Take a look at the below list of Top 10 Largest Cat Breeds in The World 2017. Cats and dogs were domesticated through a process of natural selection. They have evolved to be domesticated animals. Dogs evolved from large animals like wolves and cats evolved from small wildcats that are the same size as the domesticated cat. The felines we see normally around the neighborhood or being cuddle by a child is not like the big breeds identified below. Cats, like dogs come in all different sizes, colors, and patterns. There are breeds of cats that stay small all their lives and then there are cats that can grow to the size of medium sized dog. The list below is in descending order of the feline’s weight. They are unique and are a part of the national and international cat lover’s associations.
List of Top 10 Largest Cat Breeds in The World 2017
10. Savannah: average weight is 25 lbs
Savannah cats are domestic cats that resemble the beauty of spotted wildcats of African grasslands. They make great house pets with the proper care. Savannahs came into existence due to an out crossing of domestic cats with the long bodied, long legged exotic Serval cats. After years of careful breeding, the first offspring is called the “F1” generation which means first filial. The success of breeding an F1 hybrid female cat was bred with other domestic cats, producing the Savanna breed.
Savannah’s enjoy the company of people and they play well with other pets. The Savannah breed is very curious and often quite mischievous. They are very energetic and playful, meaning that they are easy to train and they can be trained to walk on a leash. Savannah cats are registered as one of the largest breeds of domesticated cats with their tall, slim build. A privately owned Savannah measuring 17.1 inches tall is a Guinness Book of World Records winner. However, there is a randomness in Savannah genetics that produces a large variation in size within just one litter.
Colors of the Savanna include black, smoky black and the popular spotted tabby. Spotted tabby Savannah’s are often shown with deep black markings with a gold, orange or silver background. Their eyes are blue when kittens and begin to change to green, brown, gold or blended shades as they reach adulthood.
9. Chausie: 15 to 20 lbs
The Chausie breed began in the late 1960s as a hybrid crossing between a domestic shorthaired cat and the smaller Jungle Cats that live in the jungles of southern Asia. Advanced breeding continued until we have the modern day Chausie. They have a regal aire with muscular bodies and an active personality. Getting a Chausie kitten is better for humans because they can be taught to interact better with people and some pets. A Chausie is not the type of cat that can be left alone, they demand and require more attention than regular domestic cats. Chausie cats are bold, brave cats with a strong character which can take over any household. They look like the Abyssinian cat but is larger. The Chausie cat has a firm and very athletic build. They are built for leaping and running. They feature long well muscled legs and their hind legs are somewhat longer than their forelegs. They have a tabby coat look and they often come in black coats and silver tips on each strand of fur.
8. Norwegian Forest: 15 to 22 lbs
The Norwegian Forest cat is named the “Wegie.” Norwegian Forest cats are gentle and friendly, but they don’t like constant attention and petting. The Norwegian Forest cats originated in Norway with a history that goes back to thousands of years. Their exact history is unknown, but they are tied to Russian, Viking, and Siberian cats. Wegie’s are very large, athletic cats who love to climb. They can be found at the highest point in a home, in a tree or other very high sites. Wegie’s are hunters in water, the wilderness or their backyard. The Norwegian Forest cat has long, thick, gorgeous coats that are available in a variety of colors and patterns. They have beautiful almond shaped eyes, with the coloring of green, copper, blue, gold or a mix of another color. As large as they are, they naturally have large paws with tufts, broad chest and muscled thighs. Their bushy tail is about the same length as their bodies. This is one among the Top 10 Largest Cat Breeds in The World 2017.
7. Maine Coon: 15 to 20 lbs
The beautiful, tufted Maine Coon hails from New England. Farmers made this cat popular for its ability to catch farm mice and they were also used on sailing vessels for the same purpose in the early 19th century. The Maine Coon cat is a natural breed with an origin that is associated with the Vikings and Marie Antoinette. Even though it resembles a raccon, the Maine Coon is a naturally born cat without any outside breeding. However, with the look of a raccoon, it received its name. Maine Coon cats will follow you around but they are not needy, they enjoy the company of people. Its genetic need to hunt is still intact, including their ability to chase and find rodents. This breed is smart, they can learn tricks and they love to play, which makes them a great pet for children. For a large, rugged cat, the Maine Coon also features large, round paws, large tufted ears, expressive eyes in green, gold, blue, copper, or other bi-colored eyes. Their popular appearance is as a brown tabby pattern but they do feature other colors and patterns.
6. Ragdolls: 10 to 20 lbs.
In 1960 a neighbor of Mrs. Ann Baker owned a beautiful, fluffy white female domestic longhaired cat. In the past the cat’s litter looked and acted like their aggressive mother. However, the cat’s next litter produced kittens that were more docile and very friendly. Mrs. Baker was a cat breeder and she purchased several of these kittens and began breeding these kittens with regular longhaired cats that she owned. Thus, after a while, she created what is now the Ragdoll cat breed. Mrs. Baker was not a fan of the national cat breeding association so she trademarked this new breed Ragdoll under her registry of The International Ragdoll Cat Association.
The Ragdoll breed was not allowed to be registered in most cat breed associations, but in 1975 a group broke away from the International Ragdoll Cat Association and gained fast recognition for the Ragdoll breed. They developed the standards of this breed that continued to be accepted by major cat registries today. Ragdoll cats are considered the gentle giant of cat owners. They are very relaxed and quiet. The Ragdoll breed is a big, heavy cat whose coat does not mat. Ragdolls should be groomed at least once a week. They are born white and slowly develop their color and pattern over two years, until they become pointed cats. Ragdolls do not have a hunting instinct. Ragdoll coloring varies with Chocolate, Seal, Blue, Lilac, or Bicolor patterns.
