Meet This Giant Maine Coon Cat Named After Author Stephen King

The Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland recently posted some photos on Facebook of a Maine Coon Cat that was adopted in 2024 with the warning, "Be careful visiting the ARLGP, you may end up leaving with more than you bargained for." They're not wrong when it comes to this big cat.

History and Mission of the ARLGP

The Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland was founded in 1911 with funding from former Maine Governor Percival Baxter. Its mission has always been to nurture the connection between people and pets to advance animal welfare and improve community quality of life.

To that end, this non-profit organization provides temporary care and shelter for stray, abandoned, confiscated, and relinquished animals, and places as many pets as possible into responsible and caring homes, as well as creating awareness and support for the humane treatment of all animals.

Meet Stephen The Maine Coon Cat

If you guessed this big 'ole Maine Coon Cat got its name from Maine author Stephen King, you'd be right.

Stephen was adopted in 2024 by a local teacher who was visiting the ARLGP's Humane Ed classroom with a group of high school students. A year later, he's a big boy, but that comes with being a Coon Cat.

How Big Do Maine Coon Cats Get?

Bet you didn't know that the Maine Coon Cat is the official State cat of Maine. Coon cats are hard to miss, mostly because of their size and unique apperance.

Male coons can weigh anywhere from 18 to 22 pounds while females weigh in at 12 to 15. They can reach lengths of up to 38 inches, including the tail, which can reach a length of 14 inches. They don't reach their full size until about 3 to 5 years old. Maine Coons are also one of the oldest natural breeds of cats in North America and of course, originated here in Maine.

If you'd like to adopt a pet from the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland, visit them at 217 Landing Road or head to their website for more information at arlgp.org.