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Largest Domestic Cat Breed


Maine Coon cat Daisy

Largest Domestic Cat Breed - Maine Coon Cat Daisy - Photograph is copyright © Dani Rozeboom - The Maine Coon is the largest cat breed recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA). This cat, Daisy is also on the Home page and is for me one of the most beautiful and impressive cats that I have seen and I have seen a lot while building this website. Also Dani takes a great photograph of Daisy.

Largest domestic cat breed? - This page deals with the largest domestic breeds, the smallest domestic breeds and the weight of domestic breeds in relation to the wild cats.

Contents

Method Utilized
Discussion on the method employed to find the largest domestic cat breed.

Table of Domestic cat weights
The weights of nearly all the domestic cat breeds including unrecognized breeds and cat types (as opposed to a breed) in tabular form including small and large weights.

Largest and Smallest Domestic cats
List of the largest and smallest cat breeds in relation to the various associations and on an open basis.

Weight Comparison with Wildcats
A comparison between the bigger domestic cats and the small-medium wildcats

Comment
Some brief thoughts arising out of the process of building this page

Your comments
Click on this link to have a say if you think that I have made a mistake or got this wrong.


Ragdoll Cat Myst
Ragdoll cat, the 2nd largest domestic cat breed CFA - photograph is
copyright © Dani Rozeboom of Myst a very fine looking cat.

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Method

The research needed to build this page automatically resulted in finding the smallest domestic cat breed as all the cat breeds are included in the research (although at present only one or two are not listed). In fact, in compiling a list of the largest domestic cat breeds you will have to research all the weights of all the breeds. And I am talking weights rather than physical size meaning physical dimensions. This is because research of domestic cat size nearly always refers to weight and weight is directly related to cat size. The two go hand in hand, provided the weights used are typical.

This page therefore looks at the weights of all cat breeds and cats that are not formally a breed because a cat association has not yet (or never will) recognize the cat. As it is interesting to compare domestic with wild cat I have also included a comparison to some small and medium sized wild cats.

One of several obstacles is the question as to whether I should adhere strictly to the title of this posting. Should I only look at cat breeds that are formally recognized to full status by the premier cat associations or make the "competition" open and compare all cat breeds. I chose the latter because some of the breeds that are not recognized by all the associations but which are established nonetheless, are interesting, big and it is easy to include them. I set out the largest domestic cat breeds by association at the end plus the breeds that are the largest whether they are recognized or not (the equivalent of "open competition")

However, in order to remain loyal to the title I have made a note in the table as to which associations do not recognize the breed.


Savannah - TICA's largest
photo ©Helmi Flick

I have selected the following associations as the major players and upon which I have decided if a cat is formally a breed or not. If the cat is listed on their websites as recognized, I treat that cat as a breed for the purposes of this analysis:-
  1. Cat Fanciers Association (No.1 in USA and biggest in world)
  2. The International Cat Association (No.2 in the USA and international)
  3. General Council of the Cat Fancy (UK)
  4. Fédération Internationale Féline (this includes Europe and Brazil)
Internet research requires extreme caution as the information is often obtained in a circular fashion, meaning one website copies from another and so on. If the first site is incorrect, they are all then incorrect. Accordingly, I always treat information with caution, always look for authorative information as the prime source and then test it against other sources to great fresh information on the largest domestic cat breed.

Where I have had to make an informed estimate I have limited the information provided to the minimum required to answer the question posed. Full descriptions of all the breeds in the list are on this website. Go to the home page for a list of links.


Serval cat
The Serval Cat a wildcat that is sometimes tamed to become a domestic
cat and that is why she is in this analysis. She is the heaviest domestic
cat when tamed and thereore the largest domestic cat breed. Photograph is
 © copyright guppiecat

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Table


Largest Domestic Cat Breed - Table - showing cat breed minimum, average and maximum weights in both pounds and kilograms. The figures for large cats are not meant to be maximums as you will get an exceptional cat but that does not answer the question as to the Largest domestic cat breed. Please note that these are average figures so they are an amalgam of male and female weights.

