Is the Maine Coon the Largest Domestic Cat?

Cats are lap-sized animals, but some cat breeds can be over twice their size. Is the Maine Coon cat is the largest in the world?

Jul 29, 2025byKatie Downey

is the maine coon the largest domestic cat

 

 

People have been fascinated by Maine Coon cats since the first kitten fell in love with its human. They are a bit like having a vast, heavy stuffed animal that you can snuggle up with. Of course, with a larger cat comes more responsibility, higher costs, and potentially extra maintenance. There’s undoubtedly no argument that the Maine coon cat is significantly larger than other breeds of cats, but how big are they? Are these legendary beasts the largest domesticated cats, or is there an even larger cat out there?

 

Maine Coon Cat Size

large orange Maine coon cat (1)
Maine coon cats’ size can vary between cats. The females are smaller and lighter than the male Maine coon cat.  Source: Canva

 

Below is the average size and weight of the Maine coon cat. Since they are slow-growing cats, they are not fully grown by the time they are one year old. A Maine coon cat is mature around 3 to 5 years old but will carry their kitten behavior lifelong. Something important to note before we begin: The average weight of a domesticated short-haired cat is 10 – 15 pounds. The average height of a cat is 8-10 inches, and its length is 12-15 inches.

 

Male Maine Coon Cat

Maine Coon cat hanging off counter
Maine Coon cats love being close to their favorite person, so don’t be surprised to find they are always following you. Source: Canva

 

6 Months: 4 – 8 pounds

12 Months: 14 – 25 pounds

2 Years: 15 – 30 pounds

5 Years: 18 – 35+ pounds

 

On May 22, 2018, the Guinness Book of World Records acknowledged a new leader in the longest cat competition. Barival, a glorious and hefty male Maine coon cat, measured in at an insane 47.2 inches long from nose to the tip of the tail. Many breeders out there advertise that the size of their Maine coon cats is superior to other breeders. While that may be a road some want to travel down, make sure you know what gender, temperament, size, and color of kitten you hope to take home. It’s crucial that you triple-check the breeder’s reviews from other customers and any other information you can find online. Anyone can become a full-blown detective in less than five.  minutes!

 

Female Maine Coon Cat

Maine Coon cat purple background
Female Maine Coon cats are gorgeous. They are a bit feminine and smaller than the males, giving them a sweeter, softer look. Source: Canva

 

6 Months: 4 – 6 pounds

12 Months: 9 – 11 pounds

2 Years: 10 -13 pounds

5 Years: 12 – 18+ pounds

 

Female Maine coon cats are notoriously smaller and daintier-looking. Their frames are sometimes as little as half of what the male Maine coon grows to measure. Still, you will find some lady Maine coons in the record books who are much longer and larger overall than the typical 18+ pound female Maine coon cat. Like humans, not every animal is the same as another of the same species. There will always be size differences due to the cat’s genetic makeup.

 

 

Maine Coon Cat (2)
Maine coon cats are available in all the colors that the domesticated short haired cat can be. Source: Canva

 

The size of a Maine coon cat is rather remarkable and humbling in its presence. This isn’t just a “cat,” this is a CAT. These prominent, tough individuals are intimidating to smaller, less powerful cats and would likely be the class bullies. You might be surprised to learn that these mammoth cats are large, furry, fluffy, and gentle beings known for their love and relaxation.

 

Maine coon cats are one cat breed. You won’t need to worry if they’re getting enough sleep. Not that you’ve to worry about sleeping with any cat breed since that is one skill they’ve honed. Cats are all expert nappers, and the Maine coon cat just kicks it up a notch and takes on the status of constant relaxation, naps in the sun, naps with you on the couch, and naps with Dad in his favorite chair. Of course, this is precisely the type of cat that will claim the coziest spots in your bed.

