For the tabby Maine Coon, the spread of the species, and the subsequent development of its environment, is an interesting point of discussion. Theories generally revolve around the idea that the breed originated through the mating of domestic short hairs and overseas longhairs introduced by sea captains (perhaps as long ago as the 11th century) or that the Norwegian Forest Cat was taken to America by the Vikings. The connection between the Norwegian Forest cat and the Maine Coon is an obvious ponderance due to the breed’s similarity and with the knowledge that the first cats with long fur which resembled the current day Maine Coon were said to have in the 1860s, the latter of the two theories seems entirely possible.
There is little doubt that the Maine Coon developed in rural America, its second home being the rugged wilds of the state from which its name. Maine’s harsh climate provided a natural selective process; survival of the fittest ensured that only the best-equipped cats endured. Over generations, cats have developed a high adaptability to the climate. Their large tufted paws served as snow shoes, the fur in between providing added resistance to the cold, the ears and tail adorned with supplementary plumage. Today the Maine Coon’s colorations vary widely, but perhaps the tabby is a reflection of its ancestors from the days of yore.
Theories about its origins
It has not where the Maine Coon originated from. There are many theories, and some are more believable than others. One of the most popular theories about the breed’s origin is that it is a hybrid of semi-wild domestic cats and raccoons (noted by the bushy tail and the inclination to dip food into the water, just like a raccoon). However, this theory is genetically impossible, as interbreeding between cats and raccoons is impossible. Another popular theory is that the breed was brought to America by Vikings, staying in Vinland (an area that is somewhere along the North Atlantic coast, most likely around New England).
This theory by the physical resemblance of the Maine Coon to the Norwegian Forest Cat, as well as the existence of the myth that the breed is from Marie Antoinette’s cats; however, there is no evidence of this beyond the cat’s physical resemblance to Norwegian Forest Cats and the existence of the myth. French Marie Antoinette’s cats had crossed New England after her execution. However, they would likely have interbred with local cats, most likely longhaired ones, thereby creating the breed.
Another theory still is that the breed by Marie Antoinette herself, who had planned her escape from France to America with the help of Captain Clough, who was supposed to have been entrusted with some of the queen’s most prized possessions, with which were her six prized cats (though it is historically unlikely that put this escape into action). A final theory is that the breed of cats was brought over by British ships to America, thereby populating New England with longhaired cats. This theory is the most believable as it has been well-documented by cat breeders and show judges throughout the years. Ginné (1953) supported the hypothesis that the Maine Coon by ship, and she found in her research that seafarers brought in longhaired cats to New England and then accepted as a native breed.
Historical records of Maine Coon
The more widely known tale is that the Maine Coon breed first originated in the early 19th century as a cross between short-haired domestic cats and longhaired breeds such as the Norwegian Forest Cat. The Maine Coon then grew as a breed praised for its mousing talents, companionship, and beauty. Maine Coon cats lived as farm cats, and when in the late 19th century, the Norwegian Forest Cat was brought to America by the seamen and ship’s captains, the Maine Coon cat started to, or it was said that the cats bred with each other, which made the breed degenerate. However, contradicted by the claim that the Maine Coon and the Norwegian Forest Cat are the same breed.
Many of the stories of the Maine Coon begin with Marie Antoinette arriving in Wiscasset, Maine, after fleeing France during the French Revolution. She was supposed to have shipped her pet Angora cats safely to America. However, her plans were overthrown, and she never followed her pets, although there were reports that her pets were in the care of Captain Samuel Clough.
Famous legends surrounding the breed
The third and most likely legend has the breed being introduced to America by seafarers of New England. The story goes that these sailors had longhaired cats on board to control the rat population. These cats, found in England and already being bred as show cats, interbred with local cats, and the breed had its beginning.
This theory is the most plausible as the first recorded mention of the Maine Coon (referred to as a longhaired cat) in 1861 in a news article about a cat named “Captain Jenkins of the Horse Marines.” also being the first recorded mention of a polydactyl cat. Polydactyl cats, cats with some extra toes, were a common attribute of early Maine Coons. Except for the American Bobtail, it is the only breed native to North America that has the trait.
The second legend holds that the breed resulted from six pet cats of Marie Antoinette. Upon her execution, the story goes, Captain Clough put the cats on a ship and sent them to Wiscasset, Maine. However, Marie Antoinette never owned any cats. The six that supposedly started the breed were, in fact, Turkish Angoras, which went to North America until the mid-20th century.
The first is the breed resulting from semi-wild domestic cats mating with raccoons. Interestingly, this myth has a clear origin as a logical explanation for the breed’s colossal size, and the commonality of the “M” on the forehead does not hold up under scientific scrutiny. It is, in fact, impossible for wild cats and raccoons to mate, although this is not well known, making the legend plausible in the past. The only objective evidence for this theory is the similarity between the cat’s tail and fur and that of a raccoon. Explained by the common longhair gene shared between the Maine Coon and raccoons and the bushy tail gene shared with many other breeds of cats.
