Maine Coons are one of the largest domestic cat breeds in the world, alongside the Norwegian Forest Cats. But which cat is recorded as being the biggest Maine Coon cat in the world?
Keep reading to see 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.
Maine Coons have also won awards for the ‘World’s Largest Domesticated Cat Breed‘, and the ‘Cat With The Longest Whiskers‘.
Keep reading to discover which giant Maine Coon cat holds the records for being the largest Maine Coon cat in the world.
11 Biggest And Largest Maine Coon Cats In The World
Maine Coons are well-known for being gentle giants in the world of felines, with an average lifespan of 10 – 15 years, and a formidable appearance.
Their lineage is embroiled in much mystery and intrigue, with some folktales linking the Maine Coons heritage to Marie Antoinette’s six Turkish Angora cats, and others to tales of Vikings!
Recognized as the official State Cat Of Maine, the world’s biggest cat breed loves spending time with its owners, and also enjoys a lot of attention!
Maine Coon cats appear muscular with long bodies, and all their body parts are in proportion.
This creates a well-balanced, rectangular appearance with no part of the Maine Coons anatomy looking exaggerated.
Depending on whether you are looking at a European or American Maine Coon, the Maine Coons muzzle will appear stronger and square-shaped, or more rounded and natural looking.
Maine Coons also have long, shaggy fur and a ruff of fur around their neck and chest, which adds to their impressive size.
With their big frame and build, elongated ears, regal bodies, and long tails, Maine Coons cats cannot help but make an impression when they walk in the room!
However, they are prone to some Maine Coon health problems, such as:
- Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Polycystic kidney disease
- Kidney Failure
With proper care, a healthy diet, and lots of regular exercise you give your Maine Coon the best chance of becoming giant Maine Coon cats too!
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.
1. Stewie (Former Longest Domestic Cat)
The largest Maine Coon cat of all time Stewie, holds the title of Longest Domestic Cat, measuring a staggering 48.5 inches in 2010.
Stewie is the biggest Maine Coon cat in the world, known by his full name Mymains Stewart Gilligan.
Stewie was a registered therapy animal that regularly visited a local senior center, until his death at 8 years old on February 4th, 2013 due to cancer.
Owner Robin Hendrickson lived with Stewie in Reno, Nevada.
After Stewie’s death, his title was given to Barivel, who is the current largest Maine Coon cat alive.
Here is a video of Stewie:
2. Barivel (Current Longest Domestic Cat)
Although Barivel is not longer than Stewie (the former largest domestic cat in the world), he is still ranked as the current biggest Maine Coon cat in the world.
This is because Stewie’s title was passed to Barivel after Stewie sadly died at 8 years old.
Barivel, whose name means clown or joker in Italian, is officially the biggest living Maine Coon cat.
He was born in September 2016 and lives in Vigevani, Italy.
In May 2018, Barivel measured 120cm (3ft 11 inches) (47.2 inches) long and is the current holder for the biggest domestic cat in the world in 2021.
Barivel has an Instagram account, where he has amounted many thousands of followers.
Despite the social media attention this cat has been given, he is still a very quiet and shy Maine Coon.
You can now watch Barivel on this Youtube video, created by the Youtube channel Guinness World Records:
3. Ludo (Former Largest Maine Coon Cat In The World)
Ludo lives in Wakefield, UK, and was temporarily recognized as being the largest Maine Coon cat in the world, though only for a short period of time.
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!
Considering the average male Maine Coon cat weighs between 15 – 25 lbs, that makes Ludo a pretty giant Maine Coon cat!
Ludo held the title for being the biggest living Maine Coon cat in the world for approximately one year before Barivel entered the competition and took the award from Ludo.
At 3 feet and 10.59 inches long, Ludo is only a fraction of an inch shorter than Barivel.
Ludo is said to be a friendly, sociable, and easy-going Maine Coon that loves cuddles.
He lives with three other Maine Coon cats.
Here is a YouTube video of Ludo, the former longest cat in the world:
Credit for the video goes to the YouTube channel, Guinness World Records.
