he grew, he developed long, fluffy, silvery-gray and black fur. His stunning coat surprises people who meet him, and many people call him a yeti because of all that hair!
Accomplishing her dream
Richie’s mom has had cats all her life, including two alley cats she had for 21 years. Their deaths hit her family hard, and they spent a couple of years in mourning.
She had always dreamt of having a Maine Coon, so when she was ready for another cat, she searched for reputable breeders. Luckily, she was able to find one where she lived.
The breeder said that Richie would be very fluffy, but nothing could fully prepare his mom for the amount of hair he has, or the beautiful color change his coat went through.
Opposites attract – meeting Tomie
Around a year and a half later, the family decided that they wanted Richie to have a friend. His sister had actually given birth to a litter of kittens, so his mom decided to adopt a “little red head” cat named Tomie.
She worried they might not get along, but her concerns were for nothing. Although Richie and Tomie have opposite personalities, they get along fantastically! They love to cuddle and groom one another.
Richie is shy and prefers to stay indoors where he’s comfortable. He doesn’t like wearing a harness, and associates the outdoors with trips to the vet!
However, he does have his playful moments, crab walking with his fur on end and making what his mom calls a “hungry face” when he wants to play with his humans. She says he never attacks, just pretends he will!
On the other hand, Tomie is a total adventure cat. He loves going for walks on his harness or travelling in his cat backpack. He adores other cats, and makes friends easily.
What is a black smoke Maine Coon?
Richie is a black smoke Maine Coon, which is why his fur changed color and became so extraordinarily fluffy! This is a rare coat color in Maine Coons in which the base coat is black and the undercoat is a pretty silver tone.
Aside from their coat color, they’re just like any other Maine Coon. This breed is known for being friendly and docile. They often enjoy water, and are very fluffy. Their coats require a lot of maintenance, as they’ll form painful and unsightly mats unless they’re brushed down to the skin at least two to three times a week.
Follow Richie’s Journey
You can follow Richie on his Instagram, where Tomie is often featured as well. Their mom says that her favorite thing is making videos with them, as it’s a fun and playful experience for them all.
She thinks they must like being filmed, because they’re always showing off their charming and silly personalities for the camera.
These two changed her life for the better, and she absolutely loves the breed. They’re gentle, happy cats, and they make her smile every day. She hopes that others will find the same joy in their content!
