She loaded Clough's ship with her most prized possessions, including six of her favorite Turkish Angora or possibly Siberian cats. The story goes that before her death, Antoinette attempted to escape France with the help of Captain Samuel Clough. There are also folk tales around their origin, one story involves Marie Antoinette, the Queen of France who was executed in 1793. The ancestral origins of the Maine Coon are unknown, some speculate that they are descended from Norwegian forest cats or Siberian forest cats, which may have been brought to New England by settlers. The breed was popular in cat shows in the late 19th century, but its existence became threatened when long-haired breeds from overseas were introduced in the early 20th century. It has a distinctive physical appearance and valuable hunting skills. The Maine Coon is one of the largest domesticated cats. ĭue to the large size of this feline, professionals have noticed certain health problems arising in the breed, including feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and hip dysplasia. The Maine Coon is often cited as having ' dog-like' characteristics. The Maine Coon is a large and social cat, which could be the reason why it has a reputation of being referred to as 'the gentle giant.' The Maine Coon is predominately known for its size and dense coat of fur which helps the large feline to survive in the harsh climate of Maine, the state from which they originated. The Maine Coon has since made a comeback and is now the third most popular pedigreed cat breed in the world. state of Maine, where it is the official state cat. It is one of the oldest natural breeds in North America. The Maine Coon is a large domesticated cat breed.

Maine coon calico