I suppose that would depend on the way you look at it. The ''look" existed, but
not the name. Like the Scottish Fold. Somebody found a litter of folded eared
cats in a barn, started breeding them, and viola, the Scottish Fold. There were
undoubedly folded-eared cats that existed prior, but were they "Scottish
Folds"? The name didn't exist. Same with Balinese.  Longhairs have turned up in
Siamese litters for centuries, but they didn't really have a name, until the
60's.

Somebody correct me if this is wrong, but it's my understanding. .

Sherry

You think?

No, but one can't prove breed without them. One can make an educated
guess. Unless you have something really distinctive, like say, a Sphynx.
It's like calling a lab mix a Labarador Retriever. It might look like
one and act like one, but it really isn't one. It's a lab-type dog.
Many, many cats look like Maine Coons. But they aren't.

Um, the Maine Coon IS a descendent of domestic shorthairs and exotic
longhairs. It's not like it's a disparaging statement.
I find people who think domestic longhairs aren't as good as purebreds
to be a bit snooty, myself.

---
http://www.fanciers.com/breed-faqs/maine-coon-faq.html
[quote]
One of the oldest natural breeds in North America, the Maine Coon is
generally regarded as a native of the state of Maine (in fact, the Maine
Coon is the official Maine State Cat). A number of attractive legends
surround its origin. A wide-spread (though biologically impossible)
belief is that it originated from matings between semi-wild, domestic
cats and raccoons. This myth, bolstered by the bushy tail and the most
common coloring (a raccoon-like brown tabby) led to the adoption of the
name 'Maine Coon.' (Originally, only brown tabbies were called 'Maine
Coon Cats;' cats of other colors were referred to as 'Maine Shags.')
Another popular theory is that the Maine sprang from the six pet cats
which Marie Antoinette sent to Wiscasset, Maine when she was planning to
escape from France during the French Revolution. Most breeders today
believe that the breed originated in matings between pre-existing
shorthaired domestic cats and overseas longhairs (perhaps Angora types
introduced by New England seamen, or longhairs brought to America by the
Vikings).

...
from the FAQ

"I think my cat is part Maine Coon. How do I tell?"

   The Maine Coon is America's native longhair cat; it evolved
naturally in response to the New England climate. Your cat's ancestors
might be similar to the cats that founded the Maine Coon breed. However,
it's impossible to tell from just looking at your cat if it is related
to the Maine Coon or to any other breed. Because the Maine Coon is a
natural breed and hasn't been bred to extremes, there are cats all over
the world that resemble the Maine Coon. The only way to tell for sure if
your cat is a Maine Coon is to look at the pedigree.
[/quote]

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Jesus saves, Allah protects, and Cthulhu
thinks you'd make a nice sandwich.
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He meant it looked like a Maine Coon. Even a vet can't tell whether or not a
cat is purebred for sure, unless there is a pedigree.

Don't people who's

Responsible breeders don't allow their cats to mate with different breeds of
cats. As was pointed out, your cat is probably a domestic longhaired cat that
looks like a Maine Coon.

Yes, there is one way to tell for sure if a cat is purebred. A purebred cat has
a pedigree.

Maine Coon cats are *huge* cats: the females are about 15 pounds minimum &
the males are easily 18 - 20 pounds.  Also, they have a distinctive shape to
the heads/muzzles, & their tails are approx. as long as their bodies.  If
your cat is 5 years old & small, he's not a Maine Coon - although a Maine
Coon mix is a possibility.

My parents had a Maine Coon - he weighted 18 pounds, had a l-o-n-g tail, &
could reach the kitchen countertop (standard 36" height) by standing on the
floor & reaching up.

Cathy

--
"Staccato signals of constant information..."
("The Boy in the Bubble")  Paul Simon