4. Omar (Contender For Largest Maine Coon Cat)
Omar is not the biggest Maine Coon cat, but did make a good attempt at winning the title ‘Largest Maine Coon Cat Alive’.
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.
He lives in Melbourne and is considered to be the biggest Maine Coon in Australia.
When officially recognized by the Guinness World Records, he is likely to take Barivel’s title from him!
Regardless of whether or not he gets recognition as being the largest Maine Coon alive, this 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 via the Youtube handle: @omarthemainecooncat6026
5. Cygnus (Record For Longest Tail On A Domestic Cat)
Cygnus was one of the world’s biggest Maine Coon cats and lived in Detroit, in the state of Michigan, USA, with three cat siblings and their human parents.
Cygnus was awarded the Guinness World Record for having the ‘Longest Tail On A Domestic Cat’. Tails are measured from the tip of the tail to the base.
Cygnus also previously held the record for being the longest domestic cat, at 44.66cm (17.58 inches).
He was outstanding and had unique silver markings that helped identify him from the other cats in his house.
Unfortunately, Cygnus and his brother Arcturus tragically died when their Farmington Hills home caught fire on the 12th of November 2017.
They are remembered as friendly and kind cats who share an inseparable bond.
Their owners Lauren and Will Powers desperately searched for their four cats, risking their own lives in an attempt to save their cats.
Despite leaving their home’s windows and doors open, to give their four cats a chance to escape, Arcturus and Cygnus died from smoke inhalation.
Credit for this Twitter feed goes to the Twitter account @liftforever67.
Arcturus Aldebaran Powers (World’s Tallest Domestic Cat)
In a rare coincidence, Arcturus lives with Cygnus (listed above).
Although Arcturus is not a Maine Coon cat, I thought it worth mentioning as he held a close bond with Cygnus.
Arcturus is a member of the Savannah cat breed and is also one of the largest cats on record.
According to the Guinness World Records, Arcturus held the title of the ‘World’s Tallest Domestic Cat’, measuring 48.4 (19.05 inches) long.
You can see both Cygnus and Arcturus in action, in this Youtube video created by the Youtube channel: Guinness World Records.
6. Samson (Largest Maine Coon In New York)
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 health problems, in September 2020.
You can learn more about the risks of hip dysplasia, in this article I wrote.
Samson, otherwise known as Catstradamus, sadly died at 10 years old (source 1).
Here is a YouTube video of Samson by the YouTube channel ‘Beastly’:
7. Lotus
Lotus lives in Sweden and has a beautiful tri-colored Maine Coon cat coloring.
The three stunning colors in Lotus’s fur coat are:
- White
- Beige
- Apricot
Lotus might only weigh 22 pounds but his abundant fluff and oversized features that make him look larger than he is.
From his Instagram account with over 329,000 followers, it is clear that he gets a lot of love from cat fanatics and animals from around the world. (Fact-checked figures in September 2023).
If you are interested in following Lotus Maine Coon cat, his Instagram handle is: lotus_the_mainecoon
Here is a great photo of Lotus, from the Twitter account @catsnkittys:
8. Moonwalk Magnum
Moonwalk Mognum is a beautiful grey and white Maine Coon cat weighing 28 pounds.
He is one of the largest Maine Coon cats in Europe and lives in Chaillé-les-Marais, France.
According to this website, Moonwalk Magnum’s length is four feet from snout to tail, and he is a Tuxedo Maine Coon cat.
Learn about the Tuxedo Maine Coon Cat, in this article.
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 both handsome and huge.
10. Sean Coonery
Sean Connery is another gorgeous Maine Coon, with his own Youtube following.
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, reaching between 15 – 25 lbs in weight.
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.
You can see Sean Coonery in the YouTube video below:
Credit for the video goes to the YouTube channel @Irixguy
11. Kefir
Kefir rose to fame in January 2022, when his owner posted a picture of her two-year-old Russian Maine Coon cat on Social Media.
