06/02/2026
Did you know Maine C**ns were declared extinct at one time????
When glamorous, imported breeds like the Persian surged in popularity in the early 20th century, the breed all but vanished from cat shows. By the 1950s, their numbers were so critically low that the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) officially declared the breed extinct.
However, the breed was never entirely wiped out.
Dedicated enthusiasts in rural New England kept the lines alive by carefully maintaining barn cats and private breeding records. This dedicated preservation effort allowed the breed to make a massive comeback. By 1976, the CFA officially reinstated the Maine C**n to championship status, and it has since rebounded to become one of the most popular cat breeds in the world.