Top 7 Largest Cat Breeds

Its hard to resist an adorable tiny cat, but have you ever had a cuddle from a big fluffy cat with bear like paws? Here is a list of our top 7 giant domestic cat breeds. Alright, they aren’t really giant, but they are bigger than your average domestic cat, and have larger than life personalities to match their size.

#1 - Savannah

The beautifully marked savannah cat

The Savannah currently holds the record for the tallest domestic cat breed with an individual in America standing 17.1 inches tall from shoulder to toe. But this isn’t the only reason they made it into the list - some individuals have been reported of reaching healthy weights in excess of 13 kg! However, with Savannahs it all depends on how closely they are related to their wild Serval ancestors. F1s and F2s (Serval parent or grandparent) are the largest with later generations quickly reverting back to more normal domestic cat sizes.

#2 - Maine Coon

A Maine Coon cat with a beautiful thick long coat lying down

Maine Coons are considered by many to be the largest of the true domestic breeds (they are not wild cat hybrids) because of their long bodies and relatively heavy weight. Maine Coons can be easily over a metre in length from nose to tip of tail and can weigh over 11kg although ~8kg is much more common.

#3 - Norwegian Forest Cat

A Norwegian Forest Cat with a big bushy tail climbing a tree

The Norwegian Forest Cat looks similar to a Maine Coon in many ways but also very different. One thing they have in common is their relatively large size with Norwegian Forest Cats weighing as much as 10kg.

#4 - Ragdoll

An adult Ragdoll cat with an incredible thick long coat

Ragdoll cats are large, muscular, very fluffy and can weigh as much as 9kg which earns them a spot on our list. Ragdolls are best known for their docile and affectionate nature which combined with their large size and fluffiness makes them the perfect cuddle partner.

#5 - Highlander

A highlander cat looking alert

Highlander cats are a breed that is currently in development but it is already set to be one of the largest breeds. These cats can weigh as much as 11kg and come in short and long haired varieties with their most discerning feature being their loosely curled ears.

#6 - British Shorthair

A distinctively marked british shorhair

The smallest on our list but very close to home is the British Shorthair. These beautiful big cats can weigh over 8kg and are immensely popular throughout the UK and the world. One of the first pedigree cats, the British Shorthair has been bred for over 100 years which gives them a lot more history than the new breeds.

#7 - Chausie

The Chausie is another domestic cat with wild roots who has a long body with long legs to match. The Chausie’s wildcat ancestor is the Jungle cat but most Chausies bought and sold today are many generations separated so have the temperament of a domestic cat with a slightly more wild look to them. They can weigh in excess of 11kg which is why they have made it onto the list.

Bonus - The Moggy

A ginger and white moggy with beautiful tall ears

Non pedigree cats come in all sorts of shapes and sizes but they have earnt themselves a place on this list due to a record holding cat called Meow. Meow was a male domestic moggy who still holds the world record for heaviest domestic cat - weighing in at 18kg. It must be noted that Meow was a morbidly obese cat and the record for heaviest domestic cat is no longer recorded in an attempt to prevent owners overfeeding their cats for fame.

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Comments

Jason, 26 November 2023

In 2002, I adopted my first ever cat, a male Bengalese cross, from a neighbour who couldn't cope with it.. Anyways, the cat turned out to be female & was pregnant. She birthed six kittens, but one was massive & super furry, a Main Coon😻that I named Big Bear aka Cossack aka Mrs Spoon. She was a pleasure in every way possible - I kept all the kittens, bar two that passed away after birth. All of the kittens were a different type of cat, it was so weird - one was a Tuxedo*Phoebe, another was all black*Panther, a ginger one & the two that didn't pull through were both fluffy & all gray! I didn't know cats birthed different types of domestic cat all at the same time like that - it was strange to see..but in hindsight I'm glad now. That litter are all passed away now, but I'm still adopting cats! They must be old cats with issues Or illnesses that require attention or nobody wants - like my current adoptee Phoebz😸 Cats Protection put out an SOS Christmas 2019 for her. She'd been their longest stay ever at 6 weeks. She was old 15, grumpy & liked to be aggressive, purrrrfect. I thought if nobody takes her by Christmas Day then I'd have her - it's now nearly Christmas 2023 & she's still with us☺️& going strong ♥️ Merry Christmas Everybody Everywhere 🎅🏾🌲🍄🎅🏾⛄🍄🎅🏾🌟

Amelia, 13 June 2021

I love this post.this is so informative. Awesome article.Really helpful tips.Thanks a lot for suggesting.. see more:British shorthair cat

Joan, 24 May 2020

I'm a senior living in a retirement home with a large calico cat. She gets very little exercise, sleeps a lot. She is wonderful company but I worry about her weight. Can you offer any help?

Bernie, 18 November 2017

My perfectly normal moggy Paddy (now sadly departed) in his hay day weighed in at 11.5 kilos...he was pure muscle,was rescued as a kitten from the canal,and had a tail measuring 14inches!....I think he was a giant in the moggie world and his heart was as big as his body...I have now got a Ragdoll as homage to my big moggie Paddy