Large Maine Coon
Maine Coons are well known for being one of the largest domesticated breeds of cats in the world, but which cat is the biggest Maine Coon cat in the world? Let’s take a look at the largest Maine Coon cat on record.
Stewie, a gray tabby Maine Coon, holds the record for the biggest Maine Coon cat in the world. The cat’s full name was Mymains Stewart Gilligan, and he measured 48.5 inches long. Stewie died of cancer in 2013, and since then, the title of biggest Maine Coon cat was awarded to Barivel, who is still living. Barivel is 47.2 inches long.
This regal cat breed has been gracing the pages of Guinness World Records for some decades, from the world’s largest domesticated cat breed to the cat with the longest whiskers. The name ‘Maine Coon’ has appeared in Guinness Book of World Records several times over, and for a good reason. Keep reading to discover which giant Maine Coon cats hold records.
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Biggest Maine Coon Cat In The World
Maine Coons are well-known for being gentle giants in the world of felines.
Their lineage is embroiled in much mystery and intrigue, which makes it a little hard to determine why this particular cat breed grows so big.
If you are new to the world of felines, it is worth mentioning that the Guinness World Records traditionally focused on the weight of each cat, to determine which cat was the biggest.
The criteria changed in the last few decades, and now the accolade is determined based on length and height.
Maine Coon cats are one of the beloved cat breeds in the United States.
Many people recognize the breed because of its:
- Large Size
- Smooth, Shaggy Coat
- Distinctive Appearance
At first glance, Maine Coon cats appear muscular with long bodies and parts that are all in proportion.
This creates a well-balanced, rectangular appearance with no part of the Maine Coons anatomy looking exaggerated.
Maine Coons also have long, shaggy fur and a ruff of fur around their neck and chest, which adds to their spectacular size.
With their big frame and build, Maine Coons cats cannot help but make an impression when they walk around in your home.
Below are the average Maine Coon sizes, that the females and males of this breed tend to achieve. These sizes seem quite different from the largest Maine Coon cats on record!
Length
On average, Maine Coon cats grow between 19 – 40 inches long.
Height
Maine Coons range between 8 -16 inches high.
Weight
In terms of weight, female Maine Coons cats tend to be on the lower-end, weighing between 8 – 12 lbs.
Male Maine Coon cats have an average weight ranging anywhere from 15 to 25 lbs. One of the Maine Coons that exceeded the average Maine Coon size was Stewie, the biggest Maine Coon cat of all time. If you think your Maine Coon cat is large, here are some famous Maine Coon cats that will likely make your Maine Coon look tiny.
These are the largest Maine Coon cats on record:
1. Stewie
Stewie is the biggest Maine Coon cat of all time.
His full name was Mymains Stewart Gilligan, and he was verified to be 48.5 inches long in 2010.
At 48.5 inches, Stewie was a true gentle giant and a certified therapy animal that frequently visited a local senior center.
He holds the Guinness World Record for the longest domestic cat of all time, up to date.
Sadly, Stewie died on 4 February 2013 from cancer at the age of 8 years.
Stewie was owned by Robin Hendrickson, who lived in Reno, Nevada.
When Stewie died his title was passed to Barivel, the latest inductee to the hallowed hall of longest domesticated cats.
Here is a video of Stewie:
2. Barivel
Barivel, whose name means clown or joker in Italian, is the biggest living Maine Coon. He lives in Vigevani, Italy, and measured 47.2 inches long in May 2018.
Barivel was born in September 2016.
Currently, Barivel is the holder of the world’s longest-living cat.
This Maine Cono has his own Instagram, and despite the attention, he gets from cat fanatics, he is a very quiet and shy Maine Coon.
In 2018, Barivel measured 120cm (3ft 11 inches) and is the current holder for the biggest domestic cat in the world in 2021.
Intrigued to take a look at Barivel, watch this video below:
3. Ludo
Ludo lives in Wakefield, UK, and was temporarily recognized for being the largest Maine Coon cat in the world, though for a short period.
When Ludo was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s longest domestic cat, he measured 118.33 cm and weighed a whopping 34 pounds!
At 3 feet and 10.59 inches long, Ludo is only a fraction of an inch shorter than Barivel.
Ludo is said to be friendly and easy-going but not as feisty as most Maine Coons.
