What is the Worlds biggest cat? - people want to know. You're about to find out.
I think that we have to look at individual cats and breeds and then differentiate between domestic and wild.
Domestic cat breed
This is a bit tricky because some pure wild cats are now domesticated. I am thinking of the Serval, a medium small wild cat that can, with great care, be a domestic cat, if tamed and trained properly. If included the Serval wins this poll. But I don't think this is the information people are looking for. The next cat down from a wildcat that is big is an F1 or F2 Savannah. F1 stands for first filial and F2 for second filial. Filial means generation.
The top breeders of the Savannah is A1-Savannahs managed by Kathrin Stucki. The heading picture is one of her F2 Savannahs and it gives a very clear indication of the size of this cat breed. I know you haven't seen a domestic cat that big before. So, I'll get right to the point. The F1-F2 Savannah is the worlds biggest cat (domestic cat that is). Here she is! F1 Savannah MAGIC:
The videos are of a female F1 Savannah cat called MAGIC (Scarlett's Magic) from the famous A1 Savannahs cattery owned and run by Martin and Kathrin Stucki. MAGIC's father was a serval cat and her mother a Savannah cat. She is 16 month years old at the date of the video (Sept. 2009) and she is spayed. She is probably the Worlds Biggest Cat (domestic that is). See more Savannah cat videos.
Update: It is official. MAGIC is the Guinness Book of Records World Biggest domestic cat. I have not (at 22-9-09) got the exact title but I have got confirmation. I'll get back soon with more.
Update, 22-9-09: I have just learnt that MAGIC is the tallest domestic cat measured from toe to shoulder. She is an incredible 43.43 centimeters (17.1 inches) high – and is the world's tallest domestic cat. Now that tells us quite a lot about the complexities of awarding that award. Is MAGIC the longest too? This is to come. And what is a domestic cat. Now that is a big question....
Some say that the Savannah can be found under a different name - the Ashera and/or Ashera GD (hypoallergenic variety). This cat is bred (or other cat breeders bred the cat for them) by Life Style Pets Inc. (Allerca is their trading name).
If you're thinking of the worlds biggest purebred cat, totally domestic cat (meaning no wild cat parents), the Maine Coon does it across the board. Fantastic cat.
I'll keep this short. The biggest wild cat is the Tiger (weight up to about 675 lbs for males but the heaviest was apparently a cat called Amur weighing 1025 lbs). See Tiger and World's Largest Cat (meaning cat species - opens in new window).
Individual cat
Really tricky if you want to really know the truth. The point is are we looking at all cats or domestic cats? Guinness Book of Records doesn't help (update 22-9-09 - it does now - see above!). The picture below is circulating around the internet so I'll have to presume that it is published under creative commons or by permission. Is it a Photoshop job? Doesn't look like it too me. The other very large cat that you frequently see on the internet (white cat) is a manipulated image.
This ginger cat is a male Maine Coon/Siberian type (probably not purebred). Male Maine Coons can weight as much as 25 lbs and this cat looks about that weight. Of course, you can't ignore the F2 Savannah heading this page. As I say you will probably find one of the largest domestic cats amongst the F2 Savannah cats.
You can't include fat cats in this category because that it artificially increasing the weight but not the true size of the cat.
But if you did there are stories of 35-41 lb domestic cats. This is about 5-10 lbs more than the biggest domestic cats of normal weight.
This cat, the famous, Motzie, is close to being the the worlds biggest domestic cat on a measurement to the shoulder. But an F1 like MAGIC above in the video will nearly always be bigger and is now declared the tallest. Motzie is an F2 Savannah cat owned by Deborah-Ann Milette. He is a fine cat, a friendly cat and he assists children! True. He is from A1 Savannahs and he might be the world's most famous domestic cat:
This is a copyrighted image - please respect it, thanks.
The largest wildcat, albeit captive at one time was a Liger (cross between tiger and lion). See the largest wildcat (opens in new window). Here is a video of the liger. The size is probably due to "hybrid vigor". When you cross two different species of cat or breed of cat the first offspring are bigger sometimes.
You should see Verissimo Leo. He's a Maine Coon cat who weighs 35 pounds and his feet will fit in a size 2 child's shoe. He was also in the Guiness Book of World Records. When he stands on his hind legs he can put his head and paws over a child gate, or reach a door knob.
Jan 10, 2010
wrong by: Anonymous
so wrong to keep should be wild animals as pets , almost as bad as destroying their environments for profit.
Nov 26, 2009
Response to last comment by: Anonymous
The ocelot is a cat and the cats on this page are Savannah cats and a serval except for the tiger/lion hybrid.
Nov 26, 2009
WOAH by: Anonymous
most of these look like ocelots. not cats.
Sep 22, 2009
MAGIC -- World's Biggest Domestic Cat by: Michael
I have today (22nd September 2009) received confirmation from Kathrin Stucki of A1 Savannahs (who bred MAGIC) and Kim and Lee Draper who own MAGIC, a female F1 Savannah cat, that she is the Guinness Book of Records world's biggest domestic cat. I'll get back with the exact title. Here is another video:
Thanks for the comment. I had always wondered about this well known picture.
Sep 12, 2009
Large Ginger Cat by: Anonymous
I used to know the person who posted the original photo on the web, the cat belongs to her aunt and is a moggy/lynx hybrid.
I haven't spoken to the girl in over a year now though, i have no idea if the cat is still alive either. I just remember her telling me what he was.
Jun 21, 2009
Some Video Updates by: Michael (PoC Admin)
Well, as I said, the Serval, although a wild cat, can be a tame cat and make a great cat companion or pet but although all domestic cats retain an element of wild cat the Serval will retain much more despite being tamed. Here is a video though of a great male Serval that behaved like a very large domestic cat. You could play with him and pick him up etc. (I did and he felt pretty heavy!).
Then here is an F1 Savannah in an outside enclosure at A1 Savannahs:
This link takes you to page about the Serval as a domestic cat: Serval and this page as a wild cat: Serval Cats
Finally about the picture heading this page. Remember that the camera angle and camera lens will exaggerate the size of the cat in relation to the person behind, who is Martin Stucki.
Jun 10, 2009
Sorry I am late answering this! by: Michael (PoC Admin)
I am over a year late! I missed this question. The smallest cat at one time was a cat called "Pete". You can see him on the teacup cat page. Very small domestic cats are about 3 lbs minimum and a very small wildcat is the Rusty Spotted Cat at about 3.5 lbs.
The difference between the biggest at about 1000 lbs (liger) and a 3 lb domestic cat is extraordinary. One is 333 times heavier than the other.
May 04, 2008
Worlds biggest and smallest by: Anonymous
Thanks for this. Could you please tell me what is the smallest cat!?
I want to know, now that you have told me about the biggest....
