Once a small ball of fur, Finn the cat now measures a staggering 1.3 meters long, the average height of a nine-year-old child, according to his owner. In a popular Youtube video, owner Natalie Bowman hugs and kisses the ginormous Finn, and displays his calm and friendly nature.
Adopted by Bowman in 2017 when he was just three and a half months old, Finn's growth has been remarkable, with the typical Maine coon cat measuring between 10-16 inches, while Finn measures a mammoth 51 inches, reports the Yorkshire Evening Post.
Bowman describes Finn as a local celebrity, especially when she takes him out on a leash for walks. “It’s really funny, they think he’s a dog, and then when they get closer they say, ‘oh my god, it’s a cat’ and they love him,” she told the Yorkshire Evening Post.
Some people mistake him for a wildcat or a bobcat, which can be alarming when people come to fix things at Bowman’s house. "I’ve had service people come around to fix things," Bowman adds. “It’s always fun to see grown men get shocked by my cat.”
World record holders
The Maine coon is a native New Englander, hailing from Maine, where they were popular mousers, farm cats, and–most likely–ship’s cats, at least as far back as the early 19th century, according to Cat Time. Main Coons are affectionate without being needy, they’re adaptable, and they’ve kept their hunting instincts.
The Guinness Book of World Records awards domestic cats for the greatest length, measured from nose to tail; and the tallest cat, measured from the top of the shoulder to the paw. The record for the world’s longest house cat belongs to a Maine Coon who grew to be over four feet long, explains Cat Time. As you might have guessed, the same cat rarely holds both titles at the same time. Currently, the record holder for the longest domestic cat is Mymains Stewart Gilligan, who measured 48.5 inches long.
Cat health
Large or obese cats are often prone to diabetes, according to the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Like humans, cats with diabetes can no longer produce or use insulin properly. A hormone produced by the pancreas, insulin controls the flow of blood sugar, called glucose, to the body's cells to provide energy. Without sufficient levels of insulin, glucose doesn't reach the cells like it should, so instead the body starts breaking down fat and protein cells to use for energy, while unused glucose builds up to excessive amounts in the bloodstream. Cats, like humans, generally need insulin shots to regulate their glucose; unlike humans, cats can spontaneously go into remission, though it doesn’t always last.
Thankfully, Finn is large but not obese.
Bowman, who works as a healthcare provider, spends a considerable amount of money on Finn's food, which he consumes three or four times a day. Bowman splurges at least $150 a month on his food.
A resident of San Carlos, CA, Bowman doesn’t just own one cat. Finn gets along well with the other cat, despite their different sizes, and the two are now inseparable. “It took them a little while to adjust to each other, but they love each other now,” she told the Yorkshire Evening Post.
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