The Maine Coon's Origins

The Maine Coon's origins?

The colorful folklore surrounding the origin of the Maine Coon breed tells of Viking warriors, Marie Antoinette, America's early settlers and even Native Americans. Can we separate science from speculation and history from folklore?



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The look of a Maine Coon, including some of the science on how Maine Coons inherit their color, from the basics of heredity to the genetics of color Recognized for their wonderful personalities AND their good looks, Maine Coons were America's first show cat.

Classic Maine Coon Expressions in a slideshow set to music, brought to you by CaliMaine

Relatives of raccoons?		Descendents of North American wild cats?
Could the Maine Coon be related to the wild cats that inhabited this continent hundreds of years ago?		Could the Maine Coon be related to the wild cats that inhabited this continent hundreds of years ago?

Cats of warriors?		A royal heritage?
The Vikings are believed to have used cats as rat catchers and companions. It is not inconceivable that these seafaring Scandinavian warriors and traders brought Norwegian Forest cats with them in their travels to North America.		Did the french queen Marie Antoinette, believing that her life was in danger, ship her beloved cats to this country and introduce long-haired cats to North America?

Companions of early New England settlers?
Were Maine Coons first introduced by the pilgrims who colonized New England?