Maine coons are becoming an increasingly popular breed of cat, but Kefir, the giant maine coon cat from Russia, has proven that these cats can become stars all on their own!
kefir is a giant maine coon who weighs 26.5 pounds. At less than 2 years old, Kefir is expected to grow even larger, as Maine Coons don’t reach their full size until they are 3-5 years old. However, kefir is not only famous for being huge; She is also popular for her fluffy white coat and sweet loving personality.
kefir became a star on instagram, but has since become even more popular on the social media platform tiktok.
read on to learn more about this huge, beautiful cat, as well as how you can find a giant maine coon for yourself.
kefir of the Russian giant maine coon cat
The Maine Coon is a natural breed of cat that developed in the cold state of Maine.
today, they are revered for their:
- nice long coats
- huge size
- friendly personality
- youtube
- vine
- afc
- ethics
- acfa
- wormed
- fixed
- vaccinated
- with microchip
- visits to the vet
- toys
- other supplies
- afc
- ethics
- acfa
- silver
- tortoise shell
- calico
- ginger
- blue smoke
- black smoke
- cream silver shell
- silver turtle shell
- silver
- tortoise shell
- black
- marked
- mackerel
- classic tigers
- Size: Maine Coons are significantly larger than Norwegian Forest cats on average. Maine Coons typically weigh between 8 and 25 pounds, while Norwegian Forest cats typically weigh between 9 and 16 pounds.
- Leg Length: Norwegian Forest cats may be smaller than most Maine Coons, but they actually have longer hind legs. Norwegian Forest cats tend to have a rear end that is higher than their shoulders, while a Maine Coon’s shoulders are higher than their rear end.
- Eyes: Maine Coons have large, expressive eyes, while Norwegian Forest cats have almond-shaped eyes that are set at an angle.
- Tail Length: While both Maine Coons and Norwegian Forest cats have thick, bushy tails, Maine Coons tend to have longer tails.
Unfortunately, these cats aren’t exactly cheap, running between $1,000 and $2,000 on average.
Learn more about the realistic cost of buying a Maine Coon kitten here.
Still, Maine Coons have become more popular over the last decade, and most owners agree that this breed is well worth the cost.
A famous maine coon instagram star, known as kefir, has become so popular that it has now paid its initial cost a dozen times over!
His owner, Yuliya, chose him as a child for his soft white fur.
however, he had no way of knowing that before long, this kitty would be known around the world as kefir, the giant maine coon cat of russia!
Yuliya Minina, who lives in the small Russian town of Staryy Oskol, bought kefir from a farm. she fell in love with his white fur and named him kefir after a milky drink.
almost immediately, kefir showed a strong preference for wet food and natural food over dry food, and yuliya rose to the challenge.
His naturally high-protein diet helped keep him adequately nourished as he grew. by the time he was one year old, he had already tripled in size!
Today, the kefir weighs about 26.5 pounds, and it’s not done growing yet!
Maine Coons have an incredibly slow growth rate and don’t reach their full size until they are 3-5 years old.
is kefir the cat real?
kefir looks so beautiful and huge in his photos that some people wonder if it even exists.
While many Maine Coon owners may use forced perspective and other camera angle tricks to make their cats look bigger, kefir is 100% real.
it has become so popular that its owner, yuliya minina, has had countless interviews, which have helped confirm that it is real.
plus, kefir has so many photos and videos on instagram and tiktok that even skeptics have finally begun to admit that this larger-than-life cat is surely real.
here’s a short youtube video of kefir the maine coon cat in person. credit for the video goes to the daily mail youtube channel:
kefir maine coon cat instagram
kefir became popular when its owner, yuliya, posted a photo of it on her instagram, @yuliyamnn.
He posted the photo on February 16, 2021, and people around the world were shocked by its sheer size.
after that, yuliya started posting more photos and videos of her beloved pet, and he only became more and more popular.
now, yuliya and kefir have nearly 50,000 followers on instagram.
she shares all kinds of adorable photos of her cat, sometimes cuddling him, sometimes playing, and sometimes even dressing him up in cute outfits (source 1).
maine coon kefir tiktok
cats have always been the stars of social media platforms such as:
now the newest social media platform tiktok has enabled cat owners to share even more videos of their beloved pets.
kefir has his own tiktok account, @mainecoonkefir.
