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Big Maine Coon Cats: How Large They Get & Daily Life With a Giant
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Everyone loves a big Maine Coon Cat! They are not only large in size, but in personality too!
Whether you're a new Coonie parent, or just curious about the breed, their size is probably their most famous feature.
Most Maine Coons fall in a range that's noticeably bigger than average cats. Legendary 25-30+ lb cats exist too, and these are the exceptions and outliers that make internet headlines.
Check out our photos of these beauties, descriptions of just how big they can be, and all about what life is like with a gentle giant.
What Makes a Maine Coon "Big"?
Diva is a magnificent girl!Maine Coons are known for their impressive size, and many people go straight to the record books when they think of this breed.
But what actually makes one big?
If you like this, you'll love our fun, free Daily Digest!
Ivan MoodyIt’s not just the number on the scale. A truly big Maine Coon has a long rectangular body, heavy bone structure, broad chest, and that thick, shaggy coat that amplifies everything. Frame matters as much as weight.
Health comes first. Size should always be carried on a strong, balanced structure - not confused with excess weight.
For example, here is Ivan Moody, at only 1 year old and already weighing 18-20lbs.
He will be one big boy!
It's pretty unusual for an average house cat to weigh 13-15 pounds at full size. That alone feels substantial.
Now picture this:
An 18-pound Maine Coon isn't rare. And once you add that long body, thick bone structure, and full shaggy coat, the presence is on another level entirely.
And yes, there are truly massive individuals. Our galleries regularly feature cats in the 25-pound range.
Spectacular doesn’t even begin to cover it. Take a look at our Coonie size chart and see where your furbaby falls!
But Are They All Big?
Some stay surprisingly small, which naturally leads people to wonder if there’s such a thing as a "mini" version of the breed.
We've looked at why this idea pops up (and what it really means when a Coonie stays on the petite side) in our look at the so-called mini Maine Coon.
Brother and Sister!A great way to see how wide the size range can be is to look at Leo and Alice. They were born in the same litter, and raised in the same home.
Alice stayed right around 8 pounds, about the size of an average house cat.
Leo grew into a solid 18+ pound boy. Same genetics, very different frames.
18 Pounds vs 8 Pounds!When we picked him up, Leo's size was immediately noticeable. He was heavier than our Sheltie, with a solid head, thick bone structure, and that unmistakable Maine Coon build.
And yet, both cats stopped people in their tracks. One for her elegance, the other for his sheer presence.
Not every Coonie breaks size records, and that's perfectly fine. By the time one steals your heart, how big they get usually matters far less than you thought it would.
"Now I Want a Really Big Maine Coon Cat"
There are huge Coonies, and there are small ones.
So, it's not enough to just look at the parents of a kitten and expect that if they are big, their offspring will be, too. (Although there is a good chance!)
It's the same as a human family. Imagine if two parents have many children.
There will be many differences between the children. But they should have a general family resemblance. In this case, size is the theme of the day.
The best way to get a big Maine Coon Cat is to ask your breeder! Breeders know how the kittens are shaping up, and how they will fill out.
You might be on their waiting list, and they will do their best to match families with the kind of kitten they are looking for.
Maine Coon fans often request a kitten of a certain gender, color, or size. Of course, families who will take any kitten at all are more likely to get a kitten sooner.
For example, if you have your heart set on a Silver Tabby With White male who is going to be a big cat, you may have to wait a bit!
Wondering how big your kitten will get? Our Maine Coon weight page includes real numbers from owners, plus tips on feeding for steady growth.
"Who Is The Largest Maine Coon Cat?"
In October, 2010, Guinness World Records named Mymains Stewart Gilligan (aka Stewie), from Reno, Nevada as the official world record holder of longest cat and therefore, biggest Coonie!
At 48.5 inches (123.2cm) from tip of nose to tip of tail, five-year-old Stewie has become the all-time world's longest house cat, beating out the previous record holder of 48 inches.
credit: Guinness World Records YouTube Channel
Sadly, Stewie lost his battle with cancer and died at the age of eight in February 2013. This very special boy who traveled and worked as a therapy animal will be missed by many. RIP, Stewie.
