All cat people know that having a cat is elite, but owning a house cat can be overwhelming for many. Most cats have a way of getting along with their owners and making themselves feel right at home. Here is a list of giant cat breeds you can pick from if you plan on getting a furry friend.
Maine Coon
Size: 10 to 16
inches
Weight: A male Maine coon weighs 5.9 to 8.2 kg, which is 13 to 18 pounds, and females weigh 3.6 to 5.4 kg which is 8 to 12 pounds
Description: Maine coons are possibly the biggest cat
breed around, with some cats weighing up to a whopping 30 pounds! They are an
affectionate breed, almost mimicking dogs in their love for people. This big
house cat is often dubbed a 'gentle giant' and a friendly, pleasant companion.
An average
main coon cat has a life expectancy of 13 to 14 years. Despite its hardy,
rugged exterior, a Maine coon will make a tremendous domesticated cat. Large
cat breeds like the Maine coon are famous for their devotion to their human
owners. Maine coon cat breeds come in impressive sizes due to their being farm
animals, one measuring almost 4 feet from head to tail tip.
Did You Know?
A Maine
Coon loves to 'sing'! Yes, that's right, cats of this breed emanate a
distinctive chirpy sound, that sets them apart from the usually meowing cats.
Besides
this, this breed boasts of having sold the first cloned pet in the world, in
Texas in 2004, named Little Nicky.
Ragdoll Cat
Size: 9 to 11 inches
Weight: Male Ragdoll cats weigh around 12 to 20 pounds, which is 5.4 to 9.1 kilograms. and females weigh 3.6 to 6.8 kg, which is 8 to 15 pounds
Description: Ragdoll
cats have a long, smooth coat of hair which gives them their signature look.
These big cats are a newer breed as they were only discovered a few decades
before. Ragdoll cats are famous for their temperament, where, unlike other
cats, they tend to throw themselves into their owner's arms.
These
large cats are gentle giants who love to play fetch with children. Belonging to
the giant cat breed, the ragdoll is soft and mild and best known for its
affectionate nature. The life expectancy of a ragdoll is up to 15 years.
Did You Know?
All
purebred Ragdoll cats possess beautiful azure-hued eyes. If they have a hint of
any other shade in their eyes, then most probably they are of hybrid lineage.
Moreover,
since their lifespan ranges between 15-20 years, that is an additional perk for
people who yearn to have an above-average lifespan for their pets!
Norwegian Forest Cat
Size: 9 to 12 inches
Weight: The female cats often weigh around 8 to 18 pounds, which is 3.6 to 8 kilograms. On the other hand, Males weigh about 10 to 20 pounds, which is 4.5 to 9 kilograms.
Description: Norwegian
forest cats have an almost regal appearance, thanks to their beautiful down of
enviable fur. One of the largest cat breeds, the Norwegian Forest Cat, was
built for the frigid conditions of Northern Europe. Although bred as a domestic
cat, the Norwegian forest cat is an exceptional hunter, great at capturing
unsightly critters. These feline breeds are excellent hunters, for which they
possess powerful claws.
These popular cat breeds are often confused with the Maine coon cat, a relatively close descendent of this breed. These cats have a life expectancy of 12 to 20 years, depending on their overall health and the quality of care. This cat is a cross between two cats- a house cat and a wild cat. The Norwegian cat breed has a luxurious double coat which helps it stay warm in the cold weather.
Lesser-known trivia about Norwegian Forest Cats
They are
the official cat for the country of Norway, much as is evident from their
naming itself. They nearly went extinct during the WW II era, but efforts were
made to preserve their lineage.
Also, this
breed has been mentioned frequently in native mythology, one of them being of
two Norwegian Forest cats being the chariot-pullers for the Norse goddess
Freyja.
Did You Know?
Have you
ever wondered what a tinier leopard would look like? If you've been curious
about an adorably sized tiger or leopard the size of a house cat, you'd be
interested in 'Bengal cats.' An athletic breed you'd mistake for a jungle cat,
Bengal cats have beautiful bold-patterned coats, giving them a distinguished
look.
