The Largest Cat Breeds: Sizes, Temperaments and Care Compared

Side by side

Weights below are the ranges VCA Animal Hospitals lists for each breed, which cover females and males together. Maine Coon: 8 to 20 pounds, lifespan 12 to 15 years, full maturity at up to 4 years, and a body that can stretch to 40 inches. Norwegian Forest Cat: 12 to 22 pounds, 15 to 20 years, up to 5 years to mature. Siberian: 12 to 20 pounds, with some males reaching 25, 12 to 15 years, up to 5 years to mature. Ragdoll: 15 to 20 pounds, a VCA lifespan figure of 15 to 25 years, about 4 years to mature.

RagaMuffin: 10 to 20 pounds, 15 to 18 years, up to 4 years to mature. American Bobtail: 11 to 20 pounds, 15 to 20 years, about 3 years to mature. Grooming: the Norwegian Forest Cat sheds the most (VCA rates it 5 out of 5), the Ragdoll the least of the longhairs. Energy: the Bobtail and Norwegian are the most athletic climbers, the Ragdoll and RagaMuffin the most laid-back. Best for: families wanting a sociable giant (Maine Coon, Bobtail), a quiet lap cat (Ragdoll, RagaMuffin) or a playful problem-solver (Siberian, Norwegian).

Maine Coon: the classic gentle giant

The CFA describes the Maine Coon as the largest of all pedigreed cats and notes that it is larger than many small dogs. A mature male often reaches or passes 20 pounds, and females are usually smaller; VCA puts the gap at about 8 pounds. The look is a big rectangular frame, a barrel chest, tufted ears, a full mane and a long bushy tail.

Despite the size, VCA describes the breed as very mellow and affectionate with people, cats and dogs. Maine Coons tend to chirp and trill rather than meow loudly. The shaggy coat mats less easily than a Persian's: VCA suggests a weekly comb, while the CFA says breeders recommend combing two or three times a week to control shedding and hairballs.

Norwegian Forest Cat and Siberian: the cold-climate pair

Both are natural breeds shaped by harsh northern winters. The Norwegian Forest Cat has a water-repellent double coat, a bushy tail up to 12 inches long. The CFA gives mature males 12 to 16 pounds and females 9 to 12, reached at up to five years old. VCA advises brushing at least twice a week, and warns that during the seasonal shed the cat drops so much undercoat it looks like a smaller animal.

The Siberian is Russia's national cat and carries a dense triple coat. The CFA puts mature males at 12 to 18 pounds and females at 8 to 12, and VCA notes some fit males reach 25 pounds. VCA describes them as intelligent problem solvers. Weekly brushing is usually enough, with daily sessions during the spring and fall sheds. Some allergic owners react less to them, but no cat is allergen-free.

Ragdoll and RagaMuffin: big, floppy lap cats

The Ragdoll is big, muscular and well boned, with blue eyes and a pointed coat that feels like rabbit fur. The CFA says Ragdolls reach full size and weight at about four, and mature males often pass 20 pounds. VCA describes a relaxed, gentle cat that prefers the floor to the top of the refrigerator and follows its people from room to room. Because Ragdolls are not very active, VCA flags them as prone to obesity.

The RagaMuffin descends from the same original Ragdoll line but comes in almost every coat color, and its eyes can be any hue rather than always blue. VCA calls it docile and easygoing and says it fares better indoors because it is a poor hunter and does not defend itself well outside. Both breeds have silky, mat-resistant coats that need a weekly comb.

American Bobtail: the athletic one

The American Bobtail is a medium to large cat with a wild look, a broad chest and a short tail of one to four inches. VCA says its strong hind legs let it leap six feet, and it reaches full maturity at around three years. It is the most dog-like of the group: it walks on a leash, fetches paper balls and has been nicknamed the Golden Retriever of the cat world.

Bobtails get along with children, cats and dogs and talk in chirps and trills rather than loud meows. Coats can be medium or long; VCA suggests weekly brushing for longhaired cats and twice a month for the medium coat. Plan on plenty of play and tall, sturdy climbing space.

Living with a big cat

Size changes the kit you need. A large cat needs a cat tree with a wide, heavy base and platforms big enough to lie on, a carrier sized for an adult that may top 20 pounds, and a large, low-sided litter box it can turn around in. Our guides to the best cat tree for large cats and the best cat carrier for a large cat cover what to measure.

Weight matters more on a big frame. VCA advises measured meals rather than free feeding for Maine Coons, and Ragdolls and RagaMuffins gain weight easily. The CFA notes hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a heart disease, has been found in Ragdolls and Siberians, and that good breeders screen for it. Ask any breeder about heart and kidney testing, keep up yearly checkups, and ask your vet what a healthy weight looks like for your cat's frame.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.