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Every cat owner remembers that first night: a kitten small enough to nap in a cereal bowl, crying at a volume that seemed physically impossible for its size. You promised to protect this fragile little creature forever. A year later, the fragile little creature sleeps in the middle of the bed, and you sleep on the edge.

The speed isn't your imagination. Kittens do most of their growing in the first six months, roughly doubling their weight every few weeks. Most are fully grown by their first birthday, at around 10 pounds. Then there are the overachievers. Maine Coons can keep growing for three to five years, and a full-grown male typically weighs 18 to 22 pounds, which is about what a one-year-old child weighs and considerably more than anyone signed up to carry up the stairs.

The owners below kept the receipts: photos of the same cat before and after it discovered its full potential. Scroll through, and if your own palm-sized kitten has turned into a small child with whiskers, share the evidence in the comments.

#1

Side-by-side comparison of a grey fluffy kitten growing up into a very large, fluffy adult cat

"Little Maui"

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Multa Nocte (she/her 8647)
Community Member
Premium
1 hour ago

And with the belly exposed - that's one loving, trusting cat!

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    #2

    Before-and-after photos of a tiny orange kitten that grew up to fit inside a McDonald's nugget box.

    "Nugget —> 20ct Spicy Chicken McNugget Sharebox."

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    Giles McArdell
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    That box must still smell of Chicken Nuggets, a good contender for the best "If I fits, I sits" box ever!

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    #3

    Before-and-after photos of a scruffy grey kitten growing up into a healthy grey cat licking its nose

    "We found Gouda in the middle of a busy road with a horrible upper respiratory infection and her eyes crusted shut when she was about 4 weeks old. She’s now 1 year old and 13 pounds of love. I didn’t want a cat, but now I can’t imagine being without her."

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    Multa Nocte (she/her 8647)
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 hour ago

    Bless anyone who takes care of injured, sick animals.

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    #4

    Before-and-after photos of a tiny orange kitten growing into a large fluffy cat held by its owner

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    Cee Cee
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    Don't think you should hold a cat like that.

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    #5

    Before-and-after photo of a young girl holding tiny kittens growing up into a teenager with a large cat

    "On the left, my daughter is holding both cats when we got them. Pay special attention to Marble, the grey tabby on the right. In the next picture, my daughter is holding Marble, aka Mr. Chunkybutt, three years later. He’s been that size since the end of his first year."

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    GenuineJen
    Community Member
    51 minutes ago

    Did Marble absorb the other cat??

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    #6

    Comparison of two kittens, one grey tabby and one orange, cuddling on a sofa as babies and later as grown-up cats.

    "My orange boy Ben was a scrawny little kitten. His adopted sister is a week older than him and she made him look small. Now, he’s more than twice her size."

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    GenuineJen
    Community Member
    51 minutes ago

    The top picture looks like a studio family portrait.

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    #7

    Before-and-after photos of two black and white kittens playing and then growing up to look out of a window.

    "My tiny babies became big neighborhood watchers."

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    Spencers slave no more
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    Mine watch the birds and cows from their deckio.

    #8

    A ginger kitten cuddling a pug side-by-side with them growing up and cuddling as adults

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    Cat Palmer
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    Dog does not look impressed with the increased size of their companion!

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    #9

    Before-and-after photo of a white and grey kitten sleeping on a blue blanket, and later as a grown-up sleeping cat.

    "He grew into the thumbs."

    carrielikethebook Report

    Spencers slave no more
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    Polys are gorgeous cats. Spencer had 26 toes and all his beans were pink.

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    #10

    Before-and-after photos of a fluffy black and white kitten being held up, growing up into a larger cat

    "Still palm sized, with more fluff."

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    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 hour ago

    Tuxedo is my absolute lifelong favorite cat coat pattern/coloration. Please don't tell this to the 4 of my 7 cats who aren't tuxedoes XD

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    #11

    Before-and-after photos of a tabby kitten inside a colorful bag growing up into a big cat in a cardboard box

    "From 'butter wouldn’t melt' to 'I break boxes with my hefty self.'"

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    #12

    Before-and-after photos of a tiny calico kitten growing up into a fluffy, white-bellied adult cat.

    "The runt of her litter: Yuka. She went from a tiny little thing to a 23-lb monster. (She’s on a diet and has now gotten down to 14 lbs. Clap for her!)"

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    Cat Palmer
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    👏👏👏 Well done Yuka!

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    #13

    Before-and-after of a tiny fluffy orange and white kitten who grew up into a long, majestic adult cat.

    "One year apart."

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    Cat Palmer
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    That's a serious tail!

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    #14

    Comparison of a black and white fluffy kitten and the same cat grown up, showing the process of kittens growing up.

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    Giles McArdell
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    From "Can I has treats?" to "Where the heck are my treats, s***e!"

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    #15

    Before-and-after photos of a fluffy orange kitten growing up into a majestic, long-haired adult cat.

    "No comment."

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    Cee Cee
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    Love the neck ruff.