Cat Breed Small Ave Large
Main Associations mentioned above recognizing this breed plus comments
Abyssinian 7.5
3.4
9.5
4.3
11.2
5.1
CFA, TICA, GCCF, FIFe
American Bob 8.8
4.0
11.2
5.0
13.2
6.0
CFA, TICA
Allerca¹ 7.5
3.4
9.5
4.3
11.2
5.1
{none}treated as a mixed breed cat for this task
Ashera GD² . 25.0
11.3
30.0
13.6
Weight based on  appearance and  on the fact that this cat is  effectively a Savannah. Not a cat breed.
American Curl
6.8
3.1
8.5
3.9
10.1
4.6
CFA, TICA, FIFe
American Ringtail 7.5
3.4
9.5
4.3
11.2
5.1
Treated as a mixed breed cat for this task. Yet to be recognized by the cat associations.
American SH 8.4
3.8
10.6
4.8
12.8
5.8
CFA, TICA,
American Wirehair 7.9
3.6
9.9
4.5
11.9
5.4
CFA, TICA
Balinese 6.8
3.1
8.6
3.9
10.1
4.6
GCCF, CFA, TICA
Bambino 6.8
3.1
8.5
3.9
10.1
4.6
estimated based on Munchkin and the smaller cats. No associations recognize this breed.
Bengal 8.8
4.0
11.2
5.0
13.2
6.0
FIFe, TICA, GCCF
Birman 7.9
3.6
9.9
4.5
11.9
5.4
GCCF, TICA, FIFe, CFA
Bombay 7.9
3.6
9.9
4.5
11.9
5.4
CFA, TICA
British SH 8.4
3.8
10.6
4.8
12.8
5.8
GCCF, TICA, FIFe, CFA
Burmese 6.8
3.1
8.6
3.9
10.1
4.6
TICA, FIFe, CFA
Burmilla . 9.5
4.3
11.0
5.0
FIFe
Calif Spangled 8.8
4.0
11.2
5.0
13.2
6.0
Internet says 9-18 lbs but this cat is a hybrid of cats Abyssinian, American and British Shorthair none of which weight 18 lbs so estimate made accordingly. TICA recognize this cat.
Chausie . 15.0
6.8
20.0
9.0
Internet claims  15-35 lbs. This cat is a Jungle cat, Abyssinian hybrid. The Jungle cat weighs on average about 17 lbs (7.6kg). The Aby weighs about 10 lbs. The weight is based on these figures. TICA recognize this cat.
Chartreux 8.4
3.8
10.6
4.8
12.8
5.8
TICA, FIFe, CFA
Cornish Rex 5.9
2.7
7.5
3.4
8.8
4.0
GCCF, TICA, FIFe, CFA 
Cymric 7.7
3.5
9.7
4.4
11.5
5.2
TICA, FIFe
Devon Rex 6.2
2.8
7.9
3.6
9.5
4.3
GCCF, TICA, FIFe, CFA
Don Sphynx 7.5
3.4
9.5
4.3
11.2
5.1
TICA, FIFe
Egyptian Mau 6.6
3.0
8.4
3.8
9.9
4.5
GCCF, TICA, FIFe, CFA
Elf cat 6.8
3.1
8.5
3.9
10.1
4.6
Estimated. Too early for associations to recognize this cat. Probably too early be part of this survey on the largest domestic cat breed.
Exotic Shorthair 8.4
3.8
10.6
4.8
12.6
5.7
GCCF, TICA, FIFe, CFA
Havana Brown 7.0
3.2
8.8
4.0
10.6
4.8
TICA, CFA, GCCF
Himalayan 8.4
3.8
10.6
4.8
12.6
5.7
TICA, GCCF
Household Pet 7.5
3.4
9.5
4.3
11.2
