‘Gentle giant’: Stormie is a 9kg Maine Coon cat owned by Shepparton’s Kelly D’Andrea.
In a prime example of being taken for granted by your kids, Kelly D’Andrea says her fur-child — her giant Maine Coon cat Stormie — likes her the least in the family despite the fact she is the one who caters to her every need.
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“She likes me least and will sit and cuddle anyone else in the family except for me,” Mrs D’Andrea said.
While Mrs D’Andrea might be deflated by the snub, her back might be grateful not to hold Stormie too often, given she weighed in at a whopping nine kilograms at her last visit to the vet.
Majestic: Stormie is boss of all four cats in the home she lives in.
As an inside cat in a home with four humans, three other cats and two bearded dragons, Stormie’s physical stature is not her only dominant trait, with the intimidating cat sitting high in the household pecking order, firmly wrapping both the humans and other animals around her soft little toe-bean.
“She is rather quiet, but definitely lets the other cats of the household know she’s in charge,” Mrs D’Andrea said.
“And she is food-obsessed.
“If she is eating meat, for instance, I have to cut it into tiny pieces, otherwise she swallows it whole without chewing and will make herself sick.”
The D’Andrea family has had the almost four-year-old cat since she was a 14-week-old kitten.
The Maine Coon breed is often referred to as “the gentle giant” and is one of the oldest natural breeds in North America, originating from the US state of Maine.
It’s known for its size and dense coat of fur, which helps it survive in the cold north American climate, and is often cited as having dog-like characteristics.
No work getting done here: When you’re a 9kg cat, you’ll sleep wherever you please; Stormie enjoys the warmth from owner Kelly D’Andrea’s laptop.
It would seem no matter how domesticated and pampered a pet is, there are some things so ingrained into their natural instinct that they cannot shake.
Mrs D’Andrea said Stormie used to sit atop her scratching tower, which faces the driveway, and when she saw people approaching the house she would growl at them like a watchdog.
Relaxing: Maine Coon cat Stormie enjoys being a pampered inside pet and far away from the cold climate of North America, where its breed originated.
“One of my other cats, Lucy, hates Stormie,” Mrs D’Andra said.
“She hisses every time Stormie goes near her.
“Stormie, in turn, likes to intimidate Lucy and show her that she is in charge.”
Keeping watch: Often cited as having dog-like characteristics, Maine Coon cat Stormie stays true to her breed by growling like a watchdog when visitors approached the house.
Mrs D’Andrea has no plans to add more pets to her existing menagerie at this stage.
She might just have to get Stormie’s approval for that anyway.
