Portraits of Maine Coon Cats Who Look Like Majestic Mythical Creatures

maine coon cat

Photographer Robert Sijka sheds new light on one of the internet’s most beloved creatures, cats. The Hong Kong-based creative focuses his attention on the Maine Coon cats, the largest breed of domesticated felines. Their distinctive appearance includes long fur that frames their face like a lion, in addition to a robust build—they can grow up to nearly four feet in length.

Despite this physically-imposing stature, Maine Coons have earned the nickname gentle giant with personalities that are akin to canines rather than other type of cats. This combination of looks and temperament makes them an ideal subject for Sijka’s dramatic images. Photographed against a dark background, the fuzzy felines entrance you with their striking yellow eyes and serious gaze.

There’s also an undeniably mythical quality to Sijka’s images. The cats’ perfectly-coiffed fur and soft lighting ignites our imagination, and it’s easy to picture them as majestic creatures in charge of guarding an old royal court.

Photographer Robert Sijka captures Maine coon cats as majestic, otherworldly creatures?

maine coon cat

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maine coon cat breeding maine coon

maine coon cat breeding maine coon

maine coon cat breeding maine coon

maine coon cat breeding maine coon cats breeding

maine coon cat cats breeding

main coon cat cats breeding

main coon cat

maine coon cat

maine coon cat

Robert Sijka: 500px | Flickr
via [Design You Trust]

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met and Manager of My Modern Met Store. She is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art where she earned her BFA in Illustration and MFA in Illustration Practice. Sara is also an embroidery illustrator and writer living in Seattle, Washington. She runs Bear&Bean, a studio where she stitches pet portraits and other beloved creatures. She chronicles the creativity of others through her website Brown Paper Bag and newsletter, Orts. Her latest book is Threads of Treasure: How to Make, Mend, and Find Meaning Through Thread, published in 2014. Sara’s work has been recognized in Be Creative With Workbox, Embroidery Magazine, American Illustration, on Iron and Wine’s album Beast Epic, among others. When she’s not stitching or writing, Sara enjoys planning things that bring together the craft community. She is the co-founder of Camp Craftaway, a day camp for crafty adults with hands-on workshops in the Seattle area.
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