When you think of big cats, you probably think of tigers and lions. But then there are just plain big cats, as in enormous house cats.
Well, most of our feline friends don't get all that big, but one 2-year-old Maine coon appears to be the exception. The breed is known for producing larger cats, but Kefir, an alabaster tomcat living in Russia, tops expectations by far.
Technically, Kefir is still a kitten and probably has some more growing ahead of him. It's almost inconceivable, considering Kefir is already 26 to 28 pounds. To put that in perspective, the kitten weighs more than your average toddler.
Owner Yulia Minina bought her buddy Kefir two years ago as a much smaller kitten. Still, she's used to people not regarding him as a cat.
"When strangers come to the house, everyone first confuses him with a dog," she told South West News Service, according to the New York Post.
Yulia says that there was nothing that hinted Kefir would be this extraordinary when she picked him out. He was just like any other kitten.
"I could not even think that an ordinary baby can become so big," she joked.
Yulia also says his size speaks to his grand stature as well. Kefir has always been the best boy.
"He not only grew up big in appearance, he is also very smart and always behaves calmly," she boasted.
Yulia makes sure to keep Kefir looking great so that his looks match his personality.
"The look is generally like that of a person, and Kefir has a formidable appearance, but he is a very affectionate and modest child," she remarked.
"When friends and acquaintances come to the house, all the attention is on him and he willingly allows himself to be stroked."
Maine coons are known to be gentle giants and have been described by many as having dog-like personalities. Kefir could continue to grow for up to two years. At 28 pounds, the heavier he gets, the harder it is for Yulia to do certain things with him.
"At night he likes to climb on me and sleep. When he was a kitten, it didn't cause me any inconvenience," she explained.
"But now he has become big and heavy, and, of course, it is difficult to sleep like that."
Yulia says a lot of people who see her cat online think that it's fake. She's been accused of Photoshopping him to make him appear larger. Still, she promises that all 28 pounds of Kefir are the real deal.
