Zeus the ‘Majestic’ gentle giant
A house cat weighing 29 pounds and standing at more than four feet tall has become a ‘social media star’ as millions view the massive feline online. The large pet named Zeus is owned by Daniela Ermolaeva, 33. The IT worker says she had always dreamed of having a Maine Coon – a large domesticated cat breed – but never thought the “stars would align.” That was until her partner Liviu surprised her with Zeus in 2021. Since then, Daniela and Zeus have amassed thousands of followers and millions of views online, as the owner says she has been enjoying sharing the “fantastic creature” on her social media channel. Zeus may “scare some people” due to his size, measuring 4ft 3in when he stands on his two back paws with his front paws stretched out, but Daniela said he is “the sweetest cat.” The “gentle giant” can do tricks, such as offering his paw, high-fiving Daniela and pressing buttons for treats, and he sleeps on a husky-sized bed, which his fluffy tail does not fit into. She said: “He’s a very good actor, but he is a cat. “He will do something for 10 seconds and then he wants to lay down and is like, ‘Give me food, please. I’m Zeus.” Daniela, who lives in the country of Moldova, explained that she has always loved animals.
She saw Maine Coons – the largest domestic cat breed – during her childhood and thought they were “something from a fairy tale,” but she did not think she would ever own one. “I was fascinated by this breed, but it was not an available option in my life at that moment,” she said. “That just stayed in the back of my mind, and I thought, someday, maybe, I will fulfil this dream.” She told her partner of her dream to own a Maine Coon, saying she does not “need presents like jewelry or fancy cars,” but even he did not think it was possible to care for such a large cat. However, with Liviu’s support, Daniela thoroughly researched the breed’s characteristics and spent three months looking for the perfect Maine Coon. When she saw the picture of Zeus, who was being offered for sale, she knew he was the one. “I saw a story online about this little kitten with these big eyes, a big tail, and I just knew it was him,” she said. “I asked my boyfriend to make a minimum deposit so the kitten wouldn’t be sold, and he just came home with this little kitten and surprised me.”
“Nobody believed that he could get bigger, but every year he has gained 3 more pounds,” she said. “So now, at four years old, he is 29 pounds – he’s huge.” Daniela explained that Maine Coons typically continue growing until they are five years old, meaning Zeus will most likely reach 31 pounds. Speaking about her reasons for calling him Zeus, she said: “I wanted the most majestic and remarkable name I could give to him. Maine Coons have large, pointed ears, an intelligent expression, a long and thick coat and a spectacular tail, which can wrap around their body for extra insulation. “It is very expensive for the maintenance of a Maine Coon,” Daniela said. “While I can’t give any specific numbers on how much I spend in total per month, everything he needs – food, grooming, toys, veterinary care – if you multiply the maintenance expenses of a regular cat by three, you’ll get an idea.”
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