Cat parents might think their kitty may have been packing on the pounds the past few years, but your chubby house cat is no match for the large cats on this list.
Let’s jump right into the ten largest and most magnificent big cats in the world!
#10 Caracal (Caracal caracal)

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Although the caracal cat is the smallest cat on the list, it is not to be underestimated. This graceful and skilled climber is an opportunistic predator eating anything from birds and rodents to domestic cats and dogs.
The caracal is a solitary animal and the largest of Africa’s smaller wildcats. Besides Africa, caracals are found in the edge habitats of woodlands, forests, thickets, rocky hills, and plains of the Arabian and Anatolian peninsula, southwest and Central Asia, Pakistan, and Central India.
Caracal males can reach up to 40 pounds while females top out at about 34. Males can grow as tall as toddlers, at about 16-20″ at the shoulder and 34-39″ in length.
#9 Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)

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The clouded leopard or “Cloudies” are some of the most beautiful wild cats in the world. The medium-sized cats are characterized by a gorgeous coat of black shaded spots resembling clouds, sad eyes, and a stocky build.
Clouded Leopards are primarily arboreal, living in trees of evergreen and tropical forests, armed with many special features to aid in hunting. Their long tails help them balance, and rotating ankles aid in climbing down trees headfirst.
Clouded Leopards are the ninth-largest cat globally, with male Clouded Leopards reaching up to 50 pounds.
#8 Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx)

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The Eurasian lynx is an adaptable cat that inhabits more corners of the globe than any other wild cat, living in temperate and boreal forests of Northern, Central, and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Siberia. Eurasian lynxes have even been spotted in mountainous ranges at altitudes up to 5,500 feet!
These pretty kitties are characterized by white beards, black ear tufts, long legs, and furred paws. These big, furry feet act like snowshoes, allowing these cats to walk atop the snow instead of falling through the surface.
Eurasian lynx is the largest of the four species within the lynx family, Standing at up to 2-1/2 feet, at 4 feet long, and with an average weight of about 50-70 pounds. However, Eurasian lynx living in Siberia can reach up to 92 pounds!
#7 Cheetah – (Acinonyx jubatus)

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Cheetahs are among the most well-known wildcats of the world and the fastest land animal on the planet! These beauties reside primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa; however, a few Asiatic Cheetahs remain in Northern Iran.
Cheetahs can accelerate to 45 mph in 2.5 seconds and reach top speeds of 70 mph. They have flexible spines that allow them to leap up to 25 feet in a single stride! Cheetahs also have special claws that don’t ever wholly retract, acting as cleats to grip the earth and run faster.
Cheetahs are about 55 inches from head to hind, with the tail adding up to 3 feet to overall length. Male cheetahs can weigh up to 160 pounds taking 7th place on the list of the largest cats in the world.
#6 Snow Leopard (Uncia uncia)

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The Snow Leopard residing in Central Asia is also referred to as the “ghost of the mountains.” A well-earned nickname for the cat who lives in the world’s highest ranges with altitudes up to 20,000 feet. They have evolved and adapted to live where oxygen is thin, equipped with wide nasal passages and larger chest cavities. Their chests also double as a shock absorber when leaping up to 50 feet!
These majestic, floofy cats are considered vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. It is tough to know the exact count of Snow Leopards remaining, but the estimate is currently fewer than 7000; that’s not many.
Snow leopards can grow up to 7 feet long, and adult males can weigh up to 168 pounds, making them number six on our list.
#5 Leopard (Panthera pardus)

The Amur leopard has been considered one of the rarest cats on earth.
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The leopard is a graceful cat of the Panthera genus, closely related to lions, tigers, and jaguars. Leopards are found primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa, Central and Western Asia, and Southern Russia.
Living in forests, deserts, and plains, the Leopard uses its golden fur with spots called rosettes to camouflage with its surroundings, making it the perfect predator. Sadly their adaptable skin is their demise as Leopards are often hunted and killed for their coat.
Leopards are about 8 feet long and can weigh up to 200 pounds!
#4 Mountain Lion (Puma concolor)

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The puma or Puma concolor is known by many as a cougar, mountain lion, or even a panther. Mountain lions make their homes all over the Western Hemisphere and throughout the Americas. These cats are plain-looking with a golden coat and black on their ears, tails, and snouts.
Cougars that live closer to the equator are the smallest of the species, then grow in size as the distance from the equator increases. Male cougars can reach up to 9 feet long, 5 feet tall, and weigh 250 pounds!
#3 Jaguar (Panthera onca)

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This elegant cat was named “jaguar” by indigenous people of the Americas, meaning “one who kills with one leap”. Although their leap is impressive at about 20 feet, their powerful bite is what makes them such an effective predator.
Jaguars natural ranges were once in the Southwest U.S., Central and South America, but they have been virtually eliminated in the past few generations. These days Jaguars are mostly confined to the rainforests of the Amazon basin and in the nearby Pantanal wetlands.
Jaguars can grow up to 7 feet long, with a height of 2-1/2 feet, and can weigh up to 290 pounds.
#2 Lion (Panthera leo)

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Also dubbed the “king of beasts,” lions rule Sub-Saharan African grasslands and plains. These glorious cats are characterized by their manes that get darker as they get older, their bonds with others, and their roar.
Many cats are loners, save the couple of years females spend with their cubs. However, Lions are a family that hunt together and are the only cats that roar in unison. In fact, a human can hear a lion’s roar from up to 5 miles away.
Lions are the second biggest cat globally, which isn’t surprising considering the lion is known to eat up to 80 pounds of meat at every meal! As babies, lion cubs are only about 2 – 4 pounds, but not for long. Male lions can reach close to 600 pounds in adulthood, and females can reach up to 400!
#1 Siberian Tiger (Panthera tigris)

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Siberian Tigers are arguably the easiest big cat to recognize. Although many domestic kitties have tiger-like stripes, tigers are one of the only big cats with this cool feature.
Tigers can live anywhere where they can hide and find water and food. You can find Tigers in North Korea, China, Siberia, parts of India, the Russian Far East, and Southwest Asia to the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
A well-fed adult male tiger can grow up to 10 feet long, stand 4 feet tall, and weigh up to 680 pounds, making them the biggest cat on earth. In fact, the largest tiger ever recorded weighed 857 pounds!
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