Cats come in all sorts of builds, from a small fluffy bundle of love to a majestic looking large one. With many breeds and varieties to look at, there isn’t a one size fits all solution in your search of finding a cat the right size for your home. If you’re all about Large Domestic Cat Breeds, the bigger the better, here are seven of the largest domestic cat breeds you can consider adopting!
1. Ragdoll
The Ragdoll is a relatively new breed that started in the 1960s from descendants of a Persian/Angora and Birman mix. This cat breed is known for its large size, being very affectionate, calm, docile and have a unique characteristic that gives this breed its name. They go limp when they are carried, a similar trait like puppies have. This led to having Ragdolls being known as “Puppy Cats”.
To further cement the reputation being a puppy like cat, they follow their owners around the house and are known to seek attention. These cats can also be trained to play fetch or retrieve toys.
Ragdolls grow up to a length of 17 to 21 inches and weigh between 10 to 20 pounds. They have a lifespan of 12 to 17 years.
2. British Shorthair
The British Shorthair is a strong looking cat, with a roundish, stocky body. It is hypothesized that these cats may be descended from the cats that were brought to the British Isles during the times of the Romans. Unlike the other breeds in this list, the British Shorthair isn’t the most active or energized of the lot. It is a lot mellower and makes an ideal cat if you prefer things a little quieter. Somewhat prim and proper, describes the British Shorthair.
They are a hardy breed and do not require as much grooming as their longer haired counterparts. They are easy to get along with but the soft approach is needed with this breed. They do not like to be carried or held, and are not exactly the type to snuggle up to you.
They can grow to a length of 22 to 25 inches, weigh between 8 to 20 pounds and have a life span of 12 to 17 years.
3. Bengal
Next on the list of Large Domestic Cat Breeds is the Bengal. This is a breed originating from a hybrid mix of an Asian Leopard Cat and the Egyptian Mau. Their coat patterns give off a wild appearance, from its spots, stripes and rosettes. The Bengal is an energetic breed and with a Bengal cat in the house, you can expect to watch or even participate in a lot of play time. They make an excellent breed if you’d like to be very much involved with your cat.
They are highly affectionate with their owners and can be very vocal. The Bengal is a good choice for families with children but you should exercise caution should you have smaller prey-like animals such as birds, hamsters and mice as Bengal cats have a high prey drive.
They can grow to a length of 17 to 22 inches, weigh between 8 to 17 pounds and have a life span of 10 to 16 years.
4. Turkish Van
Also known as the swimming cat. The Turkish Van is a semi-longhair breed of cat that is descended from the Van cats, a landrace found near Lake Van in Turkey. A well-known characteristic this breed has is its love for water and swimming. The Turkish Van is an intelligent breed that can be taught tricks like playing fetch with toys. This is a breed that’s suitable for families with children and multi-pet households.
Some useful tips should you decide on adopting a Turkish Van: You should keep the toilet lids down and swimming pools covered. If you have a pond, don’t be surprised to find it swimming just for fun.
They can grow to a length of 14 to 17 inches, weigh from 7 to 18 pounds and have a lifespan of about 12 to 18 years.
5. Siberian
Next on the list of Large Domestic Cat Breeds is the Siberian. The Siberian Cat, (also known as the Siberian Forest Cat or Moscow Semi-Longhair) is a landrace from Russia that has been selectively bred and pedigreed today. These cats are agile, with a strong and powerful body, with strong hindquarters and large rounded paws. They have a slightly arched back due to the length of their hind legs being longer than the front. This allows them to be exceptional and agile jumpers!
The Siberian is playful and highly affectionate, making it a suitable pet for the family. They have a generally easygoing demeanor and are not a very vocal breed.
They can grow to a length of 17 to 25 inches, weigh from 8 to 17 pounds and have a lifespan of about 11 to 18 years.
6. Norwegian Forest Cat
The Norwegian Forest Cat is a natural breed descended from a landrace that may have been brought to present day Norway by the Vikings over a thousand years ago. A key characteristic of the breed is its long-haired coat, that has made the breed adapt to surviving the cold Norse forests.
They are generally independent and are of the reserved sort. They may not be lap cats, nor the kind to demand attention but are friendly and approachable.
They can grow to a length of 12 to 18 inches, weigh from 13 to 20 pounds and have a lifespan of about 14 to 16 years.
7. Maine Coon
The first thing you’ll notice about Maine Coons is that they are a large breed of cat! In fact, the world record for the biggest domesticated cat is held by Barivel, a Maine Coon from Italy. They have a medium to long haired coat but do not require as much grooming as other similar long haired breeds. They have a dense undercoat that has helped them adapt to harsh winter environment. Their tail is long, bushy and makes the cat less prone to sinking in the snow. Another useful function of the Maine Coon’s tail is that it can act as a scarf of sorts, shielding them from wind chills and snow blowing into their face.
Maine Coons are known as the “gentle giants”. They can be shy and take a while to warm up to strangers but are generally good-natured and affable.
The Maine Coon can grow to an amazing length of 30 to 40 inches! Weigh from 9 to 18 pounds and have a lifespan of about 9 to 15 years.
