Other Name
The official state cat of Maine is -- you guessed it -- the Maine Coon. This plus-size cat, adorned with a beautiful neck ruff, dainty britches, tufted feet that resemble snowshoes and a big, bushy tail that he can wrap around himself when he naps is likely the oldest cat breed native to America.
Lots of myths surround the origin of the Maine Coon, from the belief that he’s the result of a cross between a cat and a raccoon — biologically impossible — to the fanciful notion that he descends from French cats sent to Maine by Marie Antoinette in anticipation of her intended escape from France. More likely, the cats descend from meet-ups between shorthaired domestic cats already in this country and dashing longhaired foreign cats brought home as souvenirs by New England sailors. Some even say the Vikings might have brought longhaired cats with them when they touched the shores of America a thousand years ago, and indeed there is a resemblance between the Maine Coon and the Norwegian Forest Cat. Wherever they came from, the cats were viewed as household and farm workers, highly valued for their mousing talent. The first mention of a cat called a Maine Coon occurred in 1861, in reference to a black and white specimen named Captain Jenks of the Horse Marines. It wasn’t unusual to see Maine Coons at the then-new and popular events called cat shows held in Boston and New York. In 1895, a brown tabby Maine Coon named Cosie won Best Cat at the Madison Square Garden Show. Today, Maine Coons are among the most popular pedigreed cats. They rank third among the breeds registered by the Cat Fanciers Association.
