[Mercat]

I also believe that there are breeders who are introducing some small wildcats into the gene pool. I have a cat who is supposedly part desert lynx. He’s pretty stupid and a bit jumpy. I also have enjoyed Blue Russians (not eating them silly but love the breed) which is much different IMHO than the typical domestic shorthair. Also love the Maine Coon Cat which I think must have some wild cat in it.

[null and void]

Mmmmmmmm Blue Russian Stroganoff...

[AnAmericanMother]

Oh, yeah. There have been various outcrosses to small wildcats -- most common are Bengals, which were developed from Asian Leopard Cats (Felis bengalis). I have seen them at cat shows and they seem remarkably calm and tame, but haven't had anything to do with them personally.

There is also a nifty little cat called the Ocicat that resembles a small wildcat but is actually a Siamese-Abyssinian cross with a little Spotted Tabby thrown in.

A cat that's very like the Russian Blues (which after Measers are really too mellow for my taste) is the Chartreux, a nifty blue-green cat with bright orange eyes.

Maine Coons are nifty kitties, the size and heavy bone may derive from the Norwegian Forest Cat, or it could just be big old longhaired cats. The raccoon thing is just nonsense.