Originally posted by SpencerTheLion:
<STRONG>Maine Coon is a breed, the one breed associated with America:
Chinchilla Persian: UK
Siamese: Siam (now Thialand)
Manx: Isle of Man
Russian Blue: Russia
Norweigan Forest Cat: Norway
Maine Coon: US
The cat lying down has Maine Coon: big broad ears, fair amount of fur. Unlike a Persian, the fur is uneven length (chest and esp the striped tail). It looks more like a large domestic cat in build than a stout, cobby Persian. Is playful & soft-spoken, gets along very well. Norwegian Forest cats look very similar and some suspect common ancestery. More at
http://www.fanciers.com/breed-faqs/maine-coon-faq.html .</STRONG>