The Maine Coon Cat is one of the oldest domestic cats in North America . It was shown at Farmers Exhibitions as early as in the 19th century. At those Exhibitions they might have competed in "Best rat-catcher", "most beautyful cat" an so on. At the same Exhibition there were all kinds of animals, for example Cows, Pigs and Chickens. As a result of this the interest in this Magnificent Cat increased.

The story of the first Maine Coon Cats began in the State of Maine in the USA . The first part of the name comes from the State MAINE and the second part of the name comes from the RACOON in which local folklore spoke of a Cross Breeding with Domestic Cats. They said that you could see on the furry tail that it was a mix between Racoon and Domestic Cat. But nowadays we know that it's not so. However we can all agree on that the Maine Coon Cat has a Magnificent tail.

During the war the interest for the breed almost disappeard. At the same time the interest grew a lot for the Persian Cat but luckily there were a small group of enthusiasts that kept the interest for the Maine Coon Cat alive.

Swedish History.
In the mid 1980s the first Maine Coon was approved in Sweden , and the first litter was born in 1989. The club " Maine Coon-katten" was founded and since then the interest for this lovely cat has increased rapidly, and today it's the 6th most popular breed in Sweden .

Looks.
Maine Coon Cat reminds a little of the Norwegian Forest Cat. They have developed under somewhat similar conditions, climat and environment. Big differences between the breeds excist. The Maine Coon Cat has a rectangular head with a curved profile line while the Norwegian Forest Cat has a triangular head with a straight profile line.

The Maine Coon Cat has a soft silky fur while the Norwegian Forest Cat has a thick undercoat with a rough covering coat. The Maine Coon Cat is a very powerful rectangular cat.

Temperament.
A cool cat, very faithful to it's family. Some people think it behaves lik a dog. It usually has one favorite family member but it is friendly to everybody. The Maine Coon Cat is a social sweet cat that likes to be indoors. It is uncomplicated and gets along well together with dogs, other cat and children. The Maine Coon Cat likes to fetch things, and carry them around. It has a very special sound, "Brrrrrp", and it likes to communicate. 

Care.
The Maine Coon Cat's coat is very simple to maintain and normally you only have to brush it once a week. And some cats you hardly have to brush at all. The Maine Coon Cat likes to be both indoors and outdoors, and to have a big outdoor cage with free access. You can say that the Maine Coon Cat doesn't have any disadvantages. It suits everybody, but maybe it eats a little more than other breeds because of its size.