The Biggest Cats in the World: A Look at the Records (2026 Updates)

Cats come in various sizes—some even come in excessive sizes, which makes them extra special. Speaking of various sizes, have you ever wondered about record-holding cats? What is the biggest cat in the world, and just how big is the biggest cat?

In this post, we will look at some of the biggest cats in the world and categorize them by height, weight, length, and pounds. We’ll explore past cats that have held impressive records as well.

The Tallest Domestic Cat in the World

The tallest domesticated cat in the world as of 2023 is a male Savannah cat named Fenrir. This kitty hails from Cape Town, Michigan but made international news when he was recognized and awarded the title of the tallest living domestic cat by the Guinness World Records. He is an F2 Savannah cat and boasts beautiful black spots. So, how tall is he? He measures 50 cm (19.68 inches) in height.

Savannah cats are typically very tall cats in the first place, but Fenrir measures 2 inches taller than the average Savannah, with 14–17 inches being the norm.

The Longest Domesticated Cat in the World

The longest domesticated cat in the world goes to a 2-year-old Maine Coon named Barivel. When measured on May 22, 2018, he came in at 120 cm (3 feet 11 inches) long, and he still holds the record today. To give you some perspective, Barivel’s length is longer than a baseball bat. Barivel lives in Vigevano, Italy, with his human parents Cinzia Tinnirello and Edgar Scandurra. He has become somewhat of a local celebrity when his parents take him out for a stroll.

The Fattest Cat in the World

Meet “Patches,” the fattest cat in the world. Patches weighed 40 pounds before being put on a diet, which is nearly three times the weight of a regular domestic cat. His former owner was no longer able to care for him and was forced to place him under adoption. How did he get this big? It’s speculated that he’s a picky eater and only eats human food, but this has never been substantiated. Even though a thorough checkup deemed him healthy, he is down to 38 pounds, thanks to the diet.

The Largest and Heaviest Cat in the World

This title goes to Hercules the Liger. Housed in Myrtle Beach Safari, Hercules, a lion x tigress hybrid, measures 131 inches, stands 49 inches at the shoulder, and weighs 922 pounds. He eats around 30 pounds of meat a day! As of 2022, Hercules is still alive and still holds the record as the largest cat in the world.

All-Time Record-Holding Cats

Remember Fenrir, the current tallest cat in the world? Fenrir wasn’t the only cat that held the title of the tallest cat in the world;, his late brother, Arcturus, held the title of the tallest cat ever recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records and previously held the title of the tallest cat—this litter must have had incredible genes! Sadly, Arcturus died in 2017 in a house fire.

The Cat with the Longest Tail

Incredibly, the same family who owns Fenrir and owned Arcturus before his passing had another record-holding cat. Cygnus, a silver Maine Coon, previously held the title for the longest tail in the world. The tail measured 16.07 inches in length. Sadly, Cygnus perished with Arcturus in the same 2017 house fire in their home.

1986 Fattest Cat

The Guinness Book of World Records no longer records the heaviest pets as of 1998 because they do not want people to fatten up their pets to unhealthy weights. However, when such things were recorded, Himmy, a domestic shorthair from Queensland, Australia, weighed a whopping 46 pounds and had to be transported in a wheelbarrow. He died on March 12^th, 1986, from respiratory distress.

Former Largest Cat

Before Barivel, the current longest cat in the world, there was a Maine coon named Stewie, who was the record holder of this title before he passed from cancer on February 4^th, 2013, at the age of 8. Stewie, whose full name was Mymains Stewart Gilligan, measured 4 feet long and also held the record for the longest tail. Known as the “gentle giant” of cats, Stewie was also a certified therapy animal.

Conclusion

So, there you have it. As you can see, there are some remarkable cats in the world, both past and present, that have held impressive records. We'll not see any more records for the fattest or heaviest due to health concerns, but who knows what the future holds for future biggest and tallest cats in the world.

See Also:

• Who Is the Cat With the Longest Tail in the World?

• Who Is the Cat With the Longest Whiskers in the World?

Featured Image Credit By: Sergey Ginak, Shutterstock