Almost every family has cute creatures - domestic cats. Thanks to them, our homes become more comfortable and warmer. Often they replace our friends and even doctors. It’s nice to feel a warm, living lump on your lap, listen to its purr, and feel joy.
We forgive him even scratches made through negligence and torn curtains on which he loves to frolic. And the larger our kitten is, the more pleasant it is to snuggle up to him.
Before we determine the biggest cat in the world, let's look at the smallest ones. It is believed that these include pets of the Singapura breed; this title is secured by the Guinness Book of Records. These crumbs weigh up to 2 kilograms. The tiny Himalayan cat was recognized as the smallest, weighing 680 grams. Tinker Toy the cat has grown to a height of 7 centimeters and a length of 18 centimeters. But it turns out that his small size was associated with hormonal imbalances in his body.
See photos of the smallest cat in the world.
If we consider the largest cat by weight, we may encounter a similar problem. The fattest cat is not a completely healthy individual. The Australian pet Himmy, recognized as the fattest cat in the world, surpassed the cat Spice, who lives in Connecticut.
Himmy the Cat
The cat Himmi weighed 21 kilograms, and his “waist” was 84 centimeters. The Spice cat was listed in the Guinness Book of Records, but he weighed 20 kilograms. The cat Himmi, according to the owners, was lazy by nature, which affected his weight. He died because he could not move on his own and his breathing stopped. Himmi lived for 10 years.
Which felines living in houses in our neighborhood are recognized as the largest in the world? Domestic cats of the Maine Coon and Asher breeds are recognized as such companion animals (see what is the largest domestic cat).
Top 10 biggest cats
Among the representatives of the largest breeds of domestic cats there are long-legged, lean, short-haired beauties and shaggy hulks with a somewhat predatory appearance.
The giants of domesticated representatives of the cat world, whose weight reaches fifteen kilograms or even more, include individuals of only a few breeds, and their prices are sometimes off the charts. Pets weighing from 7 to 12 kg are not so rare, but they look no less impressive and respectable. It is worth saying that cats, invariably included in the ranking of the largest, are mainly distinguished by their physique - solid bones, powerful muscles, and not at all by how well they are fed by their adoring owners. Without exception, all mustachioed giants reach their prime only by 3-4 years, and it is at this age that their individual weight is established. The overwhelming majority of males are much larger than females. Depending on the breed and litter, the difference in weight between them varies and can range from three to five to six kilograms.
Maine Coon
Animals of this breed are also called Maine cats. The Maine Coon breed held the title of the largest cat in the world for a long time. An adult individual reached a weight of up to 10 kilograms. A very beautiful individual, similar to both a jungle cat and a wild lynx.
It differs from cats of other breeds in its tiger-like gait and tufts on its ears. It differs from its wild counterparts in its friendly disposition. There is so much kindness and beauty in your home. Even the wild cat, the Pallas cat, is somewhat similar to the Maine Coon.
Ragdoll and ragamuffin
The top five largest cats in the world are ragdolls, along with their charming subspecies - ragamuffins. Ragamuffin, which means “ragamuffin” in English, is the creation of the creative American breeder Anne Baker, also known as the founder of the Ragdoll breed. Actually, Ragamuffins are ragdolls crossed with mongrel cats. Their appearance is very reminiscent of ragdolls, but these delightful creatures have a richer palette of colors. Ragamuffins can be long-haired or short-haired.
Representatives of this breed have an elongated, strong, muscular body; by the age of four years, the age of full maturity, they can gain weight up to 10 kg. Ragamuffins are similar in character to ragdolls: they are just as gentle, affectionate, in need of the love and attention of their owner, and, despite their impressive size, completely defenseless against the aggression of other animals.
The breed was introduced in 1994, but numerous ill-wishers of Ann Baker for a long time prevented the official recognition of Ragamuffins. Only in 2003 these cats received a status separate from ragdolls and were recognized by international canine organizations.
Ragdoll
Stewie the Cat
A representative of the breed, the pet Stewie, who lives in the city of Reno, Nevada, USA, is listed in the famous book of records as the largest domestic cat in length. The registered record indicates a length of 123 centimeters, if measured from the head to the tailbone, stretching the cat.
An application to register the record was submitted by its owner, Robin Hendrickson. What prompted her to do this was the constant surprise of her friends at the size of her 5-year-old pet. Robin Hendrickson notes not only the size of her pet. In her opinion, Stewie the cat is also the most gentle and affectionate creature.
Honorable fourth place – Norwegian Forestry
| Norwegian Forest Cat | Weight (in kg) | Length (in cm) | Height (in cm) |
| Male | 5,8-10 | up to 100 | 30,4-43 |
| Female | 3,6-7,6 | 80-90 | 25,4-38 |
Norwegian Forest cats are one of the largest breeds of domestic cats. The proportions of the Norwegian are more suitable for a lynx than for a domestic cat. Due to its powerful build, long body and fluffy fur, the Norwegian appears to be huge. At the same time, he can perform real tricks. This is almost the only cat that runs down a tree like a squirrel, upside down. And all thanks to its strong, muscular paws.