4. Omar
Living in Melbourne, Omar is the biggest Maine Coon in Australia.
Although yet to be evaluated by the Guinness Book of World Records judges, Omar is a true gentle giant measuring 4 feet and 11 inches long.
This means he will knock Barivel from his throne when officially recognized by the Guinness World Records.
Regardless of whether or not he gets recognition as being the largest Maine Coon, the orange tabby Maine Coon enjoys an Instagram account with over 160,000 followers!
If you are intrigued to see what Omar looks like, take a look at his Youtube channel!
5. Cygnus
Cygnus is one of the world’s biggest Maine Coon cats and lived in Detroit with three cat siblings and their human parents.
He was outstanding and had unique silver markings that helped identify him from the other cats in his house.
While it is not clear how long he was, it is well-known that Cygnus once held the record for the longest domestic cat at 17.58 inches.
In a rare coincidence, Cygnus shared a home with Arcturus, a member of the Savannah breed who is also one of the largest cats on record. Arcturus measured 48.4 inches long.
Unfortunately, Cygnus and Arcturus tragically died in a house fire in 2017. They are remembered as friendly and kind cats who shared an inseparable bond.
6. Samson
At 4 feet and 28 pounds, Samson is considered to be the largest Maine Coon in New York, US.
Although Samson has enjoyed a good life, he was diagnosed with hip dysplasia, one of the common Maine Coon genetic health issues, in September 2020.
Currently, Samson is about six years old.
You can learn more about the risks of hip dysplasia, in this article I wrote.
7. Lotus
Lotus is a beautiful creamsicle-colored tabby Maine Coon cat from Sweden.
While Lotus is only 22 pounds, he has abundant fluff and oversized features that make him larger than he appears.
From his Instagram account with over 350,000 followers, it is clear that he gets a lot of love from cat fanatics and animals around the world.
8. Moonwalk Mognum
Moonwalk Mognum is a beautiful grey and white Maine Coon cat.
At a glorious 28 pounds, he is one of the largest Maine Coon cats in Europe and lives in Chaillé-les-Marais, France.
9. Hélios
Hélios is a beloved black and Silver Maine Coon that should certainly appear on the list of the largest Maine Coon cats.
This big boy lives in Chatterie de Cimiez in the south of France, and from his YouTube presence, it is clear that he is handsome and huge.
Here is a short video of Helios:
10. Sean Coonery
Sean Connery is another gorgeous Maine Coon and a Youtuber.
Although his videos are more or less meant to show how talkative he is, they exhibit his big frame and build very clearly too.
Maine Coon cats are fated to grow very large, but the males tend to get relatively larger than their female counterparts.
While both genders can reach a length of 40 inches, it seems that only the males have been able to beat the odds and grow past average sizes.
Although they are yet to enter the list of the tallest cats in the world, Maine Coon cats grow between 8 to 16 inches in height.
If you have just bought a Maine Coon cat home, it is worth noting that these beloved felines grow very slowly. Typically, Maine Coon cats are not fully grown until the age of 3-5 years.
What Is The Heaviest Maine Coon Cat On Record?
Maine Coons are naturally big felines, which leaves many people wondering how much does the largest Maine Coon cat weigh?
Well, while the largest Maine Coon is very well known, it is unfortunate that we do not know the weight of this big Maine Coon cat.
After the passing of Stewie, Ludo was declared the next world’s longest Maine Coon.
At the time of recognition, he was 46.6 inches long and weighed a whopping 34 pounds, which is probably the known biggest Maine Coon weight on record.
Overall, it is safe to say that Ludo is the heaviest Maine Coon cat on record.
Why Are Maine Coons So Large?
The Maine Coon lineage is steeped in mystery, meaning no one can exactly tell why Maine Coon cats grow so big.
All in all, there have been some guesses as to why Maine Coons are generally large felines:
- They grew large to keep themselves warm and survive the extremely cold climate of Maine.
- Maine Coons’ slow growth rate enables their bones structure and muscles to develop larger.
While these reasons are convincing, Maine Coons, even those living in tropical regions, will still grow bigger. As such, getting bigger might be part of their genes.
If you are interested in owning a large cat, whether it be a Maine Coon or not, find out which are the 12 largest cat breeds in the world.
