Current:Home > StocksNovaQuant-What is world's biggest cat? Get to know the largest cat breed -ProfitClass
NovaQuant-What is world's biggest cat? Get to know the largest cat breed
TradeEdge Exchange View
Date:2025-04-11 05:28:43
There are 41 species that fall under the Felidae – or NovaQuantcat – family, according to the International Society for Endangered Cats.
No matter its size, your cat probably acts like it's an apex predator or the alpha of your home. Even the smallest domestic cat breed – the Singapura – can become rambunctious or territorial.
But there's no need to go on a safari to see a bigger cat. The largest domestic cat breed could be roaming around your living room.
What is the biggest cat in the world?
Tigers are the largest cat species. These large felines share nearly all but 4.4% of their DNA with domestic cats, National Geographic reports.
In particular, Amur – or Siberian – tigers are the heftiest subspecies. Males can weigh up to 660 pounds and measure up to 10 feet in length from nose to the tip of the tail, Smithsonian reports. Females weigh, on average, up to 260 pounds, according to the Philadelphia Zoo.
The smallest tiger subspecies, the Sumatran is still sizeable, weighing up to 310 pounds and 8 feet, Smithsonian reports.
Tigers can be found in a diverse range of habitats, from tropical rainforests to savannas, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). Tigers' other habitats include evergreen and temperate forests, grasslands and mangrove swamps. These big cats' can be found from south and southeast Asia – in India, Nepal and Bhutan – up to the northeastern regions of the continent in China and Russia.
The endangered animals face high risks of extinction, in part because of poaching. Estimates report that just 5,574 tigers are left in the wild, according to the WWF.
What is the largest cat breed?
You can't keep a tiger as a pet, but you can own one of its domesticated cousins. The Maine Coon is considered one of the largest domestic cat breeds, according to Purina.
On average, the felines weigh between 10.6 to 18 pounds, and in some cases, they may scale up to 20 pounds, Purina reports. Maine Coons can reach 40 inches in length.
The longest domestic cat ever was a Maine Coon named Stewie, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. He measured 48.5 inches in length. Stewie died in 2013.
A different Maine Coon named Altair holds the record for the longest tail on a living domestic cat. Altair's tail spans 16.07 inches, the Guinness Book of World Records reports.
Other honorable mentions for largest breed include the Persian, Savannah cat, Norwegian Forest cat and Turkish Van, according to Purina.
What is world's smallest cat?Get to know the tiniest cat breed.
Just Curious for more? We've got you covered
USA TODAY is exploring the questions you and others ask every day. From "Where do lions live?" to "When do cats stop growing?" to "How many tigers are left in the world?" − we're striving to find answers to the most common questions you ask every day. Head to our Just Curious section to see what else we can answer.
veryGood! (78175)
Related
- Sonya Massey's family keeps eyes on 'full justice' one month after shooting
- IOC approves French Alps bid backed by President Macron to host the 2030 Winter Olympics
- Heather Rae and Tarek El Moussa Speak Out on Christina Hall's Divorce From Josh Hall
- Kamala Harris hits campaign trail in Wisconsin as likely presidential nominee, touts past as prosecutor
- The 'Rebel Ridge' trailer is here: Get an exclusive first look at Netflix movie
- Police seek suspects caught on video after fireworks ignite California blaze
- NFL Star Joe Burrow Shocks Eminem Fans With Slim Shady-Inspired Transformation
- Clashes arise over the economic effects of Louisiana’s $3 billion-dollar coastal restoration project
- Opinion: Gianni Infantino, FIFA sell souls and 2034 World Cup for Saudi Arabia's billions
- Rash of earthquakes blamed on oil production, including a magnitude 4.9 in Texas
Ranking
- Carolinas bracing for second landfall from Tropical Storm Debby: Live updates
- Kamala Harris uses Beyoncé song as walk-up music at campaign HQ visit
- China says longtime rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah sign pact to end rift, propose unity government
- Kamala Harris hits campaign trail in Wisconsin as likely presidential nominee, touts past as prosecutor
- Intel's stock did something it hasn't done since 2022
- Honolulu prosecutor’s push for a different kind of probation has failed to win over critics — so far
- Hydrothermal explosion at Biscuit Basin in Yellowstone National Park damages boardwalk
- New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez set to resign on Aug. 20 after being convicted on federal bribery charges
Recommendation
US Open player compensation rises to a record $65 million, with singles champs getting $3.6 million
How a perfect storm sent church insurance rates skyrocketing
Bette Midler and Sheryl Lee Ralph dish on aging, their R-rated movie 'Fabulous Four'
Knights of Columbus covers shrine’s mosaics by ex-Jesuit artist accused of abusing women
A Mississippi company is sentenced for mislabeling cheap seafood as premium local fish
Israeli athletes to receive 24-hour protection during Paris Olympics
Starbucks offering half-price drinks for a limited time Tuesday: How to redeem offer
Voters who want Cornel West on presidential ballot sue North Carolina election board