| This beautiful cat which has a delightful bushy tail, and | | | | between short haired domestic cats with long hair |
| which is striped and with long fur, is in fact a | | | | cats from overseas, at a time when people began |
| domestic cat which is surprising considering how large | | | | migrating from Europe. |
| it is. The Maine Coon is native to North America and | | | | Maine Coon Cats also have unique personalities. They |
| furthermore is actually native to the state of Maine, | | | | are often likened to dogs in fact. Unlike most cat |
| where it has been made the State Cat. | | | | breeds, the Maine Coon is highly sociable with humans |
| The Maine Coon has been around for more than a | | | | and other pets. These cats will actually run to you |
| century, and it is believed that their physical design | | | | when you call them, and are likely to be sitting at the |
| enables them to withstand the harsh winters of New | | | | door waiting for you when you arrive home. They do |
| England. Everything from their overall size, to the | | | | like a lot of love and attention. |
| shape of their paws, to the thickness of their fur | | | | You may or may not be aware that cat shows have |
| makes them suitable animals for harsh winter | | | | been taking place around the country since 1861, and |
| weather. Furthermore, their fur has a water resistant | | | | it was in the 1900's, with the introduction of the |
| quality to it. | | | | Persian cat, that the Maine Coons popularity began to |
| As with so many domestic animals, a number of | | | | wane. But they bounced back again in the 1950's and |
| legends have grown up around them, some which | | | | their own Association was formed in 1968, the Maine |
| may be true, and others which definitely are not. It | | | | Coon Breeders and Fanciers Association, with the |
| has been suggested that the Maine Coon is a product | | | | express purpose of protecting the breed. However it |
| of the domestic cat and the raccoon mating, but | | | | was another 12 years before all the cat registries |
| most experts think this is not possible. Other | | | | recognized the breed. |
| suggestions are that the native North American cat | | | | Today, there are thousands of people who own, |
| mated with the Vikings cat, and this is a possibility | | | | show and adore the Maine Coon Cat. The MCBFA, |
| because of the similarity between the Maine Coon | | | | which was founded so long ago, by just six breeders, |
| and the Norwegian Forest Cat. | | | | now has a membership of over 200 breeders, with |
| The Maine Coon Cats of today would not have been | | | | approximately 2000 other members (non-breeders) |
| considered as a part of the breed at one time. Only | | | | as well. |
| brown tabbies were referred to as Maine Coon Cats, | | | | You may be interested to know that today the |
| and any 'Maine Coon' of a different color was | | | | Maine Coon is the state cat of Maine in the United |
| referred to as a Maine Shag Cat. Cat experts largely | | | | States, and it is said to be the most widely bred cat |
| agree that the Maine Coon is a product of mating | | | | in the world. |