Our cats retain the nobility and courage of a true feline, right? But some races go beyond greatness of spirit, and are truly giants! Whether for their height or remarkable robustness, these cats often impress thanks to their enormous size.
Don't you know the 12 giant cat breeds? Well, our site invites you to know a little more about each of them in this new article. Can you come with us? You can not lose this!
What are the largest cat breeds?
The 12 largest cat breeds are:
- Maine Coon: exceeding one meter in length and 10 kg.
- Selkirk rex: with an average of 30 cm at the withers and 7 kg.
- Ragdoll: It measures more than 35 cm and can weigh more than 9 kg.
- Ragamuffin: measures 25 cm at the withers and can weigh up to 13 kg.
- Bengal Cat: some males can exceed 9 kg.
- Highlander: Like the previous one, it can also weigh more than 9 kg.
- Brazilian shorthair: usually weighs more than 10 kg.
- Van Turco: measures around 30 cm at the withers and weighs up to 9 kg.
- Norwegian Forest: stands out for being especially hairy and weighing more than 9 kg.
- Chausie: measures 50 cm and weighs up to 12 kg!
- British Shorthair: measures 30 cm at the withers and weighs up to 8 kg.
- British Longhair: reaches 35 cm at the withers and weighs up to 7 kg.
Next, in this article on large cat breeds, we'll show you everything you need to know about these 12 cat breeds along with their photographs and features, keep reading!
1. The Maine coon
These felines are native to the State of Maine, in the United States, which explains the first part of their name. The term "coon" would be an abbreviation of "racoon", which means "raccoon" in English. Its name refers to a certain myth about its origins, which states that this breed would be a hybrid between a wild cat and a raccoon.
A Maine coon male can reach 70 centimeters in lengthand weigh more than 10 kilos. This amazing size reveals an affectionate animal, sociable and playful, with a distinguished ability: meowing in various tones. In addition, Maine coons tend to especially like water, due to their waterproof coat. It is definitely an excellent pet for families with children. You want to know more? Discover on our site the care that a Maine coon requires!
two. The selkirk rex and his wavy fur
This breed has a robust body, with well-developed muscles, weighing about 7 kilos when adults. The selkirk rex stand out not only for their physical build, but also for their long, wavy hair. In many countries, it is popularly known as "the Poodle cat", precisely because of its coat, which requires regular brushing to avoid knots.
3. Ragdoll, the rag doll
"Ragdoll" literally means "rag doll" in our language. This breed is the result of various crosses between other breeds such as Persian, Siamese and Burmese His temperament is usually mild and somewhat sleepy And among the basic care of the ragdoll, is the need for company: these beautiful kittens do not like being alone.
A characteristic of ragdolls is that they have a long "childhood", taking up to three years to complete their development and reach the age adult. However, when they do grow, they do so intensely: a male ragdoll can exceed 90 centimeters in length and weigh up to 9 kilos.
4. Ragamuffin, a giant boy
Just like ragdolls, ragamuffins have a very long childhood, between 2 and 3 years, and can live up to 18 years Without However, their character is more sociable, playful and active than the "rag dolls", which facilitates their adaptation to home life. In addition, it is an excellent feline breed for children, since they play without removing their claws
An adult male ragamuffin has a tall and stocky body, and can weigh up to 13 kiloswithout developing symptoms of obesity. A characteristic characteristic of this breed is that its head is usually large compared to the rest of its body.
5. Bengal or Bengal cat
Following this top 12 giant cat breeds, in this section we present the Bengal cat, also known as the "leopard cat"This is a large breed, native to the United States, easily recognizable by its coat, which is similar to that of a wild leopard.
The Bengal cat has an average weight that oscillates between between 5 and 6 kg, however, some males have reachedovercome 9 kg , breaking records in the race. Known for his hyperactivity and boundless curiosity, he also loves to play and socialize with other individuals. We speak, then, in a general way, of a affectionate and sociable cat Likewise, it is a particularly intelligent breed.
6. The Highlander and his big eyes
This breed with large eyes and striking ears was the result of crosses between the breed american curl and lynxes The result was a feline of remarkable dimensions that usually weighs more than 9 kilos when adult. If its size may scare some, its character conquers many: it is a docile cat, very playful and affectionate., who needs a positive environment and affection so as not to suffer from the symptoms of stress.
7. Brazilian Shorthair: a very young breed
This breed descends from the street cats of Brazil, and was recognized very recently. Perhaps for this reason it is still difficult to establish aesthetic and behavioral parameters for these lively felines. What does stand out is its imposing bearing: a Brazilian shorthair can weigh more than 10 kilos without presenting symptoms of being overweight.
8. Van Turco, a true water lover
As its name implies, this breed is native to the surroundings of Lake Van, which is located in Turkey. As they were exposed to hot summers and harsh winters in their natural habitat, these felines developed an impressive adaptive capacity
The Turkish van are not usually very tall, but they have a significant robustness, easily weighing 8 kilos as an adult. They also have certain peculiarities: in addition to being very vocal , they also like contact with the water, so it's not uncommon to see them playing or cooling off.
For those who consider the possibility of having a Turkish Van as a pet, it should be clear that it is a dominant breed, that He will need a lot of attention to live with and be introduced to other cats. Ideally, start socializing him while he is still a baby, in his first 8 weeks of life.
9. Norwegian Forest Cat, a breed endemic to Norway
The Norwegian Forest Cat is a breed that stands out for its abundant and thick fur, which allowed it to survive in the extreme cold of the Scandinavian countries Norwegian Forests are stocky cats, weighing up to 9 kilos as adults, but not very high. A curiosity is that these cats are cataloged as endemic in Norway
10. Chausie, a miniature cougar
A Chausie resembles a wild cougar not only in appearance, but also in its keen hunting instincts and abundant energy. They need a lot of attention to their physical activity, mental stimulation and socialization An adult male of this breed can reach 9 kilosin its adult phase.
eleven. British Shorthair: The First English Breed
The British shorthair (or British shorthair) is the oldest feline breed of English origin. Like most cats from cold climates, it stands out for its abundant fur They are excellent hunters, owners of a docile and sociable character, which allows them toget along with other cats and dogs An adult male of this breed usually weighs between 7 and 8 kilos
12. The British with long hair: beauty has no morphological standard
This breed is younger than its short-haired "relatives", and also much stockier. An adult male British Longhair typically weighs over 20 poundsHis long coat, which was previously considered a standard deviation for the feline family of British, is now a much-admired aesthetic feature.
Do you have a giant cat in your home? So tell us a bit more about them in our comments.
