Cats do not come in one-size-fits-all by any means. Some cats can grow quite large, such as the Maine Coon, which can grow to an impressive 15–20 pounds (normal-sized cats average 8–10 pounds). On the other hand, some cats can stay incredibly small, which brings us to the question, who is the world’s smallest cat?
Currently, the smallest cat ever recorded was named Tinker Toy, a male blue point Himalayan-Persian. But we’re not ending there; keep reading to learn about the smallest cats of all time, along with the smallest living cat breeds in existence today.
7 Smallest Cats of All-Time
1. Tinker Toy
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Tinker Toy is currently the smallest cat ever recorded, standing at just 2.75 inches tall and 7.5 inches long. Tinker Toy lived in Taylorville, Illinois, and was the runt of the litter. He was a Christmas kitten, born on December 25, 1990, and died at the age of 6 in November 1997.
2. Lilieput
Lilieput was a tortie Munchkin cat and measured 5.25 inches. The Guinness Book of World Records gave her the title of the Smallest Domestic Cat in 2013 at the age of 10. Lilieput was a rescue and lived her life in Napa, California. She passed away in 2016.
3. Fizz Girl
Fizz Girl was a Munchkin cat from Southern California that was awarded the Shortest Living Cat title in 2012 by the Guinness Book of World Records. She was short enough that people thought she was a kitten rather than an adult.
4. Pixel
Pixel the cat was just 5 inches tall from shoulder to paw. Pixel was from California and was an offspring of Fizz Girl, who stood 6 inches tall. The average domestic cat ranges from 9–10 inches tall!
5. Peebles
Controversy surrounds Mr. Peebles due to an Internet hoax that circled a photo-shopped picture of Mr. Peebles. While Mr. Peebles was real, the photo was not. He was, however, a small cat, only weighing 2.8 pounds when he was found by a veterinarian in Illinois. Mr. Peebles had ear mites, roundworm, and a respiratory infection.
After being nursed back to health, he weighed 3.3 pounds at 2 years of age. In 2004, the Guinness Book of World Records gave him the title of Smallest Living Domestic Cat.
6. Cye
In 2014, the Guinness Book of World Records awarded the Shortest Living Feline record to a cat named Cye in 2013. Cye was a Munchkin cat that hailed from Ontario, Canada, and measured 5.35 inches from the floor to the shoulders
7. Bitsy
Bitsy was a Munchkin from San Diego and was considered the World’s Smallest Cat ahead of Lilieput in 2009. She was 6.49 inches tall and only weighed 1.5 pounds. Bitsy was never entered into the Guinness Book of World Records, and it’s not certain why.
Smallest Living Cats/Smallest Cat Breeds
At the time this article was written, the Guinness Book of World Records did not list a current living cat with the title of the Smallest Living Cat; that record is still held by Tinker Toy, who passed away in 1997. Since there are no living smallest cats, let’s look at the smallest domestic cat breeds in the world.
5 Smallest Cat Breeds
1. Singapura Cats
Singapura cats are considered one of the tiniest domestic cat breeds in the world. They have wide eyes, big ears, and high energy. The average weight of these pint-sized cats ranges from 4 to 8 pounds, with a height of 6 to 8 inches. They are playful, affectionate little beings that are a pleasure to own, and even though they are small, their personalities are huge.
2. Munchkin Cats
Munchkin cats are often the cat breeds that hold the records for smallest cats in the Guinness Book of World Records. These cats have short legs, which is why they tend to hold records for the smallest cats. Munchkin cats have been around since 1991, and even though they have short legs and cannot jump high, they have loving personalities and are clever, playful, and affectionate.
3. Cornish Rex
The Cornish Rex does not have short legs, which makes people unaware of how small they actually are. Despite having long legs, these cats weigh between 6 to 10 pounds and reach heights of 11 to 15 inches tall. These cats have kitten-like personalities throughout their lives and make excellent companions.
4. Devon Rex
Also known as “pixie cats,” Devon Rex’s average 6 to 9 pounds in weight and stand 10 to 12 inches tall. They have triangular heads, bright eyes, and large ears, giving them a kitten-like appearance throughout their lives.
5. American Curl
American Curls are petite in size and have unusually-shaped ears. Males can get up to 12 pounds, while females average 8 pounds upon maturity. These cats are affectionate and playful but are not considered lap cats.
Conclusion
Genetics, environment, and defects are usually the reason why some cats stay small throughout their lives, but some are just simply short-legged and petite. Don’t let their small sizes fool you; these cats often have affectionate and playful personalities, and they make excellent companions.
While Tinker Toy has held the record for the smallest cat since 1997, we anxiously await the next smallest cat that will someday break the record.
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Featured Image Credit: MDavidova, Shutterstock