5.1
TICA
Japanese Bobtail 6.2
2.8
7.9
3.6
9.5
4.3
TICA, FIFe, CFA
Javanese 9.5
4.3
7.9
3.6
9.5
4.3
CFA
Kinkalow 7.0
3.2
8.8
4.0
10.6
4.8
none
Korat 7.0
3.2
8.8
4.0
10.6
4.8
GCCF, TICA, FIFe, CFA
Kurilian Bobtail 7.7
3.5
9.7
4.4
12.8
5.8
FIFe
Lambkin 7.0
3.2
8.8
4.0
10.6
4.8
none
LaPerm 7.0
3.2
8.8
4.0
10.6
4.8
GCCF, TICA, CFA
Maine Coon 12.8
5.8
16.1
7.3
19.4
8.8
GCCF, TICA, FIFe, CFA
Manx 7.7
3.5
9.7
4.4
11.5
5.2
GCCF, TICA, FIFe, CFA
Minskin 6.2
2.8
7.9
3.6
9.5
4.3
No associations recognize. I have given the same weight as the Devon Rex
Munchkin 7.7
3.5
9.5
4.3
10.6
4.8
none
Napoleon 7.0
3.2
9.5
4.3
10.6
4.8
none
Nebelung 5.5
2.5
7.0
3.2
8.4
3.8
TICA
Norwegian FC 7.0
3.2
9.0
4.1
11.2
5.0
GCCF, TICA, FIFe, CFA
Ocicat 9.7
4.4
12.1
5.5
14.5
6.6
TICA, CFA
Ojos Azules 7.5
3.4
9.5
4.3
11.2
5.1
TICA, Estimated weight the same as mixed breed
Oriental SH 6.6
3.0
8.1
3.7
9.7
4.4
GCCF, TICA, FIFe, CFA
Persian 8.4
3.8
10.6
4.8
12.6
5.7
GCCF, TICA, FIFe, CFA
Peterbald 7.0
3.2
8.8
4.0
10.6
4.8
Estimated based on the weights of the founding cats the Oriental SH and Don Don Sphynx
Pixie-bob 8.8
4.0
11
5.0
17.5
8.0
TICA
Ragdoll 11.0
5.0
13.9
6.3
16.5
7.5
GCCF, TICA, FIFe, CFA
RagaMuffin 11.0
5.0
13.9
6.3
16.5
7.5
CFA
Russian Blue 5.5
2.5
7.0
3.2
8.4
3.8
GCCF, TICA, FIFe, CFA
Safari . 20
9.1
. Estimated for F1 male. This is a Geoffroy's cat and domestic SH hybrid the result of which is heavier than either. No associations recognize this breed
Savannah . 25
11.3
. TICA
Scottish Fold 8.8
4.0
11.0
5.0
13.2
6.0
TICA, CFA
Serengeti 7.5
3.4
9.5
4.3
11.2
5.1
TICA,
Serval³ . 39.6
18.0
.
none
Skookum 7.7
3.5
9.5
4.3
10.6
4.8
none
Sokoke . 8.1
3.7
. Estimated as this is one of the rarest cats. Her appearance is on the small side.
Siamese Modern 6.6
3.0
8.1
3.7
9.7
4.4
GCCF, TICA, FIFe, CFA
Siamese Trad 7.5
3.4
9.5
4.3
11.2
5.1
TICA (as Thai)
Siberian 8.8
4.0
11.0
5.0
13.2
6.0
GCCF, TICA, FIFe, CFA
Singapura 5.5
2.5
6.8
3.1
8.1
3.7
GCCF, TICA, CFA
Snowshoe 7.5
3.4
9.5
4.3
11.2
5.1
GCCF, TICA, FIFe
Somali 7.0
3.2
9.0
4.1
10.8
4.9
GCCF, TICA, FIFe, CFA
Sphynx 7.5
3.4
9.5
4.3
11.2
5.1
GCCF, TICA, FIFe, CFA
Tonkinese 7.7
3.5
9.7
4.4
11.5
5.2
GCCF, TICA, CFA
Toyger 7.5
3.4
9.5
4.3
11.2
5.1
TICA Estimated
Turkish Angora 7.3
3.3
9.0
4.1
10.8
4.9
TICA, FIFe, CFA
Turkish Van 8.8
4.0
11.0
5.0
13.2
6.0
GCCF, TICA, FIFe, CFA