Leopard or Asherah cat
Cats of this breed appeared relatively recently, they were bred by American geneticists led by the British entrepreneur Simon Brodie. The long-legged African Serval, which is the name given to the wild cat, and the Asian leopard predator were crossed.
As a result, biotechnologists got a cat - a leopard. She bears the name of the goddess Asherah. The goal of geneticists was to breed an animal that could be considered a perfect creature in all respects.
The leopard cat differs from other species of the cat family by its impressive size, menacing appearance, powerful paws, predatory grin and exotic appearance.
At the same time, Asher cats have typical habits of domestic pets and an easy-going and affectionate character. They, just like other individuals, love to play, cuddle and “sing” songs - they purr. These unpretentious creatures love to play and frolic with children. At the same time, they are careful and try not to scratch anyone.
Simon Brodie's employees developed hypoallergenic cats several years ago. This achievement will help many people have a furry, affectionate and beloved friend in their home. True, this desire can be expensive. A small Usher can cost around $22,000, but more often than not the amount is much higher.
If you buy a hypoallergenic cat, then you need to add about six thousand more to this amount.
By purchasing this pet, you get:
- complete vaccination of the individual;
- annual health insurance;
- identifier – a microchip implanted into the body of an individual;
- hygiene kit;
- special toys made from safe material;
- food that can be called not only dietary, but also elite;
- claw attachments made of vinyl included in the set;
- as well as a consultation with veterinarian Ronald Tripp for 10 years.
It is this luminary of veterinary science who is a recognized expert on cats; he knows better than others how to properly care for them.
Asher cats are recognized as the largest, but this fact is already disputed by the creators of the Savannah breed. The scandalous fame of the dispute is fueled by legal showdowns, during which DNA tests are even carried out.
British shorthair cat
The British Shorthair cat is one of the oldest and largest English breeds. The ancient ancestors of these animals are presumably cats, brought to Britain by Roman legionnaires before our era. Over the centuries, they have interbred not only with each other, but also with native wild cats. British Shorthair cats became known as a breed in 1871, when they were presented at the London Cat Show, after which they gained extreme popularity. However, at the beginning of the twentieth century, the fashion for these cats passed, and by the 50s their population had decreased significantly. To preserve the breed, breeders began crossing the few representatives of the British Shorthair with Persian cats, as a result of which today these cats look a little different than a century and a half ago.
The Briton is a large, but quite compact in his constitution strong man, who, thanks to his superbly sculpted muscles and unusual plush fur, looks even more powerful than he actually is. On average, adult cats weigh up to 9 kg, but some pets weigh up to 12 kg. This is usually due to the fact that representatives of this breed are prone to obesity because they become inactive as they age. By their nature, British Shorthair cats are calm and independent, they treat others selectively, and do not allow strangers to approach them at all.
There is an opinion that the illustrations for the book “Alice in Wonderland”, created by the English artist John Tenniel, depict a British shorthair cat. Today the Briton is the recognizable “face” of the Whiskas brand.
British shorthair cat
Savannah cat
Animals of this breed appeared in the 80s from the mixing of individuals of a domestic non-pedigreed species and a wild cat from Africa. And although Asher’s pets are recognized as the largest in the world, Savannah cats weigh more, up to 15 kilograms. See photos of large cat breeds.
It was the Trumble cat of the Savannah breed that was included in the Book of Records as the largest in the world. Body height – 48 centimeters. Measurements were taken from the shoulders to the tips of the paws. With such a long length, it weighs little - about 9 kilograms.
This individual is distinguished by its great activity, inherited from its wild ancestor, and by the fact that it eats little. Trumble lives with his owner Debbie Maraspina in Sacramento, California. Already at the age of 3 years, Trumble overtook other record-breaking cats. The previous record holder, the cat Scarletts Magic, was 44 centimeters in size. The cat Trumble was given a certificate confirming the record.
Siberian and Neva masquerade cats
The Siberian cat is the pride of Russian breeders and the first domestic breed recognized by all international felinological organizations. The name of the breed, which began to be bred in the late 80s of the last century, is symbolic, since animals common throughout Russia, and not just Siberia, took part in the selection. The largest, strongest animals with heavy bones and thick, long hair were selected for breeding. The result turned out to be excellent: the Siberian cat looks like a real taiga inhabitant: hardy, powerful, big, harsh. The average weight of adult males is 10 kg, but 12-kg Siberians are not at all uncommon.
Siberian cats have a strong nervous system and high intelligence. They are calm, reasonable, patient with children, and attached to their owner like dogs. These cats are fearless and excellent hunters.
The Siberian cat rightfully takes fourth place in our ranking of big cats, and to it we will also add the Neva Masquerade cat, which is considered its subspecies. Breeders from the Kotofey club bred this magnificent breed under the guidance of felinologist Olga Mironova and presented it at her cat show in 1988. The Neva Masquerade cat owes its name to the Neva River, on which St. Petersburg stands, and the color of its face, similar to a carnival mask.
