Woman Adopts Maine Coon Rescued From Abuse and Now He’s a 26-Pound Gentle Giant
By PawTales Newsroom Team in Cats
Meet Nico, a majestic Maine Coon cat with a remarkable story. Carol, his owner who lives in São Paulo, Brazil, gave us an exclusive interview.
Nico’s Story
Carol told us that Nico, while still a kitten, was rescued from an abusive situation. His mother was being used for breeding, and she, along with other animals, was rescued by authorities—that’s how Carol adopted Nico.
Nico was adopted at five months old and has been with Carol for two and a half years. Surprisingly, he was already unusually big for his age, but still wasn’t considered a “giant cat”.
“Nico currently weighs 26 pounds and is still growing!” Carol explained.
As for going out, Carol explains that it's a challenge—he usually only leaves the house to visit the vet.
“When we have vet appointments we need to put a harness on him, because there are no pet carriers for cats that are big enough,” she said.
Before adopting Nico, Carol had already prepared her home: window screens, furniture protected with anti-scratch tape, installed beds, and a dedicated space for his litter box.
Nico has a brother named Fred, who weighs 11 pounds. Although initially considered small, Carol discovered that Fred is not so tiny.
Fred’s arrival was peaceful, and the two brothers live together harmoniously—never fighting and doing everything together, like sleeping, eating a lot, and playing with paper balls.
Carol shares funny videos on TikTok (@.carolpoli) of the cats playing pranks on family members—hiding behind chairs to surprise them with “love attacks.”
Adopting a pet offers remarkable benefits, including saving lives, as many pets live at the mercy of their own fate on the streets.
It also promotes the fight against illegal commercial breeding, which is often associated with precarious conditions. You can also help reduce overcrowding in shelters.
Adopting is also more economical, as many shelter animals are already vaccinated, castrated, and sometimes even chipped. Consider adopting a friend!
