The Maine Coon history


 

The only thing that can be said for certain is that these cats originated from Maine/USA where farners kept sturdy cats for catching mice and rats. Coon is short for racoon. The second part of this cats name is derived from the similarity of the tail of the racoon to that of the cat. Nowadays this similarity can only be seen in cats with very distinct markings.
 

There are various stories and versions of how the cat came to America. It is biologicaly intorable that the Maine Coon originates from the interbreeding of the cat and the racóon. It cannot be verified that during the "French Revolution"- Marie Antoinette sent the cats in advance to America before she left her country. These cats and the cats which were already in the USA are said to be the great grandparents of the Maine Coon as we know it today.
 

On the other hand others belive that english sailors imported angora cats to America. These cats bred with the cats which already lived there and the result of this breeding transpired into the Maine Coon. Last and least version is that the Vikings or later immegrants from Norway took the Noriegon Wildcat to America and because of the interbreeding which occured the foundation for this breed was laid. Various similarities between these two species speaks for this version.
 


 

.. a success and now a legend

But certain is that in 1895 the Maine Coon-Cat named Goosie who was owned by Mrs. E.R. Pierces was awarded the "best in show" award at the cat show in Madison Square Garden. This makes the Maine Coon to one of the oldest known breeds of all time. Unfortunately this breed was forgotten until it was refound in 1983 within the FIFé.