From Ship Cats to Show Stars: The Complete History of the Breed#

If you ask three different people where Maine Coons come from, you will get three different answers.

The Romantic: “They belonged to Marie Antoinette. She sent them to America before she was beheaded.”
The Biologically Impossible: “They are a cross between a cat and a raccoon.” (Hence the name “Coon”).
The Historian: “They are the descendants of Viking Skogkats brought to the New World to hunt rats.”

The truth is a mix of biology, history, and a little bit of mystery. The Maine Coon is the only long-haired breed native to the United States. They didn’t start in a palace; they started in a barn.

Here is the true story of how a rugged mouser became the glamor model of the cat fancy.

The “Raccoon” Myth (Let’s kill this one first)#

Let’s get the science out of the way. It is genetically impossible for a cat and a raccoon to breed. They are different species.

The myth likely started because of the Maine Coon’s tail. It is ringed (in tabbies), bushy, and they often dip their food in water like a raccoon. But genetically? Zero relation.

The Viking Connection: The Skogkatt#

The most plausible theory involves the Vikings.

Around 1000 AD, Leif Erikson and other Norsemen sailed to North America (Vinland). Vikings kept cats on their longships to protect their grain stores from rats. These cats were the Norwegian Forest Cat (Skogkatt).

If you look at a Maine Coon and a Norwegian Forest Cat, they are strikingly similar. Both have water-repellent coats, ear tufts, and massive size. It is highly likely that some of these Viking cats jumped ship in New England, mated with local short-haired domestic cats, and created the foundation of the Maine Coon.

The “Ship Cat” Evolution#

For hundreds of years, nobody cared about “breeds.” They cared about function.

In the harsh winters of Maine, only the strongest cats survived. Natural selection took over.

Size: Larger cats retained body heat better.
Tufts: Paw tufts acted as snowshoes. Ear tufts prevented frostbite.
Tail: The long, bushy tail could be wrapped around the nose like a scarf while sleeping.

The Maine Coon wasn’t “bred” by humans; it was sculpted by the winter. They were working cats, prized by farmers for being excellent mousers and famously “dog-like” companions.

Cosey: The First Star#

The Maine Coon isn’t just an American breed; it is the first show breed.

In 1895, the first major cat show was held at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The winner of “Best Cat” was not a Persian or a Siamese. It was a Brown Tabby female Maine Coon named Cosey.

You can still see Cosey’s silver collar and medal on display at the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) headquarters today.

The Dark Ages and the Resurrection#

After that initial fame, the Maine Coon almost went extinct. In the early 1900s, exotic Persian cats were imported to the US. The fashion shifted. The rugged barn cat was considered “common,” and the fluffy Persian became the status symbol.

By the 1950s, the Maine Coon was declared “extinct” by some cat clubs.

It was only thanks to a dedicated group of breeders (the Central Maine Cat Club) who refused to let the breed die. They wrote standards, held single-breed shows in barns, and slowly clawed their way back to recognition. In 1976, the CFA finally accepted the Maine Coon for championship status again.

Conclusion#

When you look at your Maine Coon sleeping on your sofa, you are looking at a survivor. Their ancestors survived Viking voyages, New England blizzards, and the fickle trends of the show ring. They are not just pets; they are living history.

Resources & Further Reading#

The Maine Coon Breeders and Fanciers Association. (n.d.). Breed History.
Smithsonian Magazine. (2018). The Viking History of the Maine Coon.