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    #16

    Before-and-after photo of a fluffy black and white kitten growing up with its owner

    "Yes. My Poop-Master 2000 turned into a Maine Coon."

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    Gail Lott
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 hour ago

    Gosh! How wonderful!

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    #17

    Before-and-after photo of a tiny calico kitten growing up into a plump, beautiful calico cat

    "Artemis. She was so cute and sweet, and now she becomes a monster at 4:40 a.m. and tries to destroy everything I own."

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    #19

    Before-and-after photos of an orange kitten growing up into a large tabby cat lounging on a Chewy box

    "Lucky. He used to be Lucky Ducky, and now he’s Goose. He’s one year and two months old and weighs the same as his petite sister and undersized brother combined."

    nb_sb_pk_cats Report

    #20

    Side-by-side photos of a small black kitten with green eyes growing up into a vocal, large black cat.

    "My 18lb bowling ball Dexter."

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    Fred
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    8 kg

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    #21

    Side-by-side comparison of an orange kitten and the same orange cat growing up with a serious expression.

    "Loki"

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    #22

    Side-by-side view of a fluffy ginger kitten and the same orange cat growing up on a grey chair.

    "My little princess."

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    Shark Lady
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    I love when cats have that determined expression of the second picture, my tuxie looks like that just before she does something she knows not to.

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    #23

    Before-and-after photos of a Siamese kitten growing up into a beautiful adult Siamese cat

    "This is Harvey. He could fit into my hoodie pocket when we brought him home… he now can’t even fit in a normal-sized cat tree."

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    #25

    Before-and-after photo of a cute orange kitten growing up into a large, fluffy orange cat

    "This is baby Gus next to big, floofy Gus. 50% floof, 50% sass."

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    Multa Nocte (she/her 8647)
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 hour ago

    What a stunner!

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    #26

    Before-and-after photo of a sleek grey kitten growing up into a majestic adult grey cat

    "She was so small when I found her that we used a dish towel as a blanket, lol. Now she’s grown and full of sass, attitude, and straight-up cuteness. Peep her looking at her siblings like they don’t have any sense."

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    #27

    Before-and-after photos of a grey fluffy Maine C**n kitten growing up and lounging upside down in a pet bed

    "Smokey the Maine Coon as a baby: aww. Smokey the Maine Coon as a 10-kg (22-lb) derpy cat, bigger than his dog bed: awww."

    thebealsabroad Report

    Shark Lady
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    I've always wanted one, unfortunately I'm not the type of human these magnificent creatures need to stay healthy and maintain their coats.

    #28

    Before-and-after photos of a tuxedo kitten growing up into a handsome adult cat with a white mustache

    "Lil and a Lil Murderous."

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    alegra
    Community Member
    25 minutes ago

    The moustache is very sweet.

    #29

    Before-and-after photos of a fluffy kitten growing up into a large black cat next to a golden retriever

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    Cee Cee
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    Great set of whiskers.

    #30

    Two photos showing three small kittens growing up into four adult cats sitting on a wooden floor.

    "Found these brothers last year (and their mom) living in a tiny hole under a portable at the school where I worked. Now they’re almost the size of our 5-year-old cat (the black-and-white one)."

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    #31

    Before-and-after photos of a tiny kitten on a shoulder growing up into a large fluffy cat sitting indoors

    "He was found alone in the road and we snuck him in with a mama I was fostering at the time. And now we have this majestic beast."

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    Spencers slave no more
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    Dear god, that poor cat.

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    #32

    Before-and-after photos of a white and grey kitten growing up and posing the same way on a ledge

    "Tiny turd to tubby terror!"

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    #33

    Side-by-side comparison of ginger kitten growing up into a larger, round ginger cat

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    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 hour ago

    Ticked tabby! This means the kitty's individual hairs are agouti, with alternating bands of light and dark pigmentation on each hair. This is what causes the "salt and pepper" look to the coat instead of what we think of as "normal" tabby stripes.

    #34

    Before-and-after photos of a black kitten growing up into a majestic, sleek adult black cat

    "3 pounds in 2017, 16 pounds now. RBF forever intact."

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    GenuineJen
    Community Member
    37 minutes ago

    I would say the RBF has been upgraded to… something more serious lol.

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    #35

    Before-and-after photos of a tiny grey kitten growing up into a sleek grey cat sleeping on a sofa

    "This was two months apart."

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    Fred
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    rapid growth

    #37

    Before-and-after photos showing a fluffy tabby kitten with big eyes growing into a majestic adult cat

    “We rescued him at 3.5 weeks, and he was less than a pound. Now he’s 6 years old and 20 lbs of attitude.”

    meloliblisa Report

    Fred
    Community Member
    59 minutes ago

    about 400 g to 9 kg

    #38

    Before-and-after photos of a tiny black kitten held in hands and later as a majestic grown cat with bright eyes

    "Literally he went from a 436 gram pocket bat to a 15lb fluff plume. Meet Poe."

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    Multa Nocte (she/her 8647)
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 hour ago

    Gorgeous!

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