Vikings may have brought the cat to the Americas

Another theory that has gained more traction in recent years is that the cat may have been brought to the Americas by the Vikings centuries ago.

However, there is no archaeological evidence to confirm that the cat came with the Scandinavians when they settled the North American continent around 1000 AD.

Historians know that the Vikings loved cats and carried them on board their ships.

For example, excavations show that the Normans brought cats with them when they colonized Greenland in the late 10th century, probably to ward off insects.

Vikings sailed to America

Some Vikings traveled from Greenland to North America, where they established settlements and brought timber to Greenland over the centuries.

According to some historians, it is inconceivable that the Scandinavians gave way to cats while crossing the Atlantic Ocean. However, it is uncertain whether those cats had the opportunity to remain on the continent and breed.

This theory is supported by the fact that the Maine Coon, considered America’s first cat breed, is genetically closely related to the Norwegian Forest Cat.

The American cat may be a descendant of cats with Norse roots brought to North America by the Vikings.