Do you know who the world’s biggest cat is? According to the official record keepers at the Guinness Book of World Records, the accolade is actually determined two different ways.
The world’s longest domestic cat is awarded to the cat with the greatest length, measured from nose to tail. Then there’s the world’s tallest domestic cat, awarded to the cat with the largest height, measured from the very top of the shoulder to paw.
As you might have guessed, the same cat rarely holds both titles at the same time.
Let’s dig into the record holders for world’s biggest cat before giving you some advice on adopting your own larger-than-life feline.
The World’s Longest Domestic Cat Ever
Stewie, a gray tabby Maine Coon, holds the record for world’s longest domestic cat. His full name was Mymains Stewart Gilligan, and he measured 48.5 inches long (123 cm).
That’s more than four feet long!
Sadly, Stewie passed away in 2013 of cancer at only eight years of age. Stewie was said to be a very friendly cat who loved people.
The World’s Longest Domestic Cat Who’s Still Living
Since Stewie passed, the title of the world’s longest cat who’s still living has been awarded to Barivel, a 47.2-inch (120 cm) Maine Coon who resides in Italy.
Before Barivel and Stewie, the previous record holder was Scarlett’s Magic, a leopard-printed Savannah cat. A Savannah cat is a cross between a Serval cat and a domestic cat.
Scarlett’s Magic measures 42.72 inches in length (108.51 cm). She has a sweet temperament and often visits schools, libraries, and retirement homes.
The World’s Tallest Domestic Cat
The world’s tallest cat, according to Guinness, was the spectacularly-named Arcturus Alderbaran Powers, who measured a whopping 19.05 inches (48.4 cm). Arcturus lived in Ferndale, Michigan, and was certified in 2017.
Adding on to the record-holding cat shenanigans, Arcturus also lived with a cat named Cygnus Powers, who still holds the world record for longest tail at 17.58 inches. Unfortunately, both Arcturus and Cygnus passed away in a tragic house fire toward the end of 2017.
Before Arcturus, the previous holder of the title of world’s tallest cat was Trouble, a kitty claiming 19 inches from shoulder to tail. Trouble was a Savannah cat who sadly passed away in 2012 at only four years old.
Getting Your Own Large Cat
Has all the talk about long and tall cats got you hankering for your own large domestic kitty? To source a big cat, look for breeds that include Maine Coons, Savannah cats, Chausie cats, and Norwegian Forest cats.
Remember, you can find just about any kind of cat through local shelters and rescues. Check out our adoption page that lets you search for adoptable cats by breed and zip code!
Once you’re kitted out with an oversized feline, remember that getting into the Guinness Book of World Records requires your cat to be measured by a veterinarian, and you’ll also have to document the size in photos and videos, plus send in affidavits.
The process can be long, but if your cat beats out the competition, you’ll have your own personal celebrity at home!
Do you have a super-sized kitty? Do you think they can break one of these records? Let us know in the comments below!