 

Maine Coon Cat Behavior

Maine coon cat with tongue out
Maine coon cat with tongue sticking out. Source: Canva

 

Cats are peculiar and, as a result, do strange things. It doesn’t matter what breed we’re talking about; cats are hilariously insane and provide much laughter to whatever home they’re in. Maine coon cats are no stranger to silly antics and the zoomies. They love to play, and some will gladly play fetch the puffball or faux mouse.

 

leaping Maine Coon cat
Adventure, exercise, or for no reason at all, Maine Coon cats will show off their speed and zoomie skills. Source: Canva

 

Even big, strong kitties need to be saved from scary monsters (cuckoo clock) from time to time. Don’t worry; they are super chill, but if an unexpected monster creeps up on them, they might fly up in the air in surprise and run for their lives. Zoomies might be the conclusion of this. You don’t want to scare your cat, so never assume your cat will be okay with someone bringing their dog over or their child. Always watch animals around children.

 

 

Maine Coon cat blip
Maine Coon cats are every bit as silly, if not more, than the usual domesticated short haired cat. Source: Canva

 

Many people have compared the Maine coon cat’s personality to that of a dog. They are incredibly loyal and will love you more than anyone else. They can be taught simple tricks, such as fetching the mouse. These are happy cats that will gladly sit with you on the couch and snuggle. They are gigantic sweethearts. Even people who are not fond of cats love Maine coon cats!

 

Other Notably Large Domesticated Cats

F1 Savannah Cat (3)
The Savannah cat is graded in how much it resembles a wild serval. Source: Canva

 

The Maine coon cat isn’t the only super long and large all-over cat out there. Homes are seeing more and more. Of these semi-wild, enormous pet cats, some move in. Some are even the size of a small dog in terms of weight, size, and length. Below are some of the most notorious cats lurking in the shadows, watching the competition unfold. However, none are as significant as a Maine coon cat!

 

Savannah Cat

F1 Savannah Cat (5)
Savannah cats are not legal in some states. Source: Canva

 

Savannah cats are spectacular, highly athletic, and filled with endless energy, but they are illegal in most states. However, some states, like Vermont and Iowa, allow the cat under the condition that it must be F4 or from a later generation, having bred most of the wild cats out.

 

Size

13 – 16 inches tall at the shoulder and 20 – 25 inches long. The F1 and F2 Savannah cats are the largest since they have the most serval DNA. Young adult F1 and F2 Savannah cat females are approximately 16 inches tall and weigh 20 pounds. That is a large cat, but if this calculation is based on the cat being 1 year old, it will most likely be more as the cat approaches 5 years old. By the time your child is 5 years old, they have become an adult and have reached their maximum height and length for their age. Weight, of course, can fluctuate depending on how you feed your cat.

 

Savannah Cat (2)
Savannah cats enjoy relaxing with their humans as much as “regular” house cats, though it seems there is no such thing as a regular cat!  Source: Canva

 

Weight

The average weight of a young adult female Savannah cat is 22 pounds. The average weight for young adult males is 15 – 35 pounds. An F1 male might weigh 23 pounds, so it’s very close to what a mature adult female Maine coon may grow to weigh.

 

Norwegian Forest Cat

Norwegian forest cat in the fog
Norwegian forest cats are commonly mistaken for Maine coon cats. Source: Canva

Size

Norwegian forest cats are another large, fluffy, cold-weather-hardy cat that is often confused with a Maine coon cat. An adult Norwegian Forest cat is 9-12 inches tall.

Weight

The average weight of an adult female is 8 – 18 pounds. A male Maine coon cat has an average weight of 13 – 22 pounds.

Katie Downey
byKatie Downey

Katie has worked with animals for over 20 years, including the success of the emergency and special needs animal rescue she built and single-handedly lead, which has over 10,000 followers. Katie is passionate about nature, animals, and the world around us and it shows in her publications. Though she specializes in the medical needs and husbandry of cats, she has worked with hedgehogs, spiders, rodents, wildlife, feral canines, alpacas and horses. Whether wild or domesticated, Katie carries compassion for all life.