A bit of (hi)story
The Maine Coon is one of the most celebrated cat breeds in New England and across much of the United States. It is among the hardiest, hairiest, and largest of all domesticated cat breeds kept in households throughout the Western world.
Beyond their striking looks and gentle temperament, their history is rather mysterious. Their origins are rooted more in folklore and conjecture than in documented fact—some would even say the Maine Coon comes wrapped in legend.
As one of the United States’ original native cat breeds, the Maine Coon is renowned for having adapted to Maine’s harsh winters and rugged, natural environment. The cold and the distances between settlements helped keep the breed relatively isolated for centuries.
The ‘cat + wild animal’ theory
Hybrid with raccoon or lynx
A popular tale suggests the Maine Coon is a hybrid—either a domestic cat crossed with a raccoon or with a lynx. Science firmly rules both out.
Visual comparison: the striking resemblance between the Maine Coon and the raccoon
Key points:
- Cat + raccoon: biologically impossible (different species).
- Cat + lynx: also impossible (same family, different species).
- Striking resemblances: thick fur, fondness for water, lynx-like ear tufts.
The term ‘Coon’ may simply derive from ‘raccoon’ in popular speech.
The ship cats theory
The strongest theory
The most plausible origin: descendants of European ship cats kept for rodent control aboard vessels arriving in Maine.
A ship cat: Maine Coons descended from European ship cats
Historical context
- Two centuries ago, Maine was a bustling port.
- A renowned hub of shipbuilding.
- Sailor families settled ashore—often with their cats.
Probable origins
- European longhaired cats.
- Often referenced: Angoras.
- Expert rodent hunters.
Captain Charles Coon
A peculiar story from the 1800s
An oft-repeated 19th‑century story links a sea captain named Charles Coon to the breed’s rise in New England ports.
When his ships moored, his longhaired cats supposedly bred with local cats—people called the kittens ‘Coon’s Cats’.
Did the captain’s name truly inspire the breed’s name? The truth remains uncertain.
The Viking cats
Descendants of Norwegian Forest cats
Some trace the lineage to Norwegian Forest cats brought by Scandinavian sailors.
Key timeline
Nordic explorers reached North America early; if true, this would make the Maine Coon’s roots remarkably old.
A feline warrior: Maine Coons, descendants of legendary Viking cats
Marie‑Antoinette’s Angoras
The most colorful origin myth
A colorful legend: royal households, grand escapes, and elegant Angora cats crossing the ocean.
At Versailles
At Versailles, Angora and Persian cats were common—and sometimes considered pests for their prolific breeding.
The escape plan
In 1793, Captain Samuel Clough allegedly planned Marie‑Antoinette’s escape to Maine—with royal belongings and perhaps a family of Angoras.
Marie-Antoinette’s house
The house in Wiscasset, Maine, still stands—known as the ‘Marie Antoinette House’.
Royal elegance: Marie-Antoinette and her Angora cat, ancestors of Maine Coons
Polydactyl Maine Coons
More toes for better balance
A hallmark of early Maine Coons: extra toes that proved handy on ships for balance and grip.
Features
- Hereditary trait.
- Fully functional and not disabling.
- Not dangerous to the cat’s health.
Maritime theory
Likely favored at sea, where balance and traction were prized.
Maine Coons on the show circuit
From 1878 to today
The early show history is well documented—famously by Mrs. E. R. Pearce, owner of ‘Captain‑Jinks of the Horse‑Marines’.
Show timeline
- 1878 Twelve Maine Coons entered in Boston—no wins that year.
- 1895 ‘Cosey’ took first place at Madison Square Garden, New York.
- 1950s Return to the show circuit after sixty years close to home.
- 1970s Acceptance of polydactyl Maine Coons in shows.
- 2000s Breeders work to preserve the polydactyl gene responsibly.
A mystery that endures
Despite many compelling theories, no single origin has been definitively proven—leaving the Maine Coon’s beginnings delightfully open to legend.
Sources: Maine Coon Club France