What type of domestic cat is the largest

The ragdoll cat is a friendly, people-and-pet-loving larger breed with long, luxurious fur. This kitty is usually rather calm, is incredibly social with people including kids , and comes in a variety of colors from breeders. If you're a pet parent who doesn't enjoy cats up on your countertops, this may be the cat for you. The Cat Fanciers' Association calls them "floor cats" as they prefer to stay low to the ground, but may jump up on furniture to snuggle with you. The up-topound Savannah gets its distinctive, long ears from its hybrid roots: It's a mix between the domestic Siamese and the wild Serval cat.

These semi-wild felines need lots of mental and physical stimulation, so be prepared to entertain. The American Association of Feline Practitioners has come out against hybrid cats from pairings of domestic cats and wild cats, arguing that the practice of breeding can be cruel and the resulting cats are never as calm, collected, and safe as domestic breeds.

If you decide a Savannah is for you, check with your state, however, as some have banned the breed, depending how many generations removed the cat is from their wild ancestor. Like the Norwegian forest cat , the Siberian cat is built for cold climates namely, the frigid land that gives the cat its name. That luxurious, triple-layered fur, needs regular brushing to avoid massive shedding , overheating, and hairballs. All that brushing will be great for bonding with your pet because the friendly Siberian needs lots of togetherness time anyway.

The Siberian cat's skin, however, has a unique trait: While there's no such thing as a totally hypoallergenic cat , this breed's skin does produce less of the dander that causes a problem for allergy sufferers. This last but not least large cat breed is known for their propensity for swimming and being cuddly, which is quite a feat given that males can weigh up to 20 pounds.

The Turkish van once just called the "Turkish Cat" is rare, born from felines collected from cities in Turkey after wandering the wilderness for thousands of years and finally, most recently, bred in the United Kingdom.

The so-called "van" pattern puts color on this friendly breed's head and tail, while the rest of the fur is a thick, warm white. Maine Coon Cat. By Brendan Howard January 21, British Shorthair British shorthair cats are one of the oldest recognized cat breeds, first thought to have been brought to Britain by the Romans. Prized for their soft, plush coats and rounded bodies, British shorthairs could almost be mistaken for living teddy bears.

Larger felines are athletic and active. Many bond strongly with their human owners and vocalize with mews, squeaks, and purrs when they need you. The strong, shaggy Maine coon is a well-proportioned large domesticated cat. There are many stories of how this breed developed. Some believe they originated in America as a cross between a house cat and a raccoon, although that myth has been scientifically debunked. This unique and affectionate breed is a great family pet known for being a gentle giant in the domesticated cat world.

Height: 10 to 16 inches Weight: 10 to 18 pounds Coat and Color: Long, double coat with more than 75 color combinations and green, gold, or copper eyes. The ragdoll earned its name because of its docile, cuddly, and affectionate nature.

Their history is shrouded in mystery, and there are many claims of how they came to be, including CIA experiments. This tremendous family-friendly breed gained popularity in the U. Height: 9 to 11 inches Weight: 10 to 20 pounds Coat and Color: Medium-length and silky plush coat; light-colored body with a darker face, legs, tail, and ears; coat patterns include bicolor, van, mitted, and colorpoint; coat colors include seal, blue, chocolate, lilac, red, and cream; blue eyes.

Imagine a wild, long-haired barn cat with wide yellow eyes and a muscular body, and you'd see an encyclopedia entry for a Norwegian forest cat. These large, sturdy cats were first bred in Norway by breeders who crossed domestic cats with wild forest cats.

Since the breed was domesticated, it has become a perfectly friendly, playful, and intelligent breed. The Norwegian forest cat is perfect as a loyal pet to stay by your side. Height: 9 to 12 inches Weight: 13 to 20 pounds Coat and Color: Unique double coat that includes a dense undercoat and a long, silky smooth overcoat; colors vary greatly, every color and pattern is possible.

The most striking attribute of the Persian cat is its face. This long-haired cat has a round, often flat face and a distinctly short muzzle, giving it a squished face look.

Its long hair gives it a larger appearance. In actuality, it is one of the smallest of the larger breeds. Unlike most larger cats, this cat is content lounging around all day and is not as active or alert as the bigger kitties. Height: 8 to 10 inches Weight: 7 to 12 pounds Coat and Color: Long coat in solid white, black, cream , tabby, calico, bicolor, silver and gold, shaded, and smoke.

An exotic-looking breed, the chausie is a large, extremely active, and intelligent cat. Its history dates back to the ancient Egyptians. The ancient breed was bred with house cats centuries ago and brought to America, where they became popular as some of the giant domesticated cats. Some of the largest cat breeds are domesticated cats little more than a few generations away from their wildcat roots.

These exotic hybrids include the Cheetoh , Savannah , and Chausie. From nose tip to the end of his tail, Ludo is about as long as the average six-year-old human is tall. The longest cat ever was also a Maine Coon. Stewie measured Therefore, the world records tend to go to overweight cats rather than exceptionally large breeds.

The heaviest cat on record died at age ten in At the time, Himmy weighed The true history of this fluffy American native is one cloaked in myth and legend. One tale asserts that the Maine Coon resulted from a cross between a raccoon and a domesticated cat, lending the breed its fluffy striped tail and its name.

Another more genetically plausible origin story involves a terrified Marie Antoinette. Fearing her ultimate demise at the hands of French Revolutionaries, she attempted to travel across the sea with her six favorite Turkish Angora cats.

According to the legend, Marie never made it to the States, but at least some of her cats did. Another hypothesis holds that the cat may have originated on ships managed by Captain Charles Coone, who traveled in the s from Europe to New England, bringing longhaired European cats like the Norwegian Forest Cat. This theory holds more weight — the similarity between these Northern European cats and the Maine Coon are striking and match up with the human history of the time.

The Maine Coon has the brawn to deal with cold, snowy conditions. There are physical attributes hello, shedding fur! To help you in your search for something, shall we say, more sturdy, we compiled important information about the origins, size and care of 10 medium to large cat breeds. The Maine Coon, one of the oldest in North America, was first discovered in Maine, where it is the official state feline. Heck yeah! They prefer to hang with their people versus being coddled by them.

Size: Large and in charge, indeed. Mature males are between pounds on average, and female cats are generally between pounds. Care: Because these cats like attention, the weekly combing of their heavy, glossy fur is easy, TICA says.

Care: They shed a lot, Purina notes, but proper grooming can prevent scattered fur piles throughout your home. Monthly baths will also keep their skin healthy and clean. Burmese cats were bred from a singular cat named Wong Mau, who was first brought to the U.