The Maine Coon cat is one of the largest domesticated breeds of felines. In fact, the title for the “longest cat” in the 2010 Guinness World Records was held by Stewie, who measured 48.5 in (123 cm) from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail. Male cats can weigh up to 35 lb (15.9 kg).

The origins of the Maine Coon, however, are shrouded in mystery. Although genetically impossible, one myth holds that the cat is the result of breeding between cats and raccoons; another states that Marie Antoinette, the Queen of France, tried to flee execution her favorite Turkish Angora cats. While she didn't make it to the US, the cats supposedly landed on the shores of Wiscasset, Maine, where they began to breed.