Cattitude!

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JBR said:
Rose, I've read somewhere that the MaineCoon of North America may have descended from the Norwegian Forest Cat. Is the latter what this fellow is holding?
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@JBR, sorry, but I couldn't possibly know! It's ears are hidden, I cannot tell the nose length at this angle, it could be anything as far as my poor knowledge of breed recognition goes.

Long ago, I imagined the Maine Coon evolved from the Norwegian Forest Cat, but I never read about it. Thanks for letting me know someone else thinks so too! We know the Vikings reached the Western Hemisphere's shores ages ago, especially Greenland, so it's no stretch of imagination the cats wandered or were taken down to the Maine area. I've always thought cats were often passengers on ships.

Well, tell me what you think JBR, about these fabulous cats.
 
RadishRose said:
I've always thought cats were often passengers on ships.

Well, tell me what you think JBR, about these fabulous cats.
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Yes, cats were often passengers (crew?) on ships for the main purpose of controlling rat populations. I suppose some sailors enjoyed a cat for amusement or company too. But wherever I learned of the idea that ship journeying is how the MCs arrived in North America, I don't think it's believed to have been as far back as Viking times. I seem to recall the speculation was more connected with Northern-European sailing ships of the 17th century and later.

Well, I know next to nothing about the Norwegian Forest Cat, but have somewhere come across their reputation of being quite wild... avoiding or repulsing human contact. Whereas MaineCoons are usually very human friendly, playful, and affectionate... eager to insert themselves into human activities. If they are related, the NFCats possibly interbred with domesticated house cats or farm cats (my speculation).
 
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JBR said:
Yes, cats were often passengers (crew?) on ships for the main purpose of controlling rat populations. I suppose some sailors enjoyed a cat for amusement or company too. But wherever I learned of the idea that ship journeying is how the MCs arrived in North America, I don't think it's believed to have been as far back as Viking times. I seem to recall the speculation was more connected with Northern-European sailing ships of the 17th century and later.

Well, I know next to nothing about the Norwegian Forest Cat, but have somewhere come across their reputation of being quite wild... avoiding or repulsing human contact. Whereas MaineCoons are usually very human friendly, playful, and affectionate... eager to insert themselves into human activities. If they are related, the NFCats possibly interbred with domesticated house cats or farm cats (my speculation).
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You're probably right about the NF cat sailing later than I'd thought,

Where Do Maine Coon Cats Come From? -
 
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