Record Breakers: The Longest Maine Coons in History#

Every Maine Coon owner secretly hopes their kitten will grow up to be a monster. We measure them against our dogs, weigh them weekly, and post photos of them stretching across our three-seater sofas to prove their scale. But there are big cats, and then there are giants. The Guinness World Record for “Longest Cat” is almost exclusively the domain of the Maine Coon. These cats are outliers, genetic anomalies that pushed the boundaries of feline biology to lengths that rival a medium-sized dog.

The most legendary holder of this title was Mymains Stewart Gilligan, known to the world as Stewie. A grey tabby from Nevada, Stewie measured an astounding 48.5 inches from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail bone. To put that in perspective, he was longer than a six-year-old child is tall. Stewie was not just a spectacle; he was a certified therapy cat who visited senior centers, proving that the biggest cats often have the gentlest hearts. Although he passed away in 2013, his record remains the benchmark against which all other giants are measured.

Following in his paw prints is Barivel, the current living record holder from Italy. Measuring 47.2 inches, Barivel is a dignified, majestic Maine Coon who lives a life of luxury. He has his own social media following and is reportedly treated like royalty, often being taken for walks in a buggy because he is simply too heavy to carry for long periods. Before him, the title was held by Ludo from the UK, who measured 46.6 inches. Ludo famously shared his house with two other Maine Coons and a Ragdoll, dwarfing them all while maintaining the lazy, gentle temperament the breed is famous for.

While we marvel at these records, it is crucial to understand the biology behind them. Breeders do not simply create bigger cats without consequence. The Square-Cube Law states that as an object grows in size, its volume and weight grow much faster than its surface area or bone strength. A forty-eight-inch cat puts immense strain on its heart and joints. Extreme size often comes with a price, and many record-breaking giants do not live into their late teens. The risk of Hip Dysplasia is rampant in extreme-sized lines, and the heart has to work double-time to pump blood to those distant extremities, increasing the risk of HCM.

If you suspect your cat might be a contender, you need to know how to measure them correctly. Guinness requires the cat to be standing, and the measurement is taken from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail bone, not the fur. Most “big” Maine Coons measure around thirty-eight to forty inches. If your cat hits forty-five inches, you might have a record breaker on your hands. Just remember that the best Maine Coon is a healthy one. Whether your cat is fifteen pounds or twenty-five pounds, they are all giants in personality.

References#

1. Guinness World Records. (2024). Longest Cat Living.
2. TICA. (n.d.). Breed Standards: Size.