Siberian Cats
Size: 9 to 11 inches
Weight: A male Siberian cat often weighs in at 15 to 2o pounds, around 5.5 to 8 kilograms. On the other hand, a female can weigh in at 10 to 15 pounds, which is 3.5 to 6 kilograms.
Description: The Siberian cat is a significant domestic cat that originated from the infamously glacial forests of Siberia. These giant cat breeds evolved over extreme conditions, unlike other domestic cats, and are originally wild forest cats. This formerly wild, popularly domesticated cat has 10 to 18 years of life expectancy. Unlike many other pets, these are intelligent cats showcased in their hunting prowess, similar to an African wild cat.
Did You Know?
It is the
national cat of Russia, and domesticated ones there are often named after the
many rivers and lakes in the country. What's more: they have water-repellant
coats and can often be found frolicking about in the waters.
Ragamuffin Cats
Size: 9 to 12 inches
Weight: Although the lighter gender, a female ragamuffin can weigh between a colossal 10 and 15 pounds. On the other hand, the male ragamuffins are pretty hefty, reaching up to more than 20 pounds.
Description: The Ragamuffin has a
sweet and loveable personality, one of the largest cat breeds. The history
behind the different breeds lies in the fact that earlier owners disagreed
about the future of the ragdoll breed, and the earlier owners created two
separate species. These cats have a life expectancy of almost 18 years.
Ragamuffin is closely related to the ragdoll. The Ragdoll ancestry is also
where it gets the rag in its name.
The ragamuffin cat has a thick coat which helps with insulation. Ragamuffins have a docile nature and are of a friendly temperament.
Did You Know?
The
Ragamuffin kitten is born with a pristine white coat that develops a pattern as
they age. Unique, isn't it? What strikes, even more, is that this breed is very
prone to developing heterochromia, whereupon their two eyes each have a
different color!
British Shorthair
Size: 12 to 14 inches
Weight: A male British Shorthair often weighs around 9 to 17
pounds, 4.1 to 7.7 kilograms. The females are lighter, weighing about 7 to 12
pounds, translating to 3.2 to 5.4 kilograms.
Description: British Shorthairs are people-oriented
cats fancied for their almost blue fur and teddy bear-like demeanor. One of the
most popular cat breeds, this cat is also special because of its rarity. It's
pretty challenging to find this large cat outside of legitimate breeders. The
life expectancy of a British Shorthair is around 14 to 20 years, surprisingly long-lived
compared to other breeds.
Did You Know?
The
ancestry of British Shorthairs can be traced back to ancient Egypt, and experts
are of the opinion that they were imported from there into Rome.
Some
renowned fictional feline characters have been based on this breed, two of them
being Puss in Boots and the Cheshire Cat.
Chausie Cats
Size: 14 to 18 inches tall
Weight: An adult Chausie male can weigh up to a mighty 11 to 16 pounds. On the other hand, fully grown female Chausies grow to be around 8 to 13 pounds.
Description: Chausie
cats are social cats with a life expectancy of 15 years. Although a Chausie is
a domestic cat, it has a rugged appearance. The hybrid cats arise due to
crossing domestic cats with wild cats. Even though Chausies are dubbed as being
part of the biggest domestic cat breeds, these cat breeds have a supple,
slender look. Their shortened tails, huge, tufted ears coupled with beautifully
angled cheekbones give Chausies a wildly distinctive appearance.
Did You Know?
Chausies
do not appreciate being cuddled and would rather like it if you left them
alone! Also, they are actually quite adventurous, and often require to be put
on leashes, like dogs.
Turkish Van
Size: 10 to 14 inches
Weight: 10-20 pounds
Description: The
Turkish van belongs to one of the largest cat breeds in the world because of
its mammoth size and high energy levels. Unlike other breeds, Turkish vans love
water and enjoy playing in it. This cat requires minimal grooming and is
usually adept at taking care of itself. This cat has a life expectancy of 12 to
17 years.
