By nature, people are such that they always strive to get everything that is most beautiful, large and rare. This also applies to pets. Each time, breeders develop new breeds to secure their place in the Guinness Book of Records.
Felinologists never stop working, so in the world today there are many varieties of cats with their own individual traits.
If we talk about the largest cats in the world, they must be assessed according to various parameters. Some consider a big animal to be one that has a considerable body length, while others consider tall pets. Find out more about the largest cat breeds in the world.
The largest domestic cats in the world
Today the main rivals who are fighting for the title of the largest domestic cat in the world are MAIN COON AND SAVANNAH.
Their likely third competitor is a cat belonging to the Asher breed. But, after a recent revelation, it turned out that such pets are a figment of the imagination of a felinologist, and therefore do not exist, but are an ordinary savannah, called by a different name.
After the scandal, this student was disqualified, but some nuances of this interesting story should be told. And today there is no clear court ruling regarding this breed of cats.
A serious hereditary examination is being carried out, designed to find out the whole truth about the usher. Her owner, a man named Brandy, claims that the savannah and the Asherah are completely different animals.
Top 10 largest breeds
10. American Bobtail. In 10th place in the ranking is a breed whose wild ancestors settled in North America. The weight of a male representative reaches 5 kg, height – 33 cm.
American Bobtail
These cats are the undisputed favorites of all family members. They are affectionate and are able to let both the owner they have designated for themselves and strangers approach them. Bobtails are able to get out of difficult situations, for example, finding a way out of a closed room or cage. They also often exhibit a predatory instinct; they love to hunt for insects.
9. Kurilian Bobtail. This breed of cat appeared on the Kuril Islands, which is why it got its name. The main distinguishing feature is considered to be a very short tail, despite its impressive size. The weight of a male representative reaches 7 kg, height 35 cm.
Kurilian Bobtail
Bobtails are full of energy, love to play a lot and are always looking for the company of people. These cats are patient and do not show aggression, even if they experience discomfort from excessive affection. From an early age they are obedient and trainable.
8. Pixiebob. Pixiebob cats are artificially bred in the United States of America. The Americans tried to create a cat that looked like a lynx. As a result, this large breed was obtained. The weight of male representatives reaches 8 kg, height – 30-35 cm.
Pixie bob cat
Despite their slightly wild appearance, these cats are affectionate and loyal. They get along easily with other pets in the house, especially with dogs, with whom they often walk around the yard. The pixie bob breed is the only one allowed to have multi-toed paws due to its genetic characteristics, and this factor does not in any way affect participation in exhibitions and competitions.
7. Turkish van. This breed lived for hundreds of years on the shores of Lake Van in Turkey, which is why it received its name. It is not known exactly how long ago they appeared in those places, but scientists define the Turkish Van breed as very ancient. The weight of male representatives reaches 9 kg, height - 30 - 40 cm.
Turkish van
These cats show themselves as loving and affectionate animals, often playing and spending time with their owners. They are even ready to become entertainment for children, but only on the condition that they do not torment them too much. Turkish Vans are trainable and especially love games where you need to catch toys on the fly.
6. Norwegian forest. The Norwegian Forest is similar in appearance to the Maine Coon breed, and some scientists adhere to the theory that these cats have common ancestors. The weight of a male representative reaches 10 kg, height – 30 cm.
Norwegian Forest Cat
Norwegians are very smart cats, able to quickly learn standard commands, even as kittens. These cats thoroughly remember the location of things in the house, they are not aggressive and patient, but do not like affection in large quantities. They appreciate most when they are treated like full-fledged members of the family.
5. Siberian. Siberian cats are a domesticated indigenous breed that has become widespread in Russia. The weight of a male representative reaches 12 kg, height – 33 cm.
Siberian cat
The character of the Siberian cat cannot be called simple; they do not like to obey the will of others and are very capricious. Usually in the family they choose a leader for whom they respect, and may not even notice the rest of the family members. These cats rarely play playfully in the yard, preferring balanced and calm behavior. Although favorite toys can still make cats want to run around the apartment with them, to the surprise of their owners.
4. British Shorthair. The British Shorthair cat resembles a favorite soft toy from childhood, which leaves no one indifferent. The weight of male representatives reaches 12 kg, height – 33 cm.
British shorthair cat
The British Shorthair cat is independent and intelligent. It is not for nothing that they are often defined as cats for businessmen. The British do not outwardly show affection for their owners and rarely come to them for affection. At the same time, they delicately allow themselves to be played with, but if possible, they step aside. Despite this, the British are considered loyal animals who get bored when alone. Another feature is that they will never allow themselves to spoil property in the house, carefully bypassing all decorative elements in the apartment.
3. Chausie. The third place is occupied by the Chausie breed - these are cats known even in Ancient Egypt. The weight of male representatives reaches 14 kg, height – 40 cm.
