10 Largest Maine Coon Cats (With Pictures)
By Oliver Jones
Updated on
As its name suggests, the Maine Coon is a breed of cat that is native to the state of Maine. As a breed, they have a long history in the United States; the first writings about this breed predate the American Civil War. The origins of the Maine Coon are not well understood, though there are many theories and myths. One such myth is that the Maine Coon is the result of breeding a cat with a raccoon. Although this theory has been debunked, it is easy to see why someone might believe it given the Maine Coon’s broad chest, fluffy tail, and the tufts of fur around its face and ears that give it a shape similar to a raccoon’s.
Despite the myths surrounding the Maine Coon’s origins, the most likely scenario is that these cats are a cross between a long-haired cat breed brought by European settlers and an American domestic breed.
Why Are Maine Coons So Large?
If you’ve never seen a Maine Coon, you might be surprised at how big this breed can get. Females typically weigh up to 12 pounds, while males are a bit heavier at 15-18 pounds. Nose to tail, they can be over 3 feet long. But why are they so much bigger than the average domestic cat breed?
One reason the Maine Coon is so large is that these cats mature more slowly than other cat breeds. This allows their overall bone structure and muscles to grow larger. Their environment also has something to do with it. As natives of Maine, their natural environment is very cold for much of the year. Their larger body mass helps them retain more body heat.
Perhaps the best answer for why Maine Coons are so big, however, is because they were bred that way! Larger Maine Coon cats are bred together because their massive size is impressive and unique. In cat shows, the large size of the Maine Coon is one part of the breed standard, so breeders are incentivized to produce larger cats.
They are quite large cats on average, however, some Maine Coons are even bigger! Now that you know a bit more about Maine Coons, we will feature some of the largest Maine Coons from around the world.
The 10 Largest Maine Coon Cats From Around the World
1. Stewie
Stewie was a giant Maine Coon cat from Reno, Nevada. At 48.5 inches long from nose to tail, Stewie held the Guinness World Record for the longest-living cat before the title was awarded to other large cats on this list. He still holds the record for the longest domestic cat of all time and also once held the record for the longest tail at 16.3 inches.
2. Barivel
Barivel, whose name means clown or joker in Italian, is a Maine Coon who resides in Vigevano, Italy. At 47.2 inches long, he is the current holder of the world record for the longest-living cat. Barivel is a pampered cat who enjoys going out for walks and even has his own Instagram page.
3. Ludo
Ludo, a Maine Coon from the U.K., held the title for longest domestic cat prior to Barivel. He is 46.6 inches long and weighs a whopping 34 pounds.
You might also be interested in: 7 Types of Maine Coon Cat Coat Colors: An Overview
4. Cygnus
Cygnus was a Maine Coon who lived in Detroit with his human parents and three cat siblings. He held the record for the longest domestic cat tail at 17.58 inches. Unfortunately, Cygnus and his feline brother, Arcturus, tragically died in a house fire in 2017.
5. Samson
At 4 feet long and 28 pounds, Samson is considered to be the largest domestic cat in the United States. He has an Instagram page, where his large following can stay up to date on the kitty, who recently moved from New York to Miami. He was diagnosed with hip dysplasia in September 2020.
6. Omar
Omar is an Australian Maine Coon living in Melbourne. He is considered to be one of the largest domestic cats in the world, measuring 47.2 inches long and weighing 30 pounds. Despite being comparable in size to other cats that have won the title of longest cat, he has not yet been officially recognized by Guinness World Records.
- You might also be interested in: Tabby Maine Coon: Facts, Origin & History (with Pictures)
7. Lotus
Lotus is a beautiful tabby Maine Coon from Sweden. At 22 pounds, he certainly makes the list of some of the largest cats in the world.
8. Moonwalk Mognum
Moonwalk Mognum is a grey and white Maine Coon who resides in Chaillé-les-Marais, France. Weighing in at 28 pounds, he is one of the largest cats in Europe.
9. Hélios
You may recognize Hélios, named for the ancient Greek sun god, from his YouTube presence. This handsome boy lives in the south of France.
10. Sean Coonery
Sean Coonery, another gorgeous Maine Coon with a cheeky name, is also featured on YouTube. In the video, you can see how vocal he is. The Maine Coon’s vocalizations are said to resemble a trill or a chirp as opposed to a regular meow.
Conclusion
While not all Maine Coons grow to be as large as some of the animals on this list, if you adopt one, you should expect it to be quite a large cat. The Main Coon’s personality is just as big as its body; it is a highly social animal that does not like to be left alone, so you should make sure to give your cat lots of love and attention.
Featured Image Credit: PxHere