Stewie, the biggest Maine Coon, with his owner, Robin HendricksonToday, the living Guinness World Record holder is a Maine Coon named Barivel from Italy, measuring about 120 cm (3 ft 11.2 in) from nose to tail tip. Barivel took this title around 2018.
Longest Tail:
Interestingly, the record for longest tail on a domestic cat (ever) is also held by a mega Coonie. Cygnus the handsome silver male has the longest tail ever at 44.66 cm (17.58 in).
Verismo Leonetti Reserve Red held the 2006 Guinness Book of World Records for length.
He was measured at 48 inches, and topped the scale at 35 pounds! Leo's vet pointed out that his length and frame can carry this weight, so he was is a healthy, not overweight or obese.
The breed standard for felines doesn't specify length, as it does for dogs. A big Maine Coon cat should have a rather square build, and be strong.
Since Leo is four feet long he can weigh 35 pounds and be healthy!
Beauty and the Beast!For reference, our boy (also Leo, coincidentally) is a Red Tabby who measures about 36 inches, or three feet long.
He weighs a little over 18 pounds. Here he is on a windowsill with his 8 pound sister.
This falls in the upper range, but it's not uncommon at all.
Part of the breed standard is that these felines will be in good proportion. Some are longer (and therefore heavier) than others.
About That Big White Maine Coon Cat Photo
That big white Maine Coon photo makes the rounds every so often. The one where he's draped over a woman's shoulder and coming toward the camera so he looks almost unreal.
It looks unbelievable, but if you've lived with one of these cats, you know how they can suddenly look enormous in the right moment.
I understand why people search for that "big white Maine Coon cat" image. The coat is bright and uninterrupted, so your eye takes in the full outline at once.
Add perspective (cat closer to the lens, person slightly behind) and the effect is dramatic. That particular cat wasn't a record holder. He wasn’t Barivel or Stewie. He was simply a very large, very photogenic cat captured from a cool angle.
Images, even viral ones, are copyrighted and belong to their owner, even if they have been shared widely. They belong to the breeder or owner, and they aren't mine to repost here.
But it's easy to recreate that feeling at home! Let your cat lean toward the camera. Stand a little lower. Allow the body to fill the foreground while you fade into the background. Suddenly your 18- or 20-pound companion looks legendary!
White coats add drama because nothing breaks up the silhouette, but smoke and black cats can photograph just as powerfully when the lighting turns them into one solid shape.
When we first posted this photo of Royce, there were some who said it had "obviously" been photoshopped! I get why they thought that. He looks unreal.
But he wasn't edited at all. Royce is simply closer to the camera, stretched across the foreground, with his human, Martin seated in the background. That perspective alone can add what feels like ten extra pounds.
If you look closely, you can see how much of the frame Royce takes up compared to the desk and monitor behind him. The angle exaggerates his length and chest, and creates that "giant Maine Coon" image we love.
It doesn't mean he isn't big. He is. It just shows how easily a normal upper-range cat can look absolutely enormous when the photo is working in his favor.
Big Boy Royce is in the foreground on a glass desk - emphasizing his impressive size!When you see a big Coonie stretched across a desk or filling a windowsill, you realize the photo isn't really a trick. It's just a moment where size, angle, and presence all line up just right.
Life With a Gentle Giant:
Big bodies come with a few practical differences, from daily habits to health, feeding, and even athletic ability.
They're a Lot Like Living With a Medium-Sized Dog
Ben Cartwright is a Beautiful Big Maine Coon Cat!They like to meet and greet you at the door, they come when called, they can be leash trained for visits outdoors, they cuddle or lounge with the human family in the evening, and they can be cheeky too!
With their unique traits, their sweet temperament, shaggy coat, and formidable appearance, there is nothing quite like these jumbo boys and girls!
It's no wonder they are stars of social media and the internet!
Affectionate, gorgeous, friendly and laid-back are just some of the traits they have in common.
Sweet Temperament, Not 'Wild'
You may think that such a hefty pet would have a "rough" or "wild" temperament. This is a common misperception.
