The Maine Coon history |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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.. 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. | |
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