Big Maine Coon Breeders
If you are in the market for purchasing a Maine Coon cat but are specifically looking for a breeder who breeds the largest Maine Coons, the bad news is that there is no way to guarantee that the cat you buy will grow very large.
Here are some breeders that claim to sell large Maine Coon cats. Please note though that it is currently unknown how successful they are at breeding extra-large Maine Coons:
For American residents, you can buy from the following large Maine Coon breeders in the USA:
- GREYTUONO
- FLUFFYGIANTS
- MCATTERY
If you live in Europe, here are some large Maine Coon breeders in the UK:
- MAJESTICOON
- RUDYCATS
- JAZZCATZS
- GREYTUONO
Considering that there is no guarantee that the Maine Coon cat you buy will grow extra-large, it may not make any difference whether you buy from a local licensed breeder, or not.
Large Maine Coon Litter Box
If you have just purchased a Maine Coon cat, you will certainly need to get a sizable litter box for your cat.
To ensure you get the best litter box for your Maine Coons, consider the following aspects when making your purchase:
- Size: Maine Coons cats grow very large, and you would betray yourself by buying a standard-size litter box. To avoid returning to the market for a litter box at a later date, buy an extra-large Maine Coon litter box, like these.
- Maintenance: Maine Coon litter boxes definitely need to be cleaned. For this reason, make sure to buy a litter box that is easy to clean.
- Hooded: It is always a good idea to buy a hooded large Maine Coon litter box in order to contain bad smells. Hooded litter boxes are also more visually appealing and prevent litter particles from spreading.
Longest Domestic Cat Ever
The longest cat on record is Stewie, a Maine Coon owned by Robin Hendrickson and Erik Brandsness.
Stewie was a certified therapy animal who often visited the Reno seniors center.
He was also used in promoting animal welfare conferences and seminars to create awareness with the Nevada Humane Society.
Stewie was 123 centimeters long which translates to 48.5 inches.
Stewie also held the Guinness World Record title for the domestic cat with the longest tail. He had a spectacular tail measuring 41.5 centimeters or 16.34 inches.
Unfortunately, Stewie passed away in February 2013, at the age of 8 years after fighting cancer.
Ludo took over the title for the longest cat. He measured 118.33 centimeters or 10.59 inches at the time when it was verified in 2015. Ludo was owned by Kesley Gill.
Later, Barivel grew larger than Ludo, and he is now the longest domestic cat on record, measuring a whopping 120 cm long.
How Long Is The Longest Cat Tail
Having a lovely pet is enjoyable but having two record-holding pets feels different.
Lauren Will Powers has the pride to be the owner of two record-breaking cats, Cygnus and Arcturus.
Cygnus and Arcturus are lengthy cats and thus have gotten the chance to be in world record books.
Cygnus had a tail measuring 44.66cm or 17.58 inches which is certainly long and entered the Guinness World Books of Record in 2018 as a living domesticated cat with the longest tail.
Being a Maine Coons cat, it is not a surprise that this cat also had a well-built body stature.
With such a long tail, this cat faces some daily challenges.
For starters, the owners have to be more careful when locking doors and walking in the house; otherwise, they may end up accidentally hurting the cat’s tail.
Since Cygnus’ tail is long, it means that the end tip is far away from his body, and hurting it may be so easy if you are not always on high alert.
The tail is heavy and may also dip itself into dangerous liquids like hot water and burn itself.
World Record For Longest Cat Whiskers
The world record cat with the longest whiskers is held by Missi, which is the only ever recorded Maine Coon cat for this unique feature.
Missi lives in Finland, and it’s owned by Karina Kyllonen.
Missi has whiskers that measure approximately 19 cm or 7.5 inches, according to the 2005 records. This length is almost similar to a Toblerone!
Why not compare this to the standard-sized Maine Coon whiskers detailed in my article.
Most people tend to believe that a cat’s whiskers are like its superpower.
For starters, a cat’s whiskers serve as antennae or acute touch receptors. They send intact signals to the brain, thus making it easy for the cat to handle its limbs and entire body.
It is of great importance to ensure that you do not trim a cat’s whiskers, as you will prevent your cat from picking correct signals and sending them to their brain.
Trimming a cat’s whiskers might disorient or confuse your cat.
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