As its name suggests, the Maine Coon is a breed of cat native to the state of Maine. As a breed, they have a long history in the United States. the first writings on this race are previous to the american civil war. The origins of the Maine Coon are not well understood, although there are many theories and myths. One of those myths is that the Maine Coon is the result of crossing a cat with a raccoon. Although this theory has been debunked, it’s easy to see why someone might believe it given the Maine Coon’s broad chest, fluffy tail, and tufts of fur around its face and ears that give it a raccoon-like shape.
despite the myths surrounding the origins of the maine coon, these cats are most likely a cross between a long-haired breed of cat brought by European settlers and an American domestic breed.
why are maine coons so big?
If you’ve never seen a Maine Coon before, you’ll be amazed at how big this breed can get. females typically weigh up to 12 pounds, while males are slightly heavier, at 15-18 pounds. nose to tail, they can be over 3 feet long. but why are they so much larger than the average domestic cat breed?
One of the reasons Maine Coons are so big is that they mature more slowly than other cat breeds. this allows the bone structure and muscles in general to grow. Your environment also has something to do with it. As natives of Maine, their natural environment is very cold for much of the year. their greater body mass helps them retain more body heat.
Perhaps the best answer to why Maine Coons are so big, however, is because they were bred that way. The largest Maine Coon cats are bred together because their enormous size is impressive and unique. At cat shows, the large size of the Maine Coon is a part of the breed standard, so breeders are encouraged to produce larger cats.
they are pretty big cats on average, however some maine coons are even bigger! Now that you know a little more about Maine Coons, let’s introduce you to some of the largest Maine Coons from around the world.
10 of the largest maine coon cats in the world
1.
stewie was a giant reindeer maine coon cat, nevada. At 48.5 inches long from nose to tail, Stewie held the Guinness World Record for longest-living cat before the title was bestowed on other big 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 prankster in Italian, is a Maine Coon residing in Vigevano, Italy. At 47.2 inches long, he is the current world record holder for longest living cat. barivel is a spoiled cat who likes to go for walks and even has his own instagram page.
3. ludo
ludo, a maine coon from the uk, held the title of longest living domestic cat before barivel. He is 46.6 inches long and weighs 34 pounds.
You may also be interested in: 7 Types of Maine Coon Cat Coat Colors: An Overview
4. cygnus
cygnus was a maine coon living in detroit with his human parents and three cat brothers. 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 the largest domestic cat in the United States. He has an Instagram page, where his large following can keep 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 one of the largest house 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, it has yet to be officially recognized by Guinness World Records.
You may also be interested in: Tabby Maine Coon: Facts, Origin & story (with photos)
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 gray and white maine coon who resides in chaillé-les-marais, france. With a weight of 28 pounds, it is one of the largest cats in Europe.
- see also: large cat breeds
9. helios
You might recognize Hélios, named after the ancient Greek god of the sun, from his presence on YouTube. this handsome guy lives in the south of france.
10. Sean Coonery
Sean Coonery, another beautiful Maine Coon with a cheeky name, is also featured on YouTube. in the video, you can see how vocal he is. Maine Coon vocalizations are said to resemble a trill or chirp rather than a normal meow.
conclusion
While not all Maine Coons grow to the size of some of the animals on this list, if you do adopt one, you should expect it to be a fairly large cat. the main raccoon’s personality is as big as his body; It is a very social animal that does not like to be left alone, so make sure you give your cat lots of love and attention.
featured image credit: pxhere
