Meet Samson, the Main Coon cat who is the biggest feline in New York, and maybe the world!
Maine Coons are known for being large and fluffy, growing to anywhere between 15 and 25 pounds. Samson is the biggest one of all, however, as he measures 4 feet long and weighs a whopping 28 pounds!
Samson’s owner is 24 year-old music producer Jonathan Zurbel, who lives in Brooklyn. Samson was original owned by Jonathan’s brother, but as he continued growing, it became clear he needed a larger home. That’s how he ended up in Brooklyn with Jonathan.
Samson was averaged size for a Maine Coon until 2015, when he hit a massive growth spurt!
“He is genuinely long, broad, heavy and strong,” said his groomer, Carolyn Ayala. “He’s big and well-proportioned. He’s a real big Main Coon. I have groomed many obese cats but [he’s] not the same… He is the Fabio of cats.”
Jonathan said that Samson does not act like a cat, as he is much more dog-like!
“He plays an excellent game of fetch, and he follows me from room to room and lies nearby, much like a dog,” the owner said.
Samson loves nothing more than riding around in his stroller, basking in all the attention he gets on the street.
“He gets a lot of attention from strangers,” Jonathan said. “He draws a crowd. People’s reactions are often, ‘Holy s–t! Is that a cat? That’s a lion! Is it a bobcat?”
Samson’s large body means he needs a lot more food than the average cat. During the day, Samson typically eats at least six cans of wet cat food and he also goes through several bags of dry food throughout the week.
Samson has already officially been declared the largest cat in New York City, but many think he is actually the biggest cat in the world.
“He is by far the biggest cat I’ve heard of, especially in New York City,” said Manhattan veterinarian Dr. Lisa Lippman.
Jonathan is hoping that Samson’s fame will inspire others to adopt cats.
“There’s just so many cats that need a place to live and are wonderful, too,” he said. “[Samson] can have a big voice with helping out.”
SHARE this story with your family and friends so that they can meet Samson as well!
COMMENTS POLICY: We have no tolerance for messages of violence, racism, vulgarity, obscenity or other such discourteous behavior. Thank you for contributing to a respectful and useful online dialogue.