Maine Coons, what are they? are they half Cat half Racoon? or just a beautiful wild cat that has naturally evolved with the help of nature over the decades since they first became known to American Farmers.

 

Well we do know that they are named after the Eastern US state of Maine where they are believed to have evolved naturally without the intervention of man.  Although historically the people of Maine thought they were a cross breed between cat and racoon due to the huge striped tail, but we know now that this is genetically impossible.

 

The Maine Coon is America's only native cat and is believed to have developed only on the Eastern Seaboard side of America.  One Theory of it's origins is that Vikings brought over it's ancestors many centuries before.  Another theory is that Maine Sea Captains brought over Angoras and Persians from Europe which then crossbred with the Maine Cat to create what we have today.  Another theory is that they are the offspring of Marie Antoinette who took refuge in the United States during the French Revolution.  They are also believed to be the cats that Captain Coon took ashore when he visited New England Ports and allowed his cats to mate with the local cats.  Yet another idea is that a domestic cat mated with a Wildcat or Bobcat in America. 

 

Whatever the truth is, we don't know to this day how they originated but what we do know is they are one of if not THE most beautiful cats in the world today.  The Maine Coon cat comes in a variety of colours (more than any other breed) which covers the spectrum of cat colours, although in the UK we don't accept all the colours that they have in the United States.  The colours can include solids, smokes, mackerel tabby, classic tabby,  shades etc.  I won't list them all as there are about 34 colours which can then include with white as well making about 68 in all (more in America).  Eye colours can be green, gold, copper and in the white cats you can have blue, orange and odd eyed cats as well.

 

As the breed developed, so did cat shows in America whereby over the decades the Maine Coon became the second most popular cat breed to own and show. 

 

 

The cat itself can be instantly recognized by its large size (it is the largest domestic cat breed in the world), its huge lion like mane and the famous bushy tail for which it is famous.  It also has rather large ears and sometimes huge lynx tips on the top, giving it the look of a wild Lynx cat.

 

The cats themselves have a fantastic temperament and love nothing more than gently head butting (bunting) you or climbing on your lap for fuss.  They also seem to have a liking for water and not just drinking it, they like playing in it and with it!!!  The cats have a great playfull nature and love to climb up high, which is a trait from their wild days when they used to hide on tree branches, posts and roofs.

 

All in all, we personally think the Maine Coon is the finest breed of domestic cat there is.