These
domesticated felines are notorious for being highly athletic, making great
climbers, jumpers and swimmers. These cats have a 'van pattern' in quirky red
or brown colors, giving them a unique look. Many Turkish vans are known to jump
onto higher areas like bookshelves and cause a stir.
Turkish Van Trivia
They have
a distinctive marking uniformly among all in the breed, known as "Van
pattern," where they have an almost all-white body with coloured fur only
on the face and tail. It is one of the rarest cat breeds across the world, as
of this date.
American Bobtail
Size: This breed stands 10 inches to its shoulder.
Weight: 7 to 16 pounds
Description: The
American Bobtail cat combines two separate breeds, the wild bobcat and a
domestic cat. The life expectancy of this cat is about 13 to 18 years. American
bobtails are muscular and athletic like Chartreux cats and have faster
reflexes.
The
bobtail could have attained its rugged appearance thanks to its evolutionary
history of being mixed with a jungle cat. These cat breeds have a particular
factor that sets them apart; their short, bobbed tails. American Bobtail breeds
are also some of the most prominent species of felines around since it is
endowed with ample sizing.
Did You Know?
They are
called the "golden retriever" among cat breeds, owing to their
playful and affectionate nature. In fact, they even wag their tails, a la dogs,
to greet their owners!
Burmese Cats
Size: These big cat breeds grow to be almost 9-13 inches tall
Weight: They weigh about 8-15 pounds
Description: With a life span of 10-17 years, this big
domestic cat is sociable and playful. You'll find that the European Burmese cat
is slender, and the American Burmese cat is stockier and wider. However, all
Burmese cats have a short silky coat in a monochromatic color.
Burmese
cats are loyal and bond well with humans. Note that if you adopt a Burmese cat,
you cannot leave them alone as they do not take well to isolation. Another
noteworthy feature of this cat is that they can tolerate a family dog quite
well due to their sociable nature.
Did You Know?
A tiny
Burmese kitten was taken to America from then-Burma as a souvenir by a
20th-century sailor, and thus it became an American breed! Also, this breed
possesses four distinctive coloured coats- sable, champagne, platinum, and
blue.
African Serval
Size: 21-24 inches tall
Weight: 20 to 40 pounds
Description: African Servals are medium-sized cats
with long legs, slender bodies, and a black-tipped tail. You'll find that you
need a license and several permissions to adopt or own this cat to domesticate.
This cat's
build is similar to a cheetah; however, it is much smaller and originates from
Africa. They hunt and hide near water and are often difficult to care for as
they are big wild cats. Servals are highly active and solitary cats that roam
about seven miles per day in the wild.
Did You Know?
They have
the largest ears found on any cat. Also, their unusually long legs and neck
have earned them the nickname of "giraffe cat".
Savannah Cat
Size: They stand at almost 14-17 inches tall
Weight: 12-25 pounds
Description: Savannah cats are one of the largest cat
breeds with a life span of 12 to 20 years. They have high intellectual levels.
Plus, they are very active and playful. Introduced in the 20th century, they
are hybrid cats born out of breeding a Siamese cat and a wild serval.
Additionally, savannahs have a short coat and come in black/ebony,
lavender/brown/sable/silver, chocolate.
Interestingly,
these cats are easy to train and are very friendly to human beings. However,
some states do restrict keeping them as a pet. Notably, the savannah has been
crowned the world's largest domestic cat by the Guinness Book of World Records
Savannah Cat Trivia
Their
distinctive features and traits were achieved by cross-breeding a wild African
serval with a domestic Siamese cat. Moreover, two Savannah cats were featured
in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the tallest cats in the world
respectively, once in 2013, and then in 2017.
Wrapping Up
You've
been introduced to some of the biggest domestic cat breeds around. If you've
dreamed of having larger felines for pets, the list above is the way to go. A
couple more exciting breeds are known for their friendly nature and love for
people. These are the savannah cat breed and others like Persian cat breeds. If
your domesticated cats require veterinary advice, never hesitate to reach out
to a trained professional.
September 12, 2022 at 09:39
Jennifer Taylor says:
My cat is called Patches and looked very much like the Turkish Van.