The Largest Domestic Cat BreedThe largest domestic cat breed is a subject of some debate. The debate stems partly from how we define a cat's size, and partly from the fact that breeds have size ranges that overlap. There's also some confusion over some hybrid and wild cats that are sometimes considered to be domestic. In general, there are a number of domestic breeds that could be termed large. I have a growing collection of books on cats, and only one of them will definitively come out and say which domestic breed is considered the largest of the group. Large Breeds of House CatBirman Cats
Although these are technically medium sized cats, their bodies are long and sturdy and have been described as "massive." Unlke their Siamese relatives, they are thicker rather than lean, and they are longer than their Persian cousins. They are big enough to sometimes be mistaken for Ragdolls.  The Maine Coon
Legendary tales of their origin involve a story of Marie Antoinette's Angora and Persian cats making their way to America and breeding with American cats. Other stories say that a cat and a raccoon mated to create the breed. There is speculation by some that this breed shares some ancestry with the Norwegian Forest cat. On my interesting cat fact page, I mention that the largest domestic cat on record (in terms of length) is a Maine Coon. That cat, Verismo's Leonetti Reserve Red, measures 48 inches from nose to tail. Leo's paws are so big they fit into a size 2 child's shoe. This, the "world's longest cat" is the 2006 Guinness world record holder. He weighs 35 pounds, and his veterinarian says that he is not overweight for his frame. He can stand on the floor on his hind legs and put his paws on a kitchen counter. I imagine he would swipe your steak if you weren't careful. Update: Leo has been bested by the new record holder, a Maine Coon named Stewie, the world's longest cat. From the reports of many breeders, I would have to say that this cat wins the prize for the largest cat.  The Ragdoll
As with most breeds, a number of myths abound, but with this breed they are certainly unusual. The tall tales (or is it tails?) that were told about this breed early on made it difficult for them to be readily accepted.  She also attributed the tendency of these cats to go limp when picked up (hence the name, Ragdoll) to the fact that Josephine, the original queen of this breed, was injured. It's impossible, of course, for the behavior of subsequent generations to be affected by an injury sustained by a previous generation. Some of the most famous Ragdolls are Matilda II and Matilda III, the newest Algonquin Cat. Hybrid and Wild Cats
Some people have been known to tame wild cats as well and keep them as pets. Servals, which are a fairly large wild cat native to Africa, are sometimes kept as a pet cat. While these cats are large, they are not a domestic breed. Unfortunately, many of these wild cats and even many hybrids end up at shelters because the owners don't know how to manage them.
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by Dena Harris, the 