The biggest cat depends on how you measure it and which category you’re asking about.
- If you mean the largest living wild feline by body mass, the tiger (Panthera tigris) is generally considered the largest, with adults commonly weighing around 180–265 kg (400–585 lb) in the wild, and some exceptionally large individuals reported heavier. Length, including tail, can exceed 2.7–3.3 meters in the largest specimens. This is the standard reference for “largest cat” in wild felids.
- If you’re asking about the largest domestic cat breed, the Maine Coon is often cited as the biggest domesticated breed, with typical weights ranging roughly from 4.5 to 11 kg (10–25 lb) and lengths that can exceed a meter from nose to tail. Individual cats can be notably larger, but the breed standard emphasizes sizeable, long-bodied cats.
- If you’re curious about extraordinary hybrids or claims often seen in media (e.g., ligers, which are crosses between lions and tigers), these can reach remarkable lengths and masses, but they’re hybrid animals and not representative of a standard species or breed. Reports vary and rely on individual records.
Would you like a quick side-by-side by category (wild cats, domestic breeds, hybrids) with typical weight/length ranges?