Today, breeding of Siberian cats is carried out in the USA, Canada, Great Britain, Germany, Spain, Italy, Finland and other countries. The number of nurseries located around the world is more than three hundred.
Siberian cat
Neva masquerade cat
Another record holder - hybrid Liger
But the largest cat is recognized as Hercules, who needs 45 kilograms of food per day. And he weighs a lot - 408 kilograms with a length of 3.6 meters, and his height is 1.8 meters. Hercules the cat is not a pet, but he loves his owner, Dr. Bhagavan. Being kind and obedient, Hercules belongs to the Liger breed. This is a hybrid of a tigress and a lion.
The cats we know are predators belonging to a subspecies of the forest cat, the domestication of which occurred approximately 10 thousand years ago in human history. If you count the total number of these pets in the world, it will be approximately 600 million. And the number of cat breeds in the world is 256. Among them are long-haired ones, which are called Persians, and hairless Sphynx breeds. But they all live next to us, they are all companions of people.
Big scam in the cat world
In 2006, a unique breed was introduced to the world - the Asherah. According to the breeders, it was a real mini leopard with a peaceful pet character. And it’s not surprising, because one of the parents was a wild Serval cat. The Ashera weighs on average 15 kg, and its body length reaches a meter. Therefore, the Asherah was positioned as the largest breed. For such beauty and rarity one had to pay almost 30 thousand dollars.
Among rich people there were quite a few who wanted to have this big cat at home. Applications for kittens poured in, the excitement grew, and it was unknown how long it would last. Until genetic tests revealed the truth: Asherah turned out to be a Savannah. But thanks to advertising, the non-existent breed was the most expensive and largest in the world for 2 years.
Chartreuse
Height: up to 30 cm
Weight: 5–8 kg
The Chartreuse is a powerful, stocky breed; males are much larger than females. Chartreuse wool is dense, slightly fluffy, adding volume to already large animals. They prefer to lie on the sofa than play. Quite playful, but quietly remain alone for a long time. There may be problems with joints due to excess weight.
V place – short-haired pixie-bob (domestic lynxes)
Description of the breed
The next, but not the last, representative of the cat giants is the artificially bred short-haired pixie-bob, the domestic lynx. These cats are not much different in appearance from lynxes.
They are like representatives of these animals, but in miniature: the same sharp tassels on the tips of the ears and color. And also the pixie-bot will have a short tail (5 cm, sometimes 7-10 cm)
- Weight: males - 8kg, females -5kg
Cheetah
Despite the height at the withers, reaching 92 cm, and the weight of 65 kg, zoologists classify the cheetah as a subfamily of small cats. This is due to the peculiarities of the skeleton - the mammal has long thin limbs, a compact skull and an extremely flexible spine. This structure allows the animal to reach speeds of up to 120 km/h. In hunting, it is also assisted by a long tail, which serves as a balancer and helps to quickly change the direction of movement.
In appearance, the sprinter of the fauna world resembles an elegant dog of the Russian greyhound breed. Like dogs, giant cats do not retract their claws, cannot climb trees, do not ambush hunt, and do not tend to eat carrion. The sounds they make resemble abrupt yelps. Unlike most of their relatives, cheetahs quickly get used to humans. In Iran, India and Kievan Rus, tamed animals often helped people hunt.
Turkish van
Height: 35–40 cm
Weight: 4–9 kg
Turkish Vans are famous for their colorful eyes and love of swimming. Considered the national breed of Turkey, now their numbers have greatly decreased, so the authorities have banned the export of Turkish Vans from the country. They are good-natured by nature, but will fight back against children if they squeeze them. They have good health, but some representatives of the breed are born completely deaf.
Amur tiger
The largest wild cat found in its natural habitat lives in Russia, in the Khabarovsk and Primorsky Territories and the mountainous regions of Sikhote-Alin. Outside the Russian Federation, the animal is found only in northeast China.
The smallest representative of the tiger brotherhood has the following characteristics:
- body length - 1.7–2.8 m, tail - 1.1 m;
- height at withers - 110–120 cm;
- weight - 167–280 kg;
- length of fangs - 8 cm.
Like all cats (except lions), Amur tigers lead a solitary lifestyle, defending their territory from competitors. The animal hunts alone. He is an absolute predator - a huge hungry cat can even attack a bear.
Now the number of animals does not exceed 800 individuals, half of which are kept in zoos. The endangered species is listed in the Red Book, and its extermination is punishable by law. In China, killing a striped animal is punishable by death.
IV place - charming ragdoll cats
Description of the breed
- Although the Ragdoll cat breed differs in size from ordinary cats, it is difficult to call it gigantic. Considering that the big ones in this breed are mostly males, and not all of them.
- Weight: 9 kg.
- Length: 1 meter (record).
- These cats, especially their breed, are also called rag dolls. And all thanks to their genetically built-in passionless ardor, cuteness and non-aggressive behavior.
