While a large, wild cat—say a tiger—might be unattainable for the average pet owner, there are plenty of large domesticated cat breeds to choose from. For cat lovers who want a relatively large cat to care for, any of these domestic cats will make great pets due to their manageable size and relatively low maintenance attitude.

These 10 domesticated beauties bring much joy to cat lovers in a slightly larger feline package.

Breed Characteristics

Larger cat breeds tend to have a big presence. Most cats are curious, but larger cats may have an advantage when it comes to their jumping abilities and can get into a little more trouble with their longer reach. Some of the large breed felines are athletic and active. Many bond strongly with their human owners and have their own unique ways to vocalize with mews, squeaks, and purrs when they need you.

Tip

If you prefer your cat to not bring you daily presents like dead mice or birds, then keep them indoors around the clock. If your large house cat roams outside, be sure to add bells to their collar to make sure they can’t sneak up on neighborhood prey. If your cat will be indoor-only, be sure to provide plenty of toys and enrichment to help keep it active and to prevent boredom.

  • 01
  • of 10
  • Maine Coon
  • Alexandra Jursova / Getty Images
  • The strong, shaggy Maine coon is a well-proportioned large domesticated cat. There are many stories of how this breed developed. Some believe they originated in America as a cross between a house cat and a raccoon, although that myth has been scientifically debunked. That raccoon myth was one explanation for the Maine coon’s long, smooth coat and voluminous tail. This unique and affectionate breed is a great family pet known for being a gentle giant in the domesticated cat world.
  • Breed Overview
  • Height: 10 to 16 inchesWeight: 10 to 18 poundsCoat and Color: Long, double coat with more than 75 color combinations and green, gold, or copper eyesLife Expectancy: 9 to 15 years
  • 02
  • of 10
  • Ragdoll
  • Anne-Sophie Bost / Getty Images
  • The ragdoll earned its name because of its docile, cuddly, and affectionate nature. Ragdolls collapse into their favorite person’s arms when picked up, just like a rag doll. Their history is shrouded in mystery, and there are many claims of how they came to be, including CIA experiments. This tremendous family-friendly breed gained popularity in the U.S. in the 1990s, and the Cat Fancier’s Association recognized it in 2000.
  • Breed Overview
  • Height: 9 to 11 inchesWeight: 10 to 20 poundsCoat and Color: Medium-length and silky plush coat; light-colored body with darker ‘points’ on the face, legs, tail, and ears; coat patterns include bicolor, van, mitted, and colorpoint; coat colors include seal, blue, chocolate, lilac, red, and cream; all have blue eyesLife Expectancy: 13 to 15 years
  • 03
  • of 10
  • Norwegian Forest Cat
  • Naomi Rahim / Getty Images
  • Imagine a wild, long-haired cat with wide yellow eyes and a muscular body, and you’d see an encyclopedia entry for a Norwegian forest cat. These large, sturdy cats were first bred in Norway by breeders who may have crossed domestic cats with wild cats. Since the breed was domesticated, it has become a perfectly friendly, playful, and intelligent breed with a moderate activity level. The Norwegian forest cat is perfect as a loyal pet to stay by your side.
  • Breed Overview
  • Height: 9 to 12 inchesWeight: 9 to 16 poundsCoat and Color: Unique double coat that includes a dense undercoat and a long, silky smooth overcoat; colors vary greatly, every color and pattern is possibleLife Expectancy: 14 to 16 years
  • 04
  • of 10
  • Persian
  • FluxFactory / Getty Images
  • The most striking attribute of the Persian cat is its face. This long-haired cat has a round, often flat face and a distinctly short muzzle, giving it a squished face look. Its long hair gives it a larger appearance. In actuality, it is one of the smallest of the larger breeds. Unlike most larger cats, this cat is content lounging around all day and is not as active as some other breeds.
  • Breed Overview
  • Height: 8 to 10 inchesWeight: 7 to 12 poundsCoat and Color: Long coat in solid (white, black, cream), tabby, calico, bicolor, silver and gold, shaded, and smokeLife Expectancy: 10 to 17 years
  • Continue to 5 of 10 below.
  • 05
  • of 10
  • Chausie
  • Satyendra Kumar Tiwari / Getty Images
  • An exotic-looking breed, the Chausie is a large, extremely active, and intelligent cat. The Chausie got its name from the Latin name “felis chaus,” meaning “jungle cat.” People likely gave it this name because of its natural hunting skills and regal demeanor combined with its large-and-in-charge appearance. These cats tend to be very fast, high jumpers, and demand a lot of attention.
  • Breed Overview
  • Height: 14 to 18 inchesWeight: 15 to 20 poundsCoat and Color: Short coat, commonly golden, black or silver-tipped with a tabby pattern and may have spots or stripesLife Expectancy: 12 to 14 years
  • 06
  • of 10
  • Siberian
  • CasarsaGuru / Getty Images
  • This unique Siberian cat breed is large, sturdy, and intelligent. It had to be, growing up in an exceptionally unforgiving climate with painfully short summers and long, harsh winters. The breed was domesticated and brought indoors, away from the elements, where its true colors could emerge. Siberian cats are notably affectionate and playful, making great house pets.
  • Breed Overview
  • Height: 9 to 11 inchesWeight: 10 to 20 poundsCoat and Color: Semi-longhaired, triple-coat that varies from coarse to soft; comes in a wide variety of colorsLife Expectancy: 10 to 18 years
  • 07
  • of 10
  • Savannah
  • Pierre Adan / Getty Images
  • The Savannah cat is a cross between a domestic cat and a serval, a medium-sized African wild cat with distinctly large ears. Its exotic, leopard-like appearance makes the Savannah a commonly desired pet among big cat enthusiasts. Savannah cats are classified by the amount of each breed they contain to inform owners of how genuinely wild they are. For example, F1 and F2 generations are usually the largest and have more genes from the African serval as these are the first and second generations of breeding directly between a wild serval and a domestic cat.
  • Breed Overview
  • Height: 10 to 17 inchesWeight: 12 to 25 poundsCoat and Color: Short to medium length coat; black, brown spotted tabby, black silver spotted tabby, and black smoke with a solid or tabby patternLife Expectancy: 12 to 20 years
  • 08
  • of 10
  • American Bobtail
  • asasirov / Getty Images
  • A distinctly short, stubby bobbed tail is what makes this domesticated house cat stand apart from all of the other breeds. It also has long hind legs and an alert hunting gaze—attributes consistent with a bobcat. The breed developed by intentionally breeding stray cats noted to have short tails until over time, a distinct breed was recognized.
  • Breed Overview
  • Height: 9 to 10 inchesWeight: 7 to 16 poundsCoat and Color: Can come in any color or pattern; shaggy coatLife Expectancy: 13 to 15 years
  • Continue to 9 of 10 below.
  • 09
  • of 10
  • Ragamuffin
  • sergeyskleznev / Getty Images
  • The ragamuffin is closely related to another larger breed, the ragdoll. The ragamuffin is large, lovable, and mellow. Ragamuffin cats are known for their docile nature and thick, luscious coat. Their personality is quite similar to the ragdoll, but their faces typically have a friendly overall expression with larger, rounder eyes.
  • Breed Overview
  • Height: 9 to 12 inchesWeight: 8 to 20 poundsCoat and Color: Long and silky coat; white, black, blue, red, lavender, cinnamon, chestnut, platinum, and chocolate colorsLife Expectancy: Up to 18 years
  • 10
  • of 10
  • Bengal
  • itsabreeze photography / Getty Images
  • At first glance, it’s hard to believe the Bengal is a domesticated cat and not wild. With an athletic body and a unique, patterned coat, the Bengal cat breed looks like it’s straight out of the jungle. Bengal owners say this breed is as loving and friendly as other domestic cats. They’re people-oriented cats that love to play and climb all day.
  • Breed Overview
  • Height: 8 to 10 inchesWeight: 15 to 18 poundsCoat or Color: Short, dense coat; colors include brown tabby, seal sepia tabby, seal mink tabby, seal lynx point, black silver tabby, and other combinations with spotted or marbled patternsLife Expectancy: 10 to 16 years