While she doesn’t have as many followers there as she does on her instagram account, her devoted followers are thrilled to have another way to keep up with her life.
with each new video posted, people can watch this gentle giant grow even bigger as the months go by.
tiktok has become a popular platform for cat owners to share cute, funny and educational videos of their cats.
Kefir is just one of hundreds of popular cats on tiktok, but you shouldn’t worry about sharing the spotlight; Nobody seems to get tired of cute cat videos!
maine coons are especially popular, and nowadays, it seems more and more cat owners are realizing that they can also use tiktok as a way to earn money (source 1).
How much does a giant Maine Coon cat cost?
As cute as Maine Coons are, not everyone can afford one.
Known for being one of the most expensive cat breeds, breeders in the US, UK, Europe and Russia love to breed these kittens to send them to loving homes.
Of course, raising Maine Coons in a healthy and safe environment is incredibly expensive, and breeders barely make a profit, even though Maine Coons command a hefty price tag.
so how much does a giant maine coon cat cost?
Most Maine Coons are between 8 and 25 pounds, but there’s no guarantee that the kitten you get will grow to be huge.
still, there are many different options when it comes to finding a maine coon.
read on to find out how the cost of a giant maine coon cat or kitten can vary:
1. kittens from registered breeders
If you want a Maine Coon kitten, your best bet is through a breeder who is registered with a cat governing body such as:
Maine Coon kittens from registered breeders typically cost between $1,000 and $2,500, although in some cases they can be as high as $4,000!
2. adults from registered breeders
Some registered breeders will sell show cats or retired breeders.
Adult and older cats from registered breeders typically cost between $1,200 and $1,600.
This option is not only cheaper, but you will also know the size and personality of your cat.
Having a kitten can be fun, but there’s just no telling what its size and personality will be as an adult.
3. animal shelters
You can also find Maine Coons at animal shelters.
Occasionally, Maine Coon owners are unable to care for their cat and leave it at a shelter.
Animal shelters typically only charge $100-$250 per animal, which is significantly cheaper than buying from a breeder.
You can find purebred and mixed Maine Coons in shelters, as well as kittens and adults.
However, because they are so popular, Maine Coons are often among the first to be adopted, and it may take some patience to find the cat of your dreams.
4. maine coon rescue centers
There are also some rescue centers wholly dedicated to rehoming purebred and mixed-breed Maine Coons.
These rescue centers generally charge between $150 and $400, but since there are only a few in the United States, it may take some time before you can adopt one.
5. online groups
In some cases, you may find people who ended up with a surprise litter of Maine Coon kittens.
in these scenarios, people are more likely to post on facebook or craigslist and typically ask for a small relocation fee.
However, be on the lookout for steep relocation fees; as many people online will pretend to be rehoming kittens, when in reality they are irresponsible breeders in disguise.
6. lost
Although highly unlikely, some people have managed to find stray Maine Coons.
This route may seem completely free, but while you don’t have to buy a stray dog, you’ll end up paying a lot of costs.
stray cats must be (or have):
It’s also incredibly difficult to come across a purebred Maine Coon in the wild, and most stray Maine Coons are just Maine Coon mixes.
7. where not to buy
Although it is possible to find well meaning people trying to rehom Maine Coon kittens on Facebook or Craigslist, never buy a Maine Coon from a breeder on these sites without doing some research first.
Any breeders you buy from must be registered with a cat governing body such as:
Unregistered breeders have not been vetted to ensure they are breeding purebred Maine Coons in safe, clean environments with access to proper medical care.
You should also avoid buying Maine Coons from pet stores, as they often come from irresponsible breeders or even kitten breeders (source 1).
where can I get a giant maine coon cat?
If you want a giant Maine Coon cat, your best bet is to find a breeder who already has large cats.
Of course, there’s no guarantee that the kitten you buy will turn into a giant Maine Coon.
however, giant parents certainly increase the chances of your kitty becoming a giant maine coon.
in the united states, here are some hatcheries known for their big cats:
1. megacoon hatchery
the megacoon cattery was established in 1995. this is a huge cattery known for its huge maine coons.
