The forebears of the domestic cat we know and love today came in the United States hundreds of years ago, but the breed as we know and love it today is 100% American.
Many people think the working cats that evolved into American Shorthairs came in the New World on the Mayflower in 1620, or maybe even earlier among the people of the Jamestown Colony.
These felines were put to action eradicating rats and other pests from barns and homes. Over the course of the previous several hundred years
Shorthair cats were initially recognized by the American Cat Fancier in the 1800s, however they went through numerous name changes before settling on their current moniker.
The powerful Maine Coon originated in the wilds of Maine well over a century ago (perhaps as early as the 1600s) and is now recognized as the official state cat of Maine.
The Maine Coon is most likely descended from an accidental mating between an American Shorthair and an exotic long-haired cat. They learned to withstand the harsh winters and develop into the friendly cats we know and love today.
The domestication of Maine Coon cats began in the late 1800s, and the cats quickly proved their worth by eliminating rodent populations in barns. Large and often polydactyl, these cats are formidable predators.
One of the newest natural cat varieties to emerge in the United States is the American Curl, whose ears curl back as a result of a chance genetic mutation. In 1981, a couple called Joe and Grace Ruga from Lakewood, California, adopted two cats with unusually shaped ears. Despite the loss of one of these cats,