Maine Coon cat Eres
Largest Domestic cat breed GCCF 
Maine Coon Cat Eres
(Evenstar Eresyr van Siduroy)

photograph © copyright Dani Rozeboom

  1. Allerca is effectively a mixed breed cat in terms of cat breed and her weight is decided accordingly
  2. Ashera GD is effectively a Savannah, a wildcat/domestic cat hybrid. Her weight has been assessed accordingly as an estimated weight of an F1 (first generation from the wild Serval) Savannah. This cat is not a breed recognized by the cat associations but this is a domestic cat and I include her on that basis. If the Ashera GD is a Savannah in all but name that supports the view that the cat should be included in this survey.
  3. When this cat is a domestic cat she is a tamed wildcat . She is firmly in that twilight zone between wild and domestic cat and the cat associations do not recognize her as a domestic cat breed. However, as the situation stands she is treated as a domestic cat breed for the very few people who have the means and desire to keep this beautiful wildcat. This breed is therefore included in this survey on the largest domestic cat breed.
Note: Miniature cats are not cat breeds neither are Teacup cats. These are mixed breed cats bred small. They cannot therefore form part of this list.

Comments

If visitors would like to make comments on this page about the largest domestic cat breed or to make suggested corrections, please go to the Have a Say page where you an fill in a simple form. I will be notified and respond if required. Thanks.

My Comment on research into the largest domestic cat breed

One undeniable fact is that the vast majority of domestic cat breeds are medium sized cats. Within the ranks of medium sized cats there is some variation in size and weight and it is this that I have tried to ascertain and set out in the table. There are one or two outstanding cats in terms of size at the heavy end of the spectrum. At the light end the situation is less clear.

Without wishing to overstate the obvious this page does not provide the results of research into the largest domestic (individual) cat. But in order to respond to some visitors who might have arrived here looking for information on that subject, here is some.

Stories will pop up from time to time about exceptionally large cats. One is in the papers this morning (11-4-08). It concerns a ginger mixed breed cat called Orazi. I can't show the picture due to copyright issues but he is basically a very big cat anyway and he is overweight. That is why he weighs 35 lbs (16 kg)! He is Italian. Maybe he eats too much pasta.

Other record breakers are Sam a British cat weighing 36 lbs (16.3 Kg). He was a fat cat proving the point that individual records are pretty meaningless except to say the people keeping thes cats are overfeeding them. An American cat weighed 41 lbs (18.5 kg) apparently.

Chausie Cat
Chausie Cat - One of the largest domestic
cat breeds. He is Bwana Buhwah. Photograph
© copyright Helmi Flick


List of Largest Domestic cat Breed and Smallest by Association


CFA TICA GCCF FIFe Open
Largest Domestic  Cat Breed Maine Coon Savannah Maine Coon Maine Coon Serval
2nd Largest Domestic Cat Breed Ragdoll Chausie, Maine Coon Ragdoll Ragdoll Safari and Savannah
Smallest Cat Breed Singapura, Russian Blue Singapura, Nebelung, Russian Blue Singapura, Russian Blue Russian Blue Singapura, Nebelung, Russian Blue

Comparison of the largest domestic cat breeds with Small and Medium Wildcats


Cat Weight visual actual weight lbs
Serval 40
Bobcat 29
Asian Fishing Cat 26
Savannah (large) 25
Canada Lynx 23
Chausie (large) 20
Safari 20
Maine Coon (average large cat) 19
Pixie-bob (average large cat) 17.5
Jungle Cat 17
Ragdoll (average large cat) 16.5
Scottish Wildcat  15
European Wildcat 11
Asian Leopard Cat 11
Geoffroy's Cat 11
Sand Cat 7.5
Singapura (average small cat) 5.5
Rusty Spotted Cat 3.5




Sources for this article on the largest domestic cat breed:
  • RSPCA
  • A multitude of websites including breeders sites, animal information sites and directory sites.
  • Myself
  • Pictures of Cats website
  • http://www.bigcats.com/catsizes.mv




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