Until now, no scientific report has definitively determined the exact time when Maine Coon cats first appeared. We only know that around the late 19th century, these cats were already one of the highly popular breeds in pet competitions.
Many hypotheses suggest that these large cats are the result of long-haired cat breeds crossing with local cats, brought by Viking sailors or modern-era English sailors (including Captain Charles Coon in legend) around the 11th century. Through centuries of breeding and crossing with native cats, the adorable and round Maine Coon cats we know today emerged.