<Tr> <Th> GCCF </Th> <Td> standard </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Domestic cat (Felis catus) </Td> </Tr> <P> The Maine Coon is one of the largest domesticated breeds of cat . It has a distinctive physical appearance and valuable hunting skills . It is one of the oldest natural breeds in North America, specifically "native" to the state of Maine (though the feline was simply introduced there), where it is the official state cat . </P> <P> No records of the Maine Coon's exact origins and date of introduction to the United States exist, so several competing hypotheses have been suggested . The breed was popular in cat shows in the late 19th century, but its existence became threatened when long - haired breeds from overseas were introduced in the early 20th century . The Maine Coon has since made a comeback and is now one of the more popular cat breeds in the world . </P>

Where did the maine coon cat come from