5 amazing cat world records

There are a number of contenders for the title of biggest cat in the world.

If you’re measuring from head to tail tip, the world’s longest pet cats tend to be from the Maine Coon breed. At the time of writing, the longest domestic cat living is a Maine Coon called Barivel, from Vigevano in Italy. This gentle giant was measured at an impressive 120cm (3ft 11.2in).

The longest cat ever recorded, however, was a Maine Coon called Mymains Steward Gilligan (or Stewie for short) from Nevada, USA. In 2010, he stretched out at a super-long 123cm (4ft 0.42in).

The title of world’s tallest cat ever, on the other hand, goes to Arcturus Aldebaran Powers of Michigan, USA, who measured 48.4cm (1ft 7in) from floor to shoulders at the age of two. Arcturus could stand with his front paws on his owners’ kitchen counter and needed to use a dog flap, as a cat flap was too small.

The smallest cat in the world ever was Tinker Toy, a male Blue-Point Himalayan Persian who lived in Illinois, USA. The runt of a litter of six, at the age of two and half, Tinker Toy measured only 7cm (2.75in) from floor to shoulders and just 19cm (7.5in) long.

The current record holder for the world’s smallest cat is almost twice the height of Tinker Toy. Lilieput, who measures 13.34cm (5.25in) and lives in California, USA, is a female Munchkin cat – a relatively new breed with exceptionally short legs.

A number of cats have been left fortunes by their doting owners. The world record holder for being the richest cat was Blackie, the recipient of a whopping £7 million when his owner, reclusive British antique dealer Ben Rea, passed away in 1988. Ben left most of his estate to three cat charities, with the instruction that they look after Blackie, the last survivor of his 15 pet cats. Ben’s family, on the other hand, received nothing.

Blackie’s riches are likely to have been outdone, however, by the earnings of Grumpy Cat, aka Tardar Sauce, of Arizona, USA. Grumpy Cat’s unique looks, caused by feline dwarfism and a pronounced underbite, made her a feline internet sensation in the 2010s.

Going viral led to advertising and sponsorship deals, books, merchandise and even a movie. Although her owners never disclosed Grumpy Cat’s earnings during her lifetime, news reports speculate that the total could be up to $100 million.

Cats are said to have nine lives, and one particular feline definitely lived long enough for several lifetimes. Creme Puff, a Tabby mix from Texas, USA, was the oldest cat ever recorded. She lived for an astonishing 38 years and three days, from 1967 until 2005. That’s around three times as long as an average pet cat.

Remarkably, Creme Puff’s owner, Jake Perry, also owned Granpa Rexs Allen, a Sphynx and Devon Rex cross, who had previously held the record for oldest cat in the world. Granpa lived for over 34 years from 1964 to 1998.

Throughout his life, Jake adopted hundreds of cats. He reportedly supplemented their usual diet of cat food with turkey bacon, eggs and broccoli (don’t try this at home), and screened nature documentaries for his beloved pets on a home cinema in his garage to keep them stimulated.

The search for the cat with the longest whiskers takes us to Finland, and a Maine Coon named Missi. In 2005, Missi, owned by Kaija Kyllönen, had her whiskers measured at 19cm (7.5in) – longer than a standard pencil.

Cats’ whiskers serve a vital sensory function, almost like an insect’s antennae. Each whisker has a deep follicle connected to the cat’s nervous and muscular systems, helping them judge distance and space, and sense approaching dangers. They’re essential for being a great explorer and acrobat, so don’t ever be tempted to trim your cat’s whiskers – however long they grow! Who knows, they might just be the next cat world record holder…