20 Of The Cutest Maine Coon Kittens – The Gentle Giants, Waiting To Grow Up

The breed began to decline after other long-haired cats, like the Persian, were introduced. The cat was actually declared extinct in the 1950s, although whoever declared it was clearly being overdramatic. Around the same time the Central Maine Cat Club was formed in a successful attempt to reignite interest in the breed. Today, the Maine Coon is the third most popular breed in the U.S. (according to CFA registration statistics in 2015), and beloved in Japan and Europe.