The Maine Coon - Viking cat
The Maine Coon is one of the largest domesticated breeds of cat. These furry kitties originated from short-haired domestic cats breeding with longhaired cats, which may have been brought to America by the Vikings during the 1700s. Since genetic testing indicates that Maine Coons are actually descendant of both the Norwegian Forest Cat and a mysterious extinct domestic breed, the Vikings are likely responsible.
Maine Coons sometimes also have six toes. Early in the breed’s development, Maine Coons were often polydactyls, meaning they were born with extra appendages on their paws. Some experts estimate that as many as 40% of early Maine Coons had this characteristic.