There are dozens of breeds of cats, along with a virtually unlimited array of hybrid, cross, and moggy breeds. They range from short to long haired and from those that were bred for their rodent hunting prowess to felines that prefer to laze in any sun patch that they find. Some are vocal, while others never utter a word. Some cats love the lap of their human, and others are entirely aloof. Some feel like a member of the family, while others are more like a passing house guest.
There are also small cats; The singapura will generally not weigh more than 5 pounds. but this list features giant house cat breeds, some of which are big enough to demand their own seat on the couch!
Top 10 Largest Domestic Cat Breeds
1. maine coon cat
The Maine Coon is an absolutely giant cat. while they typically weigh up to 18 pounds, there are records of some Maine Coons reaching 30 pounds or more, which is twice as heavy as a small breed dog like a pug.
Despite their gigantic size, the Maine Coon is known to be gentle, affectionate, and sweet. Often called the gentle giant, the breed is also known as the dog of the cat world because they love to spend time with their humans. they are also smart and like to get involved in what you are doing.
2. savannah cat
The Savannah is a hybrid breed, which means that it comes from crossing a domestic cat with a wild cat. in this case, the wildcat was that of the African serval, which is a large-eared wildcat. The domestic savannah cat is classified by the number of generations it has from its wild cat ancestor, with f1 and f2 being the largest and most likely to reach weights of 30 pounds.
wild DNA in the savannah means the domestic cat can exhibit feral tendencies. they like to hunt, spend time outdoors, and can be quite aloof, though some blend well into families and indoor homes.
3. norwegian forest cat
The norwegian forest cat was first bred in norway when domestic cats interbred with wild forest cats. they are far enough from the original wild cat to exhibit full domestic traits.
The modern Norwegian Forest cat is family-oriented, though it enjoys spending a lot of time outdoors. In addition to being friendly, they love to play and tend to follow their owners around the house to complete tasks.
4. ragdoll cat
The ragdoll is a unique breed in many ways, although it is unlikely that they were bred as a CIA experiment or contain alien DNA, as has been claimed. the breed is relatively new, only being noticed in the 1990s and officially recognized in 2000.
This breed gets its name from its temperament. The ragdoll cat is friendly and soft, and will throw itself into its owner’s arms like a rag doll. unfortunately, those distinctive eyes, which give the cat a unique appearance, can also render the ragdoll partially blind.
5. siberian cat
The Siberian is a large breed with lots of hair and character. They are native to Siberia, which is known for its harsh and long winters, hence the cat’s impressive long fur. after being tamed and brought indoors, the Siberian became the perfect pet.
Friendly and loyal, the Siberian grows large and its hair requires attention. the breed has molting seasons, at which time you’ll need to vacuum regularly to keep up with the rain of hair.
6. tramp
The history of ragamuffins isn’t entirely clear, but what is known is that they were made by ragdoll owners who crossed their felines with other long-haired cats. the result is a breed that has some of the same character traits as the ragdoll and will shed frequently.
In addition to being large, the ragamuffin is a docile but affectionate breed of cat. while the ragdoll is sometimes described as looking a bit wild, the ragamuffin has a more attractive feline face with larger, kinder eyes.
7. british shorthair
the british shorthair is a loyal and affectionate cat native to great britain. They are one of the oldest breeds in Great Britain and are believed to have originated with the Romans. the Roman invaders brought their own rodent-killing cats, which colonized the island and became the common alley cat.
Today, the British Shorthair is described as a pleasant companion cat because it is friendly and affectionate. they are even described as fiercely loyal, and the short hair will get along with all members of the family rather than choosing just one human being to bond with.
8. bye
Chausie cats are direct descendants of ancient Egyptian cats, highly revered breeds and even mummified along with their owners. they still look somewhat wild today, but have developed many domestic attributes.
The chausie’s name means jungle cat, and the breed retains much of its love of the great outdoors today. If you like to spend time outdoors, this is your cat. They also don’t mind spending time indoors with their humans.
Related Reading: 10 Best Large Cat Carriers: Reviews & top picks
9. turkish van
the turkish van originated in eastern turkey and reached england in the 1950s and the usa. uu. shores in 1983 before being accepted into the cat fanciers association in 1994.
The Turkish Van is lively and highly intelligent. They will bond with humans and form a close bond, but they do not tolerate hair pulling or other behavior that might be considered too boisterous or rude. in fact, many Turkish Vans do not like to be picked up or cuddled. however, they will learn tricks and are one of the few breeds that love water.
10. American Bobtail
The American Bobtail was first bred in the 1960s, when a Siamese was crossed with a domestic short-tailed cat. the modern breed generally has a tail about half the length of a standard domestic cat’s tail, although it can be shorter, and some bobtails actually have full tails.
Sometimes known as the golden retriever of the cat world, the American Bobtail is playful and energetic. you might be able to teach them a few tricks and maybe even encourage them to play fetch. they are fearless without being aggressive, which is a desirable combination of traits for a domestic cat.
final thoughts
Here are 10 of the largest cat breeds, most of which can weigh 20 pounds or more. Maine Coon, Savannah, and Norwegian cats can even reach a weight of 30 pounds, so they can take up a lot of space on your couch!
featured image credit: capri23auto, pixabay
