This cat has the size of a dog and the sweetness of a baby.
At just under two years old, a Maine Coone from Stary Oskol in eastern Russia is thought to be the world’s largest kitty, with years to go before he stops growing.
Yulia Minina, the owner, purchased the alabaster tomcat Kefir — called after the creamy cultured milk drink — two years and several pounds ago.
“However, when people come to the house, they all mistake him for a dog,” she continued.
In fact, Kefir weighs more than the average two-year-old, who weighs between 26 and 28 pounds.
“I couldn’t believe a normal baby could grow up to be so huge,” Minina joked.
The towering kitty’s stature is matched by his pleasant personality, she told South West News Service. “Not only did he grow up to be a huge kid, but he’s also quite smart and always acts quietly,” she boasted.
Minina speaks about Kefir as if he were her own son, despite the fact that he takes so much attention: “The look is normally like that of a person, and Kefir has a formidable appearance, yet he is a really affectionate and modest child,” she muses.
“When guests and acquaintances come to the house, all the attention is on him, and he readily allows himself to be caressed,” she suggested, like a newborn seeking to be coddled.
The Maine Coon breed, as its name suggests, comes from the state of Maine and is considered one of North America’s oldest domestic breeds. They were once renowned for their hunting abilities, but have subsequently earned the moniker “gentle giant” as they’ve adapted to life indoors as a popular house cat, and have even been described as having loving and playful, “dog-like” behaviors.
