Cats come in a variety of sizes, with the average cat weighing around 6 pounds, though they can weigh up to 25 pounds and be 13 to 40 inches long from nose to tail. Of course, this depends on the breed—some cat breeds are quite small, and others are basically miniature tigers!
To determine the biggest cats in the world, we looked at world records and social media and curated a list containing cats alive today and those who broke the records in the past. The biggest cat currently alive is Barivel, a 3 feet long Maine Coon—and the biggest cat of all time was Stewie, who was 4 feet long— keep reading for the full list!
The 5 All-Time Biggest Cats in the World
1. Stewie
Stewie was and still is the all-time longest cat at 4 feet (123 cm)! His full name was Mymains Stewart Gilligan, and he was a Maine Coon from the United States. He was measured in 2010 and unfortunately, passed away in 2013.
2. Ludo
Ludo was the longest domestic cat in 2017, but the title was taken from him in 2018 by Barivel. Ludo was a Maine Coon from the U.K. and measured 3 feet, 10.6 inches (118.33 cm).
3. Arcturus
Arcturus Aldebaran Powers was about as long as his name! He was named the tallest domestic cat and stood 1 foot, 6 inches (48.4 cm), at his shoulder.
Arcturus was a Savannah from the U.S. that was tall enough to easily reach the top of the kitchen counter while on his hind legs. Arcturus is still recorded as the tallest domestic cat in the world.
He lived with another record-breaking cat named Cygnus, a Maine Coon with the longest tail on a domestic cat, measuring a whopping 1 foot, 5 inches (44.6 cm)! Sadly, both Cygnus and Arcturus died in a house fire in 2017.
4. Trouble
Trouble held the tallest-domestic-cat-ever title until Arcturus took it. Trouble was also a Savannah from the U.S. and measured 1 foot, 6 inches (48.3 cm), in 2011. Unfortunately, Trouble died in 2012, less than a year after his record.
5. Snowbie
Snowbie hailed from the U.K. and was the 1997 Guinness longest domestic cat, measuring 3 feet, 4 inches (103 cm). He was 4 years old when measured in 1997, and he was 1 foot, 2 inches (37 cm), tall, with a 1-foot (31 cm) long tail.
The 4 Biggest Living Cats
6. Barivel
Barivel is a Maine Coon that holds the current record for the longest domestic cat (living) since 2018. As of this writing, he is about 7 years old and hails from Italy.
Barivel was 3 feet, 11.2 inches (120 cm), at the time of measurement, when he was 2 years old. Maine Coons tend to continue to grow until they’re 4 years old, so he might be even longer now!
7. Omar
Omar is a Maine Coon from Australia, whose owners report his length as 3 feet, 9 inches (120 cm), and weight as 31 pounds (14 kg).
They also measured his height and believe that he is about 1 foot, 4 inches (43 cm), tall at the shoulder. However, Omar has not been officially recognized by Guinness World Records.
8. Fenrir
A Savannah cat, Fenrir, was named the tallest living domestic cat in 2021. Fenrir is the brother of the late Arcturus and belongs to the same owner. He measured 1 foot, 6 inches (47.83 cm), in 2021, which is only .57 centimeters smaller than Arcturus.
But the measurements were taken when he was just under 3 years old, so there’s a chance that Fenrir might surpass his brother and take over the tallest domestic cat title.
9. Scarlett’s Magic
Scarlett’s Magic is a Savannah cat from the U.S. This breed tends to be quite large because they are hybrids between domestic cats and African servals. Scarlett’s Magic was the longest living domestic cat, measuring 3 feet, 5 inches (108.51 cm), from 2009 to 2011.
She also held the record for the tallest domestic cat with a height of 1 foot, 4 inches, (41.87) in 2009. There is a bit of controversy surrounding Savannahs, as they aren’t always recognized as domestic cats due to their serval heritage.
The 4 Biggest Domestic Cat Breeds
1. Maine Coon
The Maine Coon is the largest of the domesticated cats and typically weighs up to 18 pounds, but many reach 30 pounds! They are sweet and gentle and are known for their plush fur and tufted ears.
2. Savannah
How large these cats get depends on how closely related they are to their African serval parents. The average Savannah can range up to 16 pounds, but like the Maine Coon, they can get up into the 30-pound range.
These cats tend to be wilder and more aloof than many other breeds but still love getting attention from their families.
3. Norwegian Forest Cat
The Norwegian Forest Cat can get up into the 18-pound range and are huge puffballs of fur. They are family-oriented, playful, and affectionate and love being outside.
4. Ragdoll
Ragdolls are giant, floppy cats. They can reach 18 pounds in weight and tend to go limp when you pick them up to hold them. Ragdolls are loving, affectionate, and quite social.
Conclusion
The cats on this list are all unique in their own way and are quite huge! Maine Coons and Savannahs all topped the list as the largest cats on record, whether through height or length. And let’s not forget the longest tails and whiskers!
Featured Image Credit: Sergey Ginak, Shutterstock