Cat Chausie
Chausies cannot stand loneliness, they try to be close to their owners when they are at home, they also enjoy playing with children and generally like to move a lot. Their character is peaceful, and their intelligence develops rapidly, so representatives of the Chausie breed are often used in the household.
2. Maine Coon. Second place went to representatives of the Maine Coon breed - cats from Northeast America. The weight of male representatives reaches 15 kg, height – 41 cm. And the maximum body length, listed in the Guinness Book of Records, is equal to 1.23 m.
Maine Coon cat
Despite their large size, Maine Coons are domestic and affectionate, loving their owners. But the wild nature will take its toll if you bring the cat to a pond, where he will prove himself to be a real hunter, freely walking along the water in search of prey.
1. Savannah. First place in the ranking is occupied by Savannah cats, in particular, individuals of the F1 generation, obtained by crossing African and domestic cats. The weight of male representatives reaches 20 kg, and the height is 60 cm.
Savannah cat
Savannah cats have a calm character and easily adapt to new living conditions. They are not afraid of water and love fresh air. Another pleasant characteristic of this breed is its devotion, comparable to that of a dog.
Savannah
By weight, it is the largest domestic cat in the world, but its height and body length are also significant.
Savannahs weigh between twelve and fifteen kilograms, almost the same as Maine Coons, although individuals have been known to reach a weight of twenty kilograms. The height of the savannah is approximately sixty centimeters.
And today there is debate about whether these cats are considered domestic, since they arose as a result of crossing an ordinary cat and an African serval.
If you dig deeper, many pets have wild ancestors.
In addition to all the achievements, the Savannah is the most expensive cat in the world, its maximum cost is from 4,000 to 25,000 dollars.
Maine Coon
Maine Coons are a large variety of cats, wonderful pets with tufted ears, long and soft hair and a variety of colors. They weigh from eight to fifteen kilograms and are approximately forty centimeters tall.
The record holder is the Maine Coon Stewie, who became the longest cat in the world. Its total length was one hundred twenty-three centimeters. In Russia, you can buy a Maine Coon kitten from 20,000 to 100,000 rubles.
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.
Chausie
In addition to the contenders for the title of the largest cat in the world described above, we need to talk about the descendant of the jungle cat - the chausie. She weighs up to eighteen kilograms and can reach forty centimeters in height.
Breeders, creating this breed and crossing an Abyssinian with a jungle cat, wanted to get a domestic breed that would protect wild animals from life in captivity. They achieved their goal, and today the Chausie gets along well with humans and is quite friendly towards its owners. In Russia You can buy Chausie kittens by paying from 100,000 rubles.
Ragdoll
Ragdoll cats, although different in size from ordinary pets, cannot be considered true giants.
The largest among them are males, and even then not always. Ragdolls weigh up to nine kilograms with a maximum height of one meter.
Such cats are also called rag dolls. Their ancestors gave them tireless ardor, kindness, a pretty appearance and an absolute lack of aggression. Ragdoll kittens cost from 10,000 rubles. up to 40,000.
Pixie bob
Another representative of the giants among cats is the pixie-bob, which has short fur and looks like a lynx, from which it is almost indistinguishable.
Pixie bobs are like little lynxes: they have tufted ears and a similar coloration. In addition, these animals have very short tails. A male can weigh up to eight kilograms, and a female can weigh up to five. A pixie-bob cat can be purchased for 25 – 70 thousand rubles.
Arabian Mau
Height: 25–30 cm
Weight: 4–8 kg
The Arabian Mau breed appeared as a result of natural development and was not exposed to human influence. These are athletic cats, so be prepared to play with your pet a lot. Arabian Mau are devoted to their owner, like dogs, and, in case of the slightest threat, they will rush to his defense. They are not picky about food, but are prone to gaining excess weight. No breed-specific diseases have been recorded in these cats.
Siberian
Cats bred in Russia. They especially stand out among their relatives for their size.
Males can weigh twelve kilograms, but females weigh less, only five or six.
Their main feature is their excessive fluffiness and docile nature. They look like large and overwhelming bundles of tenderness. Felinologists say that Siberian cats are hypoallergenic, so even very sensitive people can have them. A Siberian cat can be purchased from 5,000 rubles. up to 20,000 rub.
Forest Norwegian
In our area, Scandinavian forest cats are rare; the breed is common in the countries of Northern Europe. The weight of the animal reaches 10 kg. It is considered the national breed of Norway. Cats have a quiet, good character, are very sociable, and quickly become attached to a person.
The price of a kitten starts from 10,000 rubles; for trained exhibition participants you will sometimes have to pay 30,000 or 40,000 rubles.
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.
British Shorthair
This breed of cats reaches 7-8 kg, have a friendly character, although it is believed that the British are arrogant, independent and “walking on their own” cats.
They have high intelligence, playfulness, and, of course, independence; they will not tolerate bad treatment. The average price of a British shorthair cat is about 12,000 rubles.
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.
