Having tamed a cat more than 10 thousand years ago, people did not calm down and started breeding new breeds. Today there are more than 200 of them. Breeders sought to breed unusual animals with unique characteristics. They differ in the length of the coat, suit, character, size. For a very long time, the Maine Coon breed was considered the largest cat. Today, a different breed intercepted the palm.
Rating of the largest cats
Few can afford a dog that requires repeated daily walks. A completely different thing is a cat. It may well be limited to the area of the apartment or house. Just when choosing a pet, it is worth considering its size. Some breeds are so large and active, such as the Savannah cat breed , for their maintenance it is preferable to have a private house with a large garden. The ten largest representatives of domestic feline:
- 10th place. The ten short-haired breed Chartrez opens (in Great Britain it is considered a variant of short-haired "British", but not a separate breed). Possess a "dog" character, strong, muscular creatures, cats weigh up to 7 kg, cats 4-5 kg;
- 9th place - pixie-bob (short-tailed elf). Artificially bred cat breed. Outwardly very much like lynxes. Males weigh up to 8 kg, females - within 6 kg;
- 8th place at the Turkish van. Large animals with a height of 35-40 cm, have a muscular elongated (up to 120 cm) body with a live weight of cats up to 9 kg, cats - up to 6 kg;
- 7th place for Siberian cats. The weight of males ranges from 6-9 kg, individual individuals grow to 12, females - 3.5-7 kg;
- 6th place is occupied by semi-long-haired ragdolls. Calm phlegmatic animals easily gain weight up to 9 kg cats and almost 7 kg cats. Ragdoll is a very popular breed throughout the world;
- 5th place for the Norwegian forest cat. Despite its outwardly large dimensions (due to the thick waterproof undercoat and lush hair), the weight of cats does not exceed 9.5 kg, cats - 7 kg;
- 4th place is occupied by the "British". Both longhair and shorthair British cats are similar in body structure and weigh the same: males - up to 10 kg, females - up to 7 kg;
- The third place is rightfully occupied by the Chauzi cat breed. First-generation crossbreeds easily gain 15 kg. Subsequent generations are somewhat smaller;
- Maine Coon 2nd place. The live weight of cats can reach 15 kg, and cats - up to 6 kg;
- 1st place. Today, the largest breed of domestic cats is the savannah. Their height is under 60 cm, and their weight is up to 20 kg.
British
Plush aristocrats trace their history back to the time of the Roman Empire. Over the past millennia, animals have changed little. A calm and somewhat arrogant independent character does not prevent cats from being sincerely attached to their owners. Royal behavior keeps animals from petty dirty tricks; they do not tear wallpaper and furniture.
Outwardly, the British look like large and massive animals on low legs, always with a thick tail. They have excellent health, a dense, well developed, strong, muscular and large body. The coat is thick, elastic, resilient and very pleasant to the touch.
Chausie
This is the result of the love of the reed cat and the domestic cat. These crosses were not uncommon in Egypt and did not cause any excitement among the local population. In the sixties of the last century, American breeders exported several animals to the United States, and painstaking work began. It took a lot of time and effort to find out that the crosses of the first and subsequent generations can be crossed either with ordinary short-haired cats or with abisins. Only in 2003 were breed standards recognized and approved.
Chauzy is not the largest cat in the world, but it is among the five most expensive animals. The price of a kitten starts from 112 thousand rubles. (from $ 2000). They attract with their exotic appearance and temperament - an inheritance from a wild ancestor. At the same time, animals have a soft character and are easy to learn. Chausie cats are friendly, intelligent and absolutely safe. Get along peacefully with other pets. They are distinguished by cleanliness, amenable to training. For such animals, a private house with a spacious yard is preferable.
Maine Coons
For a long time they were the largest breed of domestic cats. Maine Coons bred more than two hundred years ago. A distinctive feature, a highlight is the brush on the tips of the ears. Another pride of cats is a magnificent tail. With their decent size, animals have a surprisingly gentle and soft voice. In addition, they are very accurate in their movements, they have a unique grace.
The size of Maine Coon cats is impressive. The official record of the body length from the base of the tail to the tip of the nose is 123.2 cm. The same cat named Suiti (USA, Nevada) also holds the longest tail - 41.5 cm. Among the representatives of the breed, it is not uncommon for animals weighing 12 and more than kg.
Savannah
A relatively young cat breed - savannah - enjoys well-deserved popularity around the world. Her breeding started in the 80s of the last century in America. The goal was to create a large pet with a wild exotic color. The initial breeds were from the side of the wild - African serval, the “home group” was represented by a Bengal cat, Egyptian Mau, Ocicat, Oriental Shorthair. Today, a large herd allows you to breed animals clean by pairing the savannah with the savannah or the serval with the savannah.
The largest cats are easy to train, walk on a leash, while maintaining the habits of a real hunter. Quietly get along with other domestic inhabitants. They have high legs, an elongated neck, an elongated torso, thick spotted hair, and rounded large ears. The “youth” of the breed dictates prices for its representatives, large individuals of the first generation are especially valued, the price can reach 1.1 million rubles. ($ 20,000).
wildlife
The largest cat in the world in the wild is the Amur tiger. This is a luxurious beast weighing up to 350 kg. The total length of the body with the tail is 3 meters, the height at the withers is 115 cm. The predator is perfectly “armed”: its fangs are up to 10 cm long and its claws grow up to 7.5 cm. Severe habitat conditions have stimulated the development of thick and long fur. At one time, the tiger is able to absorb up to 18 kg of meat. The basis of the diet are Manchurian deer and wild boars.
Unfortunately, intense poaching has brought the animal population to the brink of extinction. In Russia, various measures are being taken to preserve and increase the number of striped giants.
Curious hybrid
Liger is the result of a cross between a lion and a tigress. An artificially bred hybrid is not a wild animal. In nature, such an interspecific union is impossible. The animal inherited such dimensions from its large parents. In addition, the phenomenon of heterosis was also added. The first hybrid generation has greater growth, increased immunity and resistance to disease.
The most famous male nicknamed Hercules. When climbing to its hind legs, its height is 3.7 meters, weight is more than 400 kg. In 2006, the animal was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest cat on the planet.