Meet Clifford: Our Red Tabby Polydactyl Maine Coon Kitten With Blue Eyes

If there was ever a Maine Coon kitten who walked into the world already knowing he was going to be somebody, it would be Clifford.

Born July 1, 2026, Clifford is our big, fluffy red tabby polydactyl Maine Coon kitten with striking blue eyes, oversized paws, and a facial expression that makes him look permanently surprised by his own handsomeness. He is currently the largest Maine Coon kitten in his litter, and when you look at the genetics behind him, his size, color, paws, and overall appearance start to make a lot of sense.

Clifford is the son of our beautiful calico Maine Coon queen Naomi and our black smoke Maine Coon king Gojo. Both parents contributed some incredible traits, and Clifford is becoming such a fun example of how Maine Coon genetics can combine across generations.

Where Did Clifford Get His Red Maine Coon Coat?

One of my favorite things about Clifford is that we can actually trace his gorgeous red tabby coloring directly back to his mother, Naomi.

The gene responsible for orange and red coloring in cats is carried on the X chromosome. Male cats have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome. A male kitten receives his X chromosome from his mother and his Y chromosome from his father.

That means when we are talking about a male kitten like Clifford, his red color came from Mom.

Naomi is a calico Maine Coon, meaning she carries both orange/red and non-orange color genetics on her two X chromosomes. Clifford happened to inherit the X chromosome carrying her orange gene, giving us this gorgeous red Maine Coon boy.

Gojo could be the darkest black smoke gentleman in the room and still couldn’t give Clifford his red coloring because fathers give their sons the Y chromosome.

Genetics said, “Naomi, this one’s on you.” 😂

Those Giant Polydactyl Maine Coon Paws Came From Mom Too

Naomi didn’t stop at giving Clifford his beautiful red coat.

She is also a polydactyl Maine Coon with extra toes on her front paws, and Clifford inherited the polydactyl trait as well.

Polydactyly is a genetic trait that causes a cat to develop additional toes. It is commonly inherited as a dominant trait, although the number of extra toes and which paws are affected can vary between kittens.

Historically, polydactyl Maine Coons are especially interesting because extra toes were relatively common among early Maine Coon populations. Those enormous paws only add to the rugged, almost wild appearance that makes the Maine Coon breed so recognizable.

And Clifford absolutely did not receive the memo about growing into his paws later.

He came equipped with the snowshoes immediately.

What Did Clifford Inherit From Gojo?

While Naomi deserves credit for Clifford’s red coloring and polydactyl paws, Gojo’s influence is written all over this kitten’s face.

Gojo is our black smoke Maine Coon with gorgeous blue eyes, a heavier build, and a beautifully rounded facial expression. Clifford is already developing many of those same characteristics.

His round, expressive face immediately reminds us of his father, and his overall body structure appears to be following Gojo’s heavier build.

And then, of course, there are those eyes.

Clifford currently has incredible blue eyes similar to Gojo. Eye-color genetics in cats are more complicated than simply saying that one parent “gave” a kitten blue eyes, because several genes can influence pigmentation and eye color. However, seeing Gojo’s beautiful blue-eyed expression reflected in Clifford makes the resemblance between father and son impossible to ignore.

One important note with young Maine Coon kittens is that kitten eye color can continue developing as they mature. We love watching that process and seeing exactly how each kitten changes over time.

Clifford Is Already the Biggest Kitten in His Litter

Clifford isn’t just big in personality.

He is currently the largest Maine Coon kitten in his litter.

That doesn’t surprise us much when we look at his father.

Gojo is actually younger than our other Maine Coon king, Killua, yet Gojo is considerably heavier. He has a substantial frame and powerful body structure, and Clifford appears to be following directly in Dad’s oversized pawprints.

Maine Coons are considered one of the largest domesticated cat breeds, but growth can vary tremendously between individual cats and bloodlines. They are also slow-maturing cats and may continue developing physically for several years.

Being the largest kitten in a litter does not guarantee Clifford will ultimately become the largest adult, but his current growth, bone structure, paws, and genetics certainly make watching him develop exciting.

A Very Special MyGeekTails Maine Coon

Clifford is exactly why I find Maine Coon breeding and genetics so fascinating.

One little red Maine Coon kitten can tell an entire genetic story.

His red tabby coat points back to his calico mother Naomi. His polydactyl front paws continue another trait from Mom. His heavy build, round facial expression, and those mesmerizing blue eyes remind us so much of his father Gojo.

And somehow all of those pieces came together to create one very chunky, ridiculously fluffy little boy.

At MyGeekTails Maine Coon Cattery in Houston, Texas, watching our Maine Coon kittens grow is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do. We don’t just get to watch their personalities emerge—we get to watch generations of Maine Coon genetics express themselves right in front of us.

Clifford was born July 1, 2026, and he’s already making it very clear that he’s going to be a memorable one.

Big red tabby coat? Check.

Polydactyl Maine Coon paws? Check.

Beautiful blue eyes? Check.

Built like his daddy? Absolutely.

And judging by those paws, Clifford may still have a whole lot of growing left to do. ❤️🐾