The pawdorable progression of a Maine Coon kitten to an awkward teen to a meowjestic giant cat captured in photos

Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor

Feb 7, 2026 9:00 AM EST

Somehow, Maine Coons turn from adorable kittens to the coolest cats you have ever seen.

We love all cats. We think that is pretty clear by now. With that said, we do have a soft spot for some kitties. Cats who are perpetually small, staying kitten-sized for the rest of their lives, have a special place in our hearts. And cats who grow really, really big, roaming around our houses like little lions, ruling our households with an iron paw, there's a special corner in our hearts for them too. Something about the extremes - the smallest and the biggest.

There are a couple breeds that can grow extra large in cats. The most well-known are probably Siberian cats, who are fluffy, majestic and huge. Norwegian Forest cats, who have had a hold on our hearts since the days of the Vikings when they were given as gifts to newlywed brides. But the most well-known is probably the Maine Coon cat. Maybe because they are the biggest cats that you can have domestically. Maybe because they are just… pawdorable. Or maybe it's because when you see a picture of a Maine Coon kitten, you simply cannot understand how they go from that to the beautiful beast that they become when they are older.

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"Théoden from 2 to 16 weeks old"

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They really do start so small. You could never imagine what this kitten would look like a year from now when you look at it in this form. So tiny, so precious, ears a little big for his face, but not all that much different from an ordinary house cat. And somehow, this fluffy little kitten grows into one of the biggest domestic cats in the world, a little lion walking around our house, demanding that we treat it like royalty. They grow up fast. You should enjoy every moment of kittenhood that this adorable species has to offer.
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And now, look at this. Somehow, from that itty bitty adorable kitten, this thing grew. The ears no longer look too big for his face. The whiskers purrfectly match as well. The awkward teen phase happens. It's short, but it's there. Except that you would never be able to know that it happened when you look at this fully grown catto. Personally, we think this is one of the most meowjestic species of cat that there is, including big cats and wild cats. But maybe we're a little swayed by the fact that this is one “wild” cat that we can actually keep in our homes, pet and cuddle with.
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