Maine Coon

The strong, shaggy Maine coon is a well-proportioned large domesticated cat. There are many stories of how this breed developed. Some believe they originated in America as a cross between a house cat and a raccoon, although that myth has been scientifically debunked. That raccoon myth was one explanation for the Maine coon’s long, smooth coat and voluminous tail. This unique and affectionate breed is a great family pet known for being a gentle giant in the domesticated cat world.

Alexandra Jursova / Getty Images 

Breed Overview

Height: 10 to 16 inchesWeight: 10 to 18 poundsCoat and Color: Long, double coat with more than 75 color combinations and green, gold, or copper eyes

Ragdoll

The ragdoll earned its name because of its docile, cuddly, and affectionate nature. Ragdolls collapse into their favorite person’s arms when picked up, just like a rag doll. Their history is shrouded in mystery, and there are many claims of how they came to be, including CIA experiments. This tremendous family-friendly breed gained popularity in the U.S. in the 1990s, and the Cat Fancier’s Association recognized it in 2000.

Anne-Sophie Bost / Getty Images

Height: 9 to 11 inchesWeight: 10 to 20 poundsCoat and Color: Medium-length and silky plush coat; light-colored body with darker ‘points’ on the face, legs, tail, and ears; coat patterns include bicolor, van, mitted, and colorpoint; coat colors include seal, blue, chocolate, lilac, red, and cream; all have blue eyes

Norwegian Forest Cat

Imagine a wild, long-haired cat with wide yellow eyes and a muscular body, and you’d see an encyclopedia entry for a Norwegian forest cat. These large, sturdy cats were first bred in Norway by breeders who may have crossed domestic cats with wild cats. Since the breed was domesticated, it has become a perfectly friendly, playful, and intelligent breed with a moderate activity level. The Norwegian forest cat is perfect as a loyal pet to stay by your side.