In fact, their personalities are exceptionally gentle and sweet. The myths and tall tales that surround them are pretty interesting, though!
Handsome ChesterIt's hard to describe that unique, silly, quirky, smart personality, but we'll try to give you a peek into life with them!
A beautiful, large and loving Coonie a true character. They have such wonderful quirks and traits!
These gorgeous guys and gals will steal your heart with their laid-back personalities and clown-like antics. Just visit our page on funny, silly Coonies to see stories from Coonie lovers from around the world.
Although this page is all about the size these kitties, there is so much more to them!
Bigger Cat, Bigger Mischief
An extra-large kitty makes himself part of the family. They are affectionate, intelligent, and full of personality!
Their large size allows them to do things like check the counter for goodies and open doorknobs!
Furniture, Litter Boxes, and Space
TimmieThere is no doubt about it, this is the largest domestic breed.
They do need more room - think larger cat trees, extra-large litter boxes, and plenty of attention!
As Becky shared about her big girl Timmie, "Due to her very svelte 22 lbs, Timmie has tested the sturdiness of many cat trees over the years."
Yes, they can get really huge - but at the end of the day, their size is just one of the many qualities that make them unique and special.
Does a Larger Size Mean a Larger Food Bill?
Bigger cats don't automatically eat twice as much. A doubled body weight doesn't mean doubled calories. Metabolism, activity level, and growth stage matter more than size alone.
Hunley way up high!Many cats who settle in around 12-14 pounds eat similarly to a large domestic longhair, and their monthly food costs often don't look dramatically different.
Where intake does rise is with the truly big cats, especially large males and fast-growing kittens.
Even then, appetite tends to come in cycles: growth spurts followed by quieter phases, rather than a permanently "bottomless" bowl.
In real life, food needs fall on a spectrum: from no noticeable increase at all, to meaningfully higher for exceptional cats. “Close to double” usually shows up only at the extreme end.
Oversized beauties from our galleries!The useful part for owners? You don't have to wait years to find out. Breeder lines, parental size, and early growth patterns often predict future size (and feeding expectations) well before adulthood.
The bigger picture is this: choosing this breed doesn't automatically mean committing to a permanently inflated food bill.
Most owners find the difference is modest, manageable, and often temporary during growth stages. Size brings some adjustments, but feeding rarely becomes the deal-breaker people worry it will be.
Frequently Asked Questions: (FAQ's)
"What is the biggest Maine Coon cat?"
"What is the biggest Maine Coon cat?"
In 2010, Guinness World Records recognized Stewie, also known as Mymains Stewart Gilligan from Reno, Nevada, as the world's biggest cat, at 48.5 inches long.
In 2013, this special kitty who had traveled and worked as a therapy animal, lost his battle with cancer at age eight.
"How big does a giant Maine Coon get?"
"How big does a giant Maine Coon get?"
Female Maine Coon Cats may have an average weight between 9-12 pounds, or 4-5.5 kilos. Male can average 13-18 pounds or 6-8 kilos.
Massive size Coonies can be much more, with healthy males weighing 25 or 30 pounds or even more. This is uncommon though!
"Why is a Maine Coon so big?"
"Why is a Maine Coon so big?"
These big beauties developed here in the state of Maine as 'barn cats' and outdoor cats. They survived our harsh winters for generations, developing into a hefty breed with a strong body.
"Are giant Maine Coon cats friendly?"
"Are giant Maine Coon cats friendly?"
Oh, yes! Even though they have formidable size, don't be taken aback. These kitties are known for being sweet, lovely pets.
They are great with children and other pets. They are playful, gregarious, talkative and above all - friendly family members!
« For a full look at this breed's appearance, personality, and standout traits, head back to our Back to Maine Coon Cats Exposed
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Hi, I'm Carrie! As a native Mainer, Coonie mom and author, I've spent over 14 years helping cat owners understand their Coonies and mixes. Real experience, research-backed insights - that's my approach. Happy, healthy cats - that's the result!
Curious about my experiences? Check out my About Page!
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