Meet John and the cats

MeowBeans is written by John Maddock, a self-confessed crazy cat man from Cheshire, and inspired by the five cats who share his home. It all started with one Maine Coon called Bean.

Bean, Marshall, Max and Mila curled up together on a bed in 2018
The original four in 2018: Mila, Marshall, Max and Bean.

How it started

I’ve had all sorts of pets over the years, but mostly cats. Around nine years ago I adopted a kitten called Marshall. When I met his mum, Bean, I remember saying how lovely she was and that I’d never seen a cat quite like her. Bean, it turned out, is a Maine Coon.

Marshall inherited almost everything from her: the markings, the face shape, the size (he’s now about 6.5kg) and the gentle, sociable temperament. Everything except the long coat, which makes him a Maine Coon cross.

A few months after Marshall moved in, Bean’s owner got in touch to ask if I’d like to give Bean a home too. I said yes.

A surprise in the wardrobe

A few months later I came home and couldn’t find Bean anywhere. After searching the whole house I found her curled up in a pile of clothes she’d pulled down inside the wardrobe, with three tiny newborn kittens. Neither her previous owner nor I had any idea she was pregnant. Sadly, one of the kittens didn’t make it.

Bean and the two kittens went straight to the vet and were given a clean bill of health. But a week or two later the little boy took a turn for the worse. He couldn’t feed properly and came very close to not making it.

So I took time off work and fed him by syringe for six to eight weeks: every two hours at first, then every four, then every six as he put on weight. He pulled through. That kitten is Max, and today he weighs around 6kg, second only to Marshall. His sister is Mila. If I’m honest, I’d secretly decided to keep them both about two weeks in.

If you ever find yourself caring for a kitten that can’t feed, call your vet straight away. They’ll tell you what to feed, how much and how often.

Four cats… well, five

So for the last nine years it’s been Bean (mum), Marshall (her first litter) and Max and Mila (her second): four related cats, three Maine Coons and one Maine Coon cross, and one very happy crazy cat man.

Then, recently, a noise from a cupboard revealed a tiny kitten who’d wandered in through an open door and taken refuge. He was injured, so off to the vet he went. We asked around for an owner but nobody came forward. We think he was born wild. Nobody else offered him a home either, which I was secretly quite pleased about. My children named him Jelly Bean and insisted he stayed, so officially he’s theirs. Technically, I still only have four cats.

All five are brilliant with children: patient and gentle, every one of them.

The cats

As of 2026.

  • Bean, a long-haired silver tabby Maine Coon with a white chest, looking at the camera

    Bean

    The matriarch · Maine Coon

    Age
    About 13 (she came to us as an adult, so nobody knows for sure)
    Weight
    Just under 6kg
    Colouring
    White, greys, black and a little brown
    Nicknames
    Beans, Beanie Bobs

    Very affectionate and always trying to sit as close to you as physically possible. In her old age she can be a little grumpy with the others.

  • Marshall, a short-haired brown tabby with bold stripes, lying on the sofa

    Marshall

    Big brother · Maine Coon cross

    Age
    9
    Weight
    6.5kg, the biggest of the lot
    Colouring
    Browns, blacks, greys and cream
    Nicknames
    Marsh, Marshy Boy, Mersh

    Every Maine Coon trait except the long coat. Very loving, loves face kisses and follows you everywhere. He runs the house, climbs all over you and acts as big brother to the others, even washing them.

  • Max, a long-haired brown tabby with green eyes and ear tufts, sitting on a garden sofa

    Max

    The hand-reared one · Maine Coon

    Age
    8
    Weight
    About 6kg
    Colouring
    The exact pattern and colours of Marshall, with a long coat
    Nicknames
    Maxy Boy, Maxy Man, Maximus

    Very close to John after being syringe-fed as a kitten. A little shy with visitors and nervous of loud noises, but loving.

  • Mila, a long-haired black cat with amber eyes, peeking out from under a pillow

    Mila

    The protector · Maine Coon

    Age
    8
    Weight
    5.5kg
    Colouring
    Black, with a tiny white spot on her belly
    Nicknames
    Mila Moo, Meels

    Loving, but likes her own space. Very protective of the children.

  • Jelly Bean, a young black kitten, stretched out asleep with one paw in the air

    Jelly Bean

    The newcomer · Found in 2026

    Age
    About 4 months
    Weight
    Still growing
    Colouring
    Black
    Nicknames
    Jel Jel, Jelly Belly, Jels Bels

    Affectionate, playful and determined to pester the older cats at every opportunity.

Family tree: Bean (mum) → first litter: Marshall → second litter: Max and Mila. Jelly Bean is no relation, just a lucky stray.

What this means for MeowBeans

Every guide on MeowBeans is researched from veterinary and breed-registry sources, then sense-checked against real life with five cats: Bean’s long Maine Coon coat and grooming needs, Marshall and Max’s size, and the day-to-day reality of a multi-cat home with young children.

We share what we’ve learned, but we’re not vets. For anything health-related, always speak to yours.

John Maddock smiling on the sofa with Bean on his shoulder

Written by John Maddock, founder of MeowBeans. Browse all the Maine Coon guides →