5. Ragamuffin: 10 to 17 lbs.
The Ragamuffin loves to be spoiled and they love to be held. The Ragamuffin is a related breed to the Ragdoll breed. The Ragamuffin cat is a hybrid from Persians, Himalayans and domestic longhaired cats to create its own breed. The name Ragamuffin was chosen as a homage to the founding breed. Ragamuffin cats are very docile, tame, and loving. They are willing to learn tricks and can be trained to walk with a leash. The Ragamuffin cat is fearless and quite adventuresome. Owning this breed means to watch them carefully because they could easily follow someone else home. His large size makes him look like a big teddy bear. Ragamuffin kittens are born white and change coloring and patterns as they age. Their fur is a medium to medium-long rabbit style soft, dense, silky feel. Its fur is slightly longer around the neck, on the sides and belly, and on the hind legs. The paws and ears feature tufts of fur. Their coat comes in different colors and patterns. The Ragamuffin is a large cat, and they mature slowly, not reaching their full size until they are four years old.
4. Siberian: 10 to 20 lbs.
The Siberian cat is a native from the forested areas of Siberia. Due to this cold Russina environment is a reason why the Siberian has beautiful, long, thick protective fur. Siberian’s love to hunt rodents. It was imported to the U.S. In 1990. The fur on the Siberian as a reputation for being hypoallergenic. Siberian cats love people and will follow you around. They love to play and will start a game of fetch by bringing you whatever it finds or its favorite toys. Siberians are very athletic and they love balancing atop the heightest heights. The Siberian fur is a triple coat feature. There is the outer coat, a middle coat and a downy undercoat. Their coat comes in all colors and combinations of color, with or without white coloring. The Siberian body is muscular and he has big round paws with tufts of fur and a thick furry tail.
3. British Shorthair: 9 to 18 lbs
The British Shorthair cat is the feline that you have seen in the Puss ‘n Boots movie and the Alice in Wonderland depictions. They originated in England and were the only pedigreed cats shown in British cat shows. British Shorthair cats are affectionate and mellow, who will follow you around and sit close to you. They are big cats, so being carried around is not their style. They are energetic, somewhat, with older aged British Shorthair cats being referred to as couch potatoes. When they run around the house their large size makes them sound like a herd of animals. They get along very well with people and other pets. They feature a short, thick fur, big round eyes and a big round strong body. Their fur comes in about any color or pattern you can think of. The British Shorthair is very popular as a blue/gray coloring and this coat color is referred to as British Blues. The British Shorthair cat doesn’t reach full physical maturity until they are 3 to 5 years of age.
2. Turkish Van: 9 to 13 lbs.
The Turkish Van is a natural breed with a legend of being on Noah’s Ark which landed on Turkey’s Mount Ararat not far from Lake “Van” – thus its name. The Turkish Van likes to cuddle wherever you settle down at. It has a solid strong build because its ancestors are from Turkey’s mountainous, rugged sites. Even its spots have a mythical history. Jewish and Islamic tradition says that the cats were divinely touched that gave them color to their former white fur. The Jewish explanation for its coloring is that red on its tail is due to a door slammed on it on the Ark and God touched the cat on the head, leaving a spot. The Islamic version is that Allah touched the cat on the back and the spot on the Turkish Van is his thumbprint.
The Turkish Van cat was imported to the U.S. in the 1970’s. In Turkey they are still viewed as a national treasure and their preservation is governed by the Turkish College of Agriculture and the Ankara Zoo. Turkish Van cats are intelligent and learn tricks very easily. It is a good idea to keep the toilet cover down because this breed loves playing in water wherever they find it. Turkish Vans are loving but they don’t like being held for long durations. When they are shown at cat shows, rules state that they should be viewed on a table and not held up high in the hands. The Turkish Van is mostly a white cat with colorful patches and markings. The Turkish Van has DNA that gives it a rugged, powerful body. The males are larger than the female Turkish Vans. As a large breed, the Turkish Van breed takes 3 to 5 years to reach their full size. This is one of the Top 10 Largest Cat Breeds in The World 2017.
1. American Bobtail: 7 to 15 lbs
How cute is that short tail, tufted ears and paws. As one of the smallest breed of the large breed cats, the American Bobtail features a strong, powerful body with a unique wild look. The American Bobtail cat is a genetic anomoly caused by a powerful breeding gene. A woman who was an experienced Persian cat breeder partnered with a friend who had short tail cats and voila, you have the American Bobtail. The American Bobtail is recognized by the International Cat Association and many other cat fancier organizations. This cat is so sweet, playful and enjoys the company of people and other pets. This cat can be trained to walk on a leash. The American Bobtail learns tricks easily. They are very vocal depending on what they want, with purrs, meows, trills, chirps and clicks. They feature a tail that can be short or long. They have a powerful body, with shaggy fur in different lengths. Their coat comes in different colors and patterns and their eyes also come in different colors.
These are the Top 10 Largest Cat Breeds in The World 2017. The large domestic cats named above have strong body frames, strong constitutions, excellent hunting skills, longevity, stability, friendly character, and they enjoy human companionship. The cats on this list not only have sizable bodies, they’ve also been bred to display unique characteristics, which include companionship, beautiful coat colors, style, distinctive facial and body features. If you are looking for a cat instead of a dog, these large breeds are close in size to some of their canine friends. Large breed cats require specialized care and temperment. They need more room and space to become more active in. They are a special breed!