[Burchette Manor, Windenburg]

Prince Rainier: Where are you running off to, little one?

Princess Grace: To see the special surprise!

Prince Rainier: Okay! You go ahead with your brother. I’ll get mommy.

Prince Rainier: I think it’s time for a break.

Princess Katherine: I still have so much to review before we depart tomorrow.

Prince Rainier: The children and I have a surprise for you. 

Princess Katherine: A surprise?

Prince Rainier: Yes. The only way you get it is if you take a break right now.

Princess Katherine: What are you three up to?

Prince Rainier: Come find out, Your Royal Highness!

Princess Katherine: Rainier! Oh my goodness! You didn't!

Prince Phillip: Mommy! A puppy!

Princess Katherine: I see! You’ve been asking for a new puppy.

Princess Grace: What is her name, papa?

Prince Rainier: HIS name is up to you and your brother. He is a Labrador Retriever from the Windenburg animal shelter.

Prince Phillip: Hi, boy! We’re going to be best friends! This is the happiest day of my life!

Prince Rainier: Think of a name, Phillip.

Prince Phillip: What about Samson?

Princess Katherine: Thank you, Rainier. The children needed this.

Prince Rainier: I know how stressed you’ve been preparing for the Commonwealth Tour. I know leaving the children for four weeks will be the hardest thing we have ever done and longest we’ve been without them. I thought the new puppy would help keep them busy and an extra person to love on while we’re on tour.

Princess Katherine: It’s perfect. He’s perfect! I love you!

Prince Phillip: Eww! Get a room! Hahaha

Princess Katherine: Welcome to the show, Samson!

Image: JONATHAN ZURBEL/SPLURT TECH

By Sophie Hirsh2016-08-27 14:36:00 UTC

Holy cat!

At 4 feet long and 28 pounds strong, Samson, a Maine Coon cat, just might be the largest cat in New York City.

Image: Jonathan Zurbel/SPLURT TECH

His owner, Jonathan Zurbel (a.k.a. Splurt), 42, is a social media strategist, music producer and DJ. He runs a popular Instagram account for Samson that has over 77,000 followers.

Samson and Zurbel came into each other's lives accidentally. "He fell from heaven into my arms. Not really, but my brother got him for his ex-girlfriend and when they broke up I took care of him for a few weeks and we became inseparable," he told Mashable in an email.

“He is by far the biggest cat I’ve heard of, especially in New York City,” Dr. Lisa Lippman, a Manhattan veterinarian, told the New York Post. Most cats she sees weigh closer to 10 pounds.

Despite being so much larger than the average cat, Samson is in fine physical health.

"I must stress he is VERY healthy and his size is just because he is a perfect specimen and his parents were champion show cats," Zurbel said. "So his weight is not because he eats too much, HE IS NOT FAT!" 

Image: JONATHAN ZURBEL/SPLURT TECH

According to Zurbel, Maine Coons typically weigh 15 to 18 pounds, with the maximum weight being 25 pounds. 

Zurbel knew Samson would be large, but not to this extent. "We had an idea he was gonna be big, I kinda thought he would stop growing at 19 pounds," he wrote to Mashable.

"[He was] also taking up half my queen size bed, so when I went for his last check up, we couldn't believe his weight, and according to the vets he's the heaviest cat on record in the local area."

Image: JONATHAN ZURBEL/SPLURT TECH

Zurbel has been pleased by the reaction to Samson on social media. "[Followers] cannot believe it, but they also adore him," he wrote. "And thats what I want, I want people to see a beautiful animal who is kind, tender, funny, sweet and a great companion and not just focus on his size." 

"So I'm happy so many people adore him. He is so beautiful and majestic."

Zurbel told Mashable that somewhere down the line, he would like to use Samson to raise awareness around cat issues such as adoption and shelters.

Image: JONATHAN ZURBEL/SPLURT TECH

In addition to being joyfully large, Samson apparently inspires a treasure trove of trivia. We'll leave you with some of Zurbel's favorite factoids about his sweet pet:

He loves to watch running water.

He hates drones.

He gives GREAT massages.

He plays fetch.

He loves one movie and watches it for sometimes an hour nonstop: Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2.

  Image: JONATHAN ZURBEL/SPLURT TECH

BONUS: If Cats Could Experience Virtual Reality

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