Maine Coon cat is a robust and rustic, shaped by the harsh climate of the state of Maine, on the east coast
U.S.. It is probably one of the oldest natural breeds in North America.
Several legends describe the origins of the breed:
The most common tells that the Maine Coon is the fruit of love between a cat and a raccoon (raccoon in English)
which would explain their color and bushy tail.
Of course, it is genetically impossible to achieve such a crossing, but the race will keep its name "Maine Coon".
Ms. Pierce, one of the first owners of Maine Coons, had done extensive research on the origins of
race, and actually thought these cats were actually arrived by sea, but with rich families of Maine, which
were traveling on luxury boats and brought back from their expeditions, many exotic animals for fun
their children.
The second hypothesis was that Ms. Pierce these cats were on board merchant ships to hunt
rats. In both cases, they would have landed on the East Coast, and would have mixed with local shorthaired cats for cats to give medium-length hair that we know.
In 1860, farmers from Maine, very proud of their cats, organized their own exhibitions. The first Maine Coon cited in the literature is a male black and white, Captain Genks, and belonged to Ms. Pierce.
The race will be officially recognized in 1967.
