TRIGGER WARNING: Dominant Blue Eyed Maine Coons (DBE)

Hey there, fellow cat enthusiasts! It’s April Katido, your host of the Cat Breeder Sensei Says podcast, back with another episode about dominant blue eyed Maine Coons that’s sure to ruffle some feathers. I’m joined by my awesome co-host, Marche, and today we’re diving into the wild world of cat breeding controversies. We’re fresh off our last trigger warning episode about breeding queens back-to-back, and now we’re tackling a hot topic that’s got the cat community buzzing: dominant blue-eyed Maine Coons. Buckle up, because this one’s a doozy!

Enter the Dominant Blue Eyed Maine Coons Debate

This topic triggers cat hags harder than a litter of polydactyls at a CFA show (more on that later). I recently had coffee with a ragdoll breeder who’s been harassed online for breeding mink-colored kittens. Some cat hag left nasty reviews all over her socials just because she loves that color—and her buyers do too! Sound familiar? It’s the same drama blue-eyed Maine Coon breeders face.

Here’s the backstory: a few years ago, blue eyes started popping up in Maine Coons beyond the usual solid white or high-white bicolors. These are dominant blue eyes—think striking azure no matter the coat color, sometimes with just a speck of white. It all traces back to a cat named Elvis (Google “Elvis the blue-eyed Maine Coon” for the full scoop). The breeder claims it was a spontaneous mutation, but others whisper it’s from crossbreeding with a blue-eyed breed like the Topaz. Check out the Messy Beast website for the juicy pedigree details—it’s a rabbit hole!

Why I Hesitated (and Why I Gave In)

Marche and I have been on both sides of this fence. When blue eyes hit the scene, I was skeptical. The cat hags had me convinced it was “wrong”—that I’d be a garbage breeder ruining the Maine Coon legacy. Marche, though? She was all in from the start, pushing me to try it. It took years of debate, but I finally caved and got a blue-eyed queen. Spoiler: I didn’t keep her—not because of her eyes (they were stunning!), but because her profile wasn’t up to my picky standards. Still, I’m not ruling out another go if the right cat comes along.

The Case for Blue Eyes

So, why do some breeders (and buyers) love these blue-eyed beauties? Here’s the pro side:

• Breeds Evolve: I think clinging to “it’s not breed standard” is outdated. Breeds change—look at Persians! They went from doll faces to flat-faced champs in decades. Scottish Folds started with a moggie mutation too. Why not blue eyes?

• Buyer Demand: Buyers go nuts for them! In a survey I ran on our website, 52% of people said they’d pay more for rare colors or patterns. Blue eyes? That’s a rare jackpot.
• Breeder’s Choice: We breed what we love. I pick cats for my program based on what I find beautiful—same as you. If blue eyes strike your fancy, why not?

The Opposition’s Beef

Of course, the cat hags and purists have their claws out. Here’s what they’re yowling about:

• Breed Integrity: Maine Coons are a “natural” breed, and dominant blue eyes aren’t native. TICA and FIFe don’t allow them—some even DNA test to disqualify that gene.
• Health Risks: They claim blue eyes bring issues like Waardenburg syndrome (wide-set eyes) or deafness. But hold up—deafness is tied to white cats too, and those are breed standard. My deaf white kittens were happy as clams—buyers even want them!
• Change Resistance: People hate change. They’ll fight tooth and nail to keep things “pure,” even if the standard’s already a moving target.

Hypocrisy at its Finest

Here’s where I get fired up. If you’re a cat hag losing it over blue eyes because “it’s not breed standard,” take a hard look at your own cats. Got a Maine Coon with a big ol’ nose bump or recessed chin? News flash: that’s not breed standard either! TICA says the profile should be a straight line from nose to chin—no bumps, no weak chins. Yet I don’t see you getting hate mail over that. Why the double standard?

Polydactyl Plot Twist

Oh, and let’s talk polydactyls. TICA has a separate category for them, but CFA? You can’t even show a poly Maine Coon there—it’s not breed standard. Yet polys started as a mutation too. So why’s that okay but blue eyes aren’t? Mind blown yet?

Our Take on DBE

We think the standard will shift eventually—maybe in 5 or 10 years—as more breeders and buyers embrace blue eyes. But here’s the real tea: it’s your cattery, your circus, your monkeys. I don’t care what you breed—nose bumps, blue eyes, whatever. It’s not my business, and it’s not the cat hags’ either. Do your research, weigh your “why” and “why not,” and own your choice. I tried blue eyes, ditched them for profile reasons, and might try again. No regrets.

Your Turn

We want to hear from you! Head to Spotify or our Facebook group and vote in our poll: Are you for, against, or just curious about dominant blue-eyed Maine Coons? It’s anonymous, so spill your guts. We’ll share the results next time.

Wrapping Up

This was our longest episode yet—almost an hour! Thanks for sticking with us. Next up, we’re tackling “What’s a healthy cat?” It sounds tame, but trust me, it’ll pick some scabs. Until then, keep running your circus your way, and make good choices out there. Catch you later!