Naomi Rahim / Getty Images

Height: 9 to 12 inchesWeight: 9 to 16 poundsCoat and Color: Unique double coat that includes a dense undercoat and a long, silky smooth overcoat; colors vary greatly, every color and pattern is possible

Persian

The most striking attribute of the Persian cat is its face. This long-haired cat has a round, often flat face and a distinctly short muzzle, giving it a squished face look. Its long hair gives it a larger appearance. In actuality, it is one of the smallest of the larger breeds. Unlike most larger cats, this cat is content lounging around all day and is not as active as some other breeds.

FluxFactory / Getty Images

Height: 8 to 10 inchesWeight: 7 to 12 poundsCoat and Color: Long coat in solid (white, black, cream), tabby, calico, bicolor, silver and gold, shaded, and smoke

Chausie

An exotic-looking breed, the Chausie is a large, extremely active, and intelligent cat. The Chausie got its name from the Latin name “felis chaus,” meaning “jungle cat.” People likely gave it this name because of its natural hunting skills and regal demeanor combined with its large-and-in-charge appearance. These cats tend to be very fast, high jumpers, and demand a lot of attention.

Satyendra Kumar Tiwari / Getty Images

Height: 14 to 18 inchesWeight: 15 to 20 poundsCoat and Color: Short coat, commonly golden, black or silver-tipped with a tabby pattern and may have spots or stripes

Siberian

This unique Siberian cat breed is large, sturdy, and intelligent. It had to be, growing up in an exceptionally unforgiving climate with painfully short summers and long, harsh winters. The breed was domesticated and brought indoors, away from the elements, where its true colors could emerge. Siberian cats are notably affectionate and playful, making great house pets.

CasarsaGuru / Getty Images

Height: 9 to 11 inchesWeight: 10 to 20 poundsCoat and Color: Semi-longhaired, triple-coat that varies from coarse to soft; comes in a wide variety of colors

Savannah

The Savannah cat is a cross between a domestic cat and a serval, a medium-sized African wild cat with distinctly large ears. Its exotic, leopard-like appearance makes the Savannah a commonly desired pet among big cat enthusiasts. Savannah cats are classified by the amount of each breed they contain to inform owners of how genuinely wild they are. For example, F1 and F2 generations are usually the largest and have more genes from the African serval as these are the first and second generations of breeding directly between a wild serval and a domestic cat.

Pierre Adan / Getty Images

Height: 10 to 17 inchesWeight: 12 to 25 poundsCoat and Color: Short to medium length coat; black, brown spotted tabby, black silver spotted tabby, and black smoke with a solid or tabby pattern

American Bobtail

A distinctly short, stubby bobbed tail is what makes this domesticated house cat stand apart from all of the other breeds. It also has long hind legs and an alert hunting gaze—attributes consistent with a bobcat. The breed developed by intentionally breeding stray cats noted to have short tails until over time, a distinct breed was recognized.

asasirov / Getty Images

Height: 9 to 10 inchesWeight: 7 to 16 poundsCoat and Color: Can come in any color or pattern; shaggy coat

Ragamuffin

The ragamuffin is closely related to another larger breed, the ragdoll. The ragamuffin is large, lovable, and mellow. Ragamuffin cats are known for their docile nature and thick, luscious coat. Their personality is quite similar to the ragdoll, but their faces typically have a friendly overall expression with larger, rounder eyes.

sergeyskleznev / Getty Images

Height: 9 to 12 inchesWeight: 8 to 20 poundsCoat and Color: Long and silky coat; white, black, blue, red, lavender, cinnamon, chestnut, platinum, and chocolate colors

Bengal

At first glance, it’s hard to believe the Bengal is a domesticated cat and not wild. With an athletic body and a unique, patterned coat, the Bengal cat breed looks like it’s straight out of the jungle. Bengal owners say this breed is as loving and friendly as other domestic cats. They’re people-oriented cats that love to play and climb all day.

itsabreeze photography / Getty Images

Height: 8 to 10 inchesWeight: 15 to 18 poundsCoat or Color: Short, dense coat; colors include brown tabby, seal sepia tabby, seal mink tabby, seal lynx point, black silver tabby, and other combinations with spotted or marbled patterns

Whether you have a big cat or a little cat, all domesticated cats can acclimate to the size of their owner’s home. But, if you want to avoid having a bigger cat, some breeds are smaller than others. Smaller kitty breeds include the short-legged munchkin, the Singapura, and the Devon Rex.

  • Short-Haired Cat Breeds

  • About the American Bobtail. Cat Fanciers’ Association