The post instantly went viral and due to the huge size of Kefir, many commenters remarked on how Kefir looked the size of a dog!
At one year and 10 months, Kefir weighed an eye-watering 28 lbs, which already surpasses the average male Maine Coon cat size of 15 – 25 lbs.
Since Maine Coon cats do not reach full size until they are between 3 – 5 years of age, it is exciting to see just how big Kefir is going to grow (source 1).
Read our complete Guide To Kefir, in this article.
All of the record-breaking Maine Coon cats listed above have become famous around the world.
Average Maine Coon Size
Largeness is an integral part of the Maine Coon cat breed.
The origins of the Maine Coon are mysterious. This makes it difficult to tell why they are so big, or why some Maine Coons grow bigger than the standard Maine Coon size.
In the world of felines, Maine Coons are considered the largest domesticated cat breed and one of the oldest purebred species in North America.
While all Maine Coon cats can grow very large, the Maine Coon size varies by gender.
Maine Coon cats are one of the tallest domestic cats (though not the tallest) and also one of the most beloved cat breeds in the United States, plus the cat world in general!
They are thought to make great family pets, and cat lovers around the world are becoming obsessed with these majestic creatures.
Maine Coon cats are the longest domestic cat of all time, with long hair, bushy tails, large size, and a shaggy coat.
It is easy to see why Maine Coon cats are popular, not just in the u.s. State of Maine, but also across the world!
The table below shows the average size of a Maine Coon cat:
| Factor | Male Maine Coon | Female Maine Coon |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 19 – 40 Inches | 19 – 40 Inches |
| Height | 8 – 16 Inches | 8 – 16 Inches |
| Weight | 15 – 25 lbs | 8 – 12 lbs |
Typically, male Maine Coon cats weigh between 15 – 25 lbs, while their female counterparts weigh between 8 – 12lbs.
With that in mind, it is safe to say that the male Maine Coon cat will grow bigger than their female counterparts.
These loveable beasts can reach a length of up to 40 inches, however, their length will depend upon the genetics and diet plan of the Maine Coon in question.
Diet options include:
- Dry Cat Food
- Raw Cat Food
- Wet Cat Food
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 they reach 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?
While the largest Maine Coon is very well documented, 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. This title was then passed to Barivel one year later.
At the time of recognition, Ludo was 46.6 inches long and weighed a whopping 34 pounds, which is probably the 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 bone 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 just 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
Are you in the market for purchasing a Maine Coon cat, but specifically looking for a breeder who breeds the largest Maine Coons?
If so, the bad news is that there is no way to guarantee that the cat you buy will grow extra large.
Below 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
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 of 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 of being 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.
Take a look at the Twitter feed below, which shows Cygnus’s long Maine Coon cat tail in full glory:
Credit for this Twitter feed goes to the Twitter account @warriorpaths.
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 is 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 its brain.
Trimming a cat’s whiskers might disorient or confuse your cat.
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 Maine Coon, consider the following aspects when making your purchase:
Size
Maine Coons grow very large, so you must buy the largest cat litter box you can find that will accommodate a Maine Coon length of 19 – 40 inches.
These are my favorite Extra-Large Cat Litter Boxes.
Maintenance
Maine Coon litter boxes will need to be cleaned on a regular basis. Therefore, 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.
Conclusion
Maine Coons cats are known for being a large cat breed, which leaves many people wondering how big is the largest Maine Coon cat?
Stewie holds the title of longest domestic cat and is the all-time biggest Maine Coon cat in the world and measured 48.5 inches long.
After his death, the title was awarded to Ludo and later to Barivel, who is now the largest domestic cat alive.
Related Questions
How Much Does The Biggest House Cat Weigh?
The heaviest Maine Coon cat on record is Ludo, who weighs 34 lbs.
Fattest House Cat In The World
Himmy, a cat from Australia, is by far the fattest known cat, and he weighed 46.8 pounds before his death. The title was, however, discontinued to discourage overfeeding.