Situated on a 13-acre parcel, the owners built an entire 1,300-square-foot home just for their cats.
if you live near this hatchery, consider visiting megacoon.
2. thank you
gran owners are proud to say they have produced many huge Maine Coons over the years.
her largest maine coon reached 33lbs, well above the expected maximum size of 25lbs!
graro has even had cats reach 18 pounds before they were a year old, which is huge for a maine coon cat.
russian maine coon kittens for sale near me
Although Maine Coons originated in North America, the popularity of this popular breed has spread throughout the world.
Although European and American Maine Coons are the same breed, they are still known to have some differences.
That is, European Maine Coons have a more “wild” look, with square muzzles and a serious expression.
As a result, many people are looking for Russian Maine Coon kittens for sale near me.
Because European Maine Coons are so popular, and because many of these Russian-bred cats are famous for their appearance, many American Maine Coons breeders will actually import their studs and queens from this country.
So, if you are looking for Russian Maine Coons for sale, here are some breeders that specialize in Russian imported Maine Coons:
1. Klaudr Coons Kings Hatchery
king klaudr coons is another great cattery with even bigger cats!
Most of his stallions and queens have been imported from Russia.
King Raccoons are not only big, but they also come in an impressive array of colors and patterns, including:
2. hatchery of the pride of zeus
Zeus Pride Cattery has kittens in many rare colors and patterns, including:
Many of the cats at this cattery come from champion bloodlines in Russia and Ukraine, including the cattery’s pride and namesake, a blue and white Maine Coon named Zeus.
3. Maine Coon Goldens Farm
goldens farm kennel stocks a wide variety of maine coon colors, including:
they also have many different maine coon patterns, such as:
one of their queens is a polydactyl maine coon cat.
in addition, this kennel carries queens and kings that have been imported from exquisite bloodlines in both Ukraine and Russia.
Where does the Maine Coon cat come from?
Maine Coons developed naturally in the state of Maine and eventually spread throughout the United States due to their hunting skills.
however, as this cat became more popular, many were brought to russia and other parts of europe.
Over time, European Maine Coons diverged somewhat in their physical appearance.
Although European and American Maine Coons are considered the same breed, European Maine Coons are known for having squarer muzzles and wilder expressions.
American Maine Coons appear softer and more refined.
the biggest maine coon cat
Maine Coons typically weigh between 8 and 25 pounds, but some have reached record sizes.
so what is the biggest maine coon cat in the world?
here is a list of the largest maine coons in recorded history (sources 1,2):
stewie
Stewie is the world’s largest maine coon cat ever recorded.
at one point, it was 48.5 inches long, a record that has yet to be broken.
She also weighed in at an incredible 33 pounds!
sadly, he passed away in 2013, but is still remembered for his enormous size.
barivel
Barivel is the oldest living Maine Coon cat today.
He stands a full 47.2 inches and while he hasn’t broken Stewie’s record yet, it doesn’t look like he’s going to be giving up his crown for the current record holder anytime soon!
ludo
before stewie’s incredible length was recorded, ludo held the record for the longest living cat at 46.6 inches long.
He is also one of the heaviest Maine Coons around, with a total weight of 34 pounds.
how to tell the maine coon apart from the norwegian forest cat
The Norwegian Forest Cat is another breed of large cat with long, fluffy fur.
at first glance, maine coons and norwegian forest cats may look similar, but there are a few ways to tell them apart (sources 1,2):
conclusion
Kefir, the giant Maine Coon cat from Russia, has fans all over the world.
Not only is her beautiful white coat mesmerizing, but her incredible 26.5-pound weight has left countless onlookers stunned.
in fact, at first, most people think that this big maine coon cat from russia is actually a dog.
Of course, its handsome appearance and impressive size aren’t the only reasons its owner adores it; the kefir is also incredibly cuddly and sweet, just like most maine coons.
related questions
Are maine coon cats jealous?
Maine Coons are not normally known to be jealous, but they can become jealous and stressed if they feel they are being replaced by a baby, dog or another cat.
