Maine Coon Cat

The Maine coon cat is one of the oldest American breeds and is probably descended from long-haired Angora cats brought to New England by seamen. These Angoras randomly interbred with local short-haired cats and established the breed type. Some early settlers thought that the cat was part raccoon. The Maine coon cat is large, something weighing more than 13.5 kg (30 lb). Its coat, which may be any color, is long and lies close to the body instead of away from it, as in Persian cats.

The Maine coon cat appears in many colors, often displaying a raccoon like striped tail. One of the largest of American cats, it may carry weight of 13.5 kg (30 lb) on its broad paws.