Legends and Lore

Maine Coons are considered a native American breed. Tales of how the Maine Coon's ancestors reached New England vary, and they are all quite interesting.

The Norwegian Forest Cat is the most similar breed to the Maine Coon cat. Many people believe that the Main Coon's ancestors were brought to America by the Vikings, long before the colonists landed in New England.

Another story has it that six of Marie Antoinette's cats were brought over during the French Revolution, mated with American cats and spawned the breed. As the story goes, Captain Samuel Clough was planning to rescue Queen Antoinette and bring her to Maine. He loaded his ship with her belongings and her six cats, but the plot was foiled. Antoinette was captured and beheaded, and Captain Clough had to make a quick getaway to America with the queen's possessions still in tow.

While some credit the unlikely raccoon story for the name of the breed, others say it came from an English seaman whose last name was Coon. He had many long-haired cats which lived on his ship as companions and mousers and were thought to bring good luck. Coon traveled up and down the coast of New England often bringing his cats on shore, and soon the resident shorthairs started producing long-haired kittens.

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