Editing Maine Coon (section)

==== Science ====
These myths and theories have long speculated that the long-haired Maine Coon cat has to be related to other long-haired breeds, due to their similarities in [[phenotype]]. For the Maine Coon in particular, that it is descended from the [[Norwegian Forest cat|Norwegian]] or [[Siberian cat|Siberian Forest cat]], brought to New England by settlers or Vikings.<ref name="MCR" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Turner |first=Pam |date=2022-05-15 |title=What is the Difference Between a Maine Coon, A Norwegian Forest Cat, and a Siberian? |url=https://www.catwiki.com/faqs/what-is-the-difference-between-a-maine-coon-a-norwegian-forest-cat-and-a-siberian/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702210815/https://www.catwiki.com/faqs/what-is-the-difference-between-a-maine-coon-a-norwegian-forest-cat-and-a-siberian/ |archive-date=2 July 2022 |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=www.catwiki.com |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Phylogenetics|Phylogenetic]] studies showed that the Maine Coon belongs to the Western European [[Monophyly|monophyletic]] cat branch, but forms the closest relationship with the [[panmixia|random-bred]] cat population in the [[Northeastern United States|Northeastern US]] (New York region).<ref name=":0">{{cite journal |last1=Lipinski |first1=Monika J. |last2=Froenicke |first2=Lutz |last3=Baysac |first3=Kathleen C. |last4=Billings |first4=Nicholas C. |last5=Leutenegger |first5=Christian M. |last6=Levy |first6=Alon M. |last7=Longeri |first7=Maria |last8=Niini |first8=Tirri |last9=Ozpinar |first9=Haydar |last10=Slater |first10=Margaret R. |last11=Pedersen |first11=Niels C. |last12=Lyons |first12=Leslie A. |date=January 2008 |title=The Ascent of Cat Breeds: Genetic Evaluations of Breeds and Worldwide Random Bred Populations |journal=Genomics |volume=91 |issue=1 |pages=12–21 |doi=10.1016/j.ygeno.2007.10.009 |pmc=2267438 |pmid=18060738}}</ref> This Western European branch contains the [[Norwegian Forest cat|Norwegian]] and [[Siberian cat|Siberian Forest cat]], but they fall under a different sub-branch.<ref name=":1" />

Maine Coons are descendants of cats brought to [[New England]] by [[Puritans|Puritan]] settlers in the 1600-1700s, and out of the European cats they are genetically closest to cats found in the [[United Kingdom]].<ref name=":1" /> It is not relatedness that makes them look similar to the Norwegian and Siberian Forest cats, but [[convergent evolution]]. These breeds all formed in harsh climates, in which [[natural selection]] pressures for similar qualities.<ref name=":1" /> Thick, long coats, toe and ear tufts, big bodies, and snowshoe-like big feet, are useful traits in all the harsh climates where these breeds originate.