The Maine Coon is very similar to the Norwegian Forest Cat; they are both semi-longhaired, with a heavy, waterproof coat. The Maine Coon is slightly larger and has a broader, less pointed face. These early Maine Coons would have run free in the dense forests of New England and Maine and remained long after the Vikings gave up living there. They did not give up their friendship with man however and it was later reported by early settlers in their journals that the local indians had packs of hunting cats. These cats soon moved onto the farms, hunting vermin in the barns which provided a comfortable and safe environment for them to raise their kittens.