Myths, legend and lore surround the Maine Coon cat, especially regarding its origins. Some are amusing, some are fantastic flights of fantasy and some are merely plausible. Although the early settlers thought it was a cross between a cat and a raccoon, it is a biological impossibility. Another popular theory is that the Maine sprang from the six pet cats which Marie Antoinette sent to Wiscasset, Maine when she was planning to escape from France during the French Revolution. However, most breeders today believe the breed originated from matings between pre-existing short-haired domestic cats and overseas long-hairs -- perhaps Angora types introduced by New England seamen or those brought to America by the Vikings. Books and articles dealing with these aspects of the Maine Coon cat have been well received as people never seem to tire of the subject and are always eager to know more about this wonderful breed. Two such books are "That Yankee Cat, The Maine Coon" by Marilis Hornidge published by Tilbury House, Gardiner, Maine and "Maine Coon Cats" by Carol Himsel Daly, D.V.M. published by Barron's.

    Whatever the true origins, the Maine Coon is the first native American long-haired cat and was recognized as a specific breed in Maine where they were held in high regard for their mousing talents. Through nature's own breeding program, this working breed has developed into a rugged cat that is relatively free of genetic problems.

    First recorded in cat literature in 1861 with a mention of a black and white cat named 'Captain Jenks of the Horse Marines,' Maine Coons have been admired for their beauty and stamina. In May of 1895, a Maine Coon Cat, a brown tabby female named Cosie, won hands down, first place and best of show at the first major cat show ever held in this country at Madison Square Garden in New York. Unfortunately, their popularity as show cats declined with the arrival in 1900 of the more flamboyant Persians.

    Although the Maine Coon remained a favorite cat in New England and on farms across the country for their mousing abilities, the breed did not begin to regain its former widespread popularity until the 1950's when more and more cat fanciers began to take notice of them, show them, and record their pedigrees. In 1968, six breeders formed the Maine Coon Breeders and Fanciers Association (MCBFA) to preserve and protect the breed. By 1980, all cat registries had recognized the Maine Coon as a unique and separate breed. It has now regained its former glory -- ranked as the most popular breed in TICA and the SECOND most popular breed in CFA now only surpassed by the Persian.

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