The Biggest Tiger Ever Recorded In Captivity Was One Huge Cat
With 40 species of wild cats, seven of which inhabit North America, many people will not have the opportunity to see all the big cats in the world. Notably, the Siberian, or Amur tiger, native to Russia, is the largest cat species, with males measuring up to 10 feet, 9 inches in length, standing as tall as 3 feet 6 inches, and weighing between 397 and 675 pounds. However, among Siberian tigers, one stands out as the largest ever recorded.
Owned by American animal trainer Joan Byron Marasek, Jaipur, a Siberian tiger, measured 10 feet, 12 inches in length and weighed 932 pounds. To put it in perspective, Jaipur's length exceeded the height of a basketball hoop, and the massive cat weighed more than a standard grand piano. Raised at Marasek's Tigers Only Preservation, Jaipur's Guinness World Record-breaking measurements were recorded in 1986 and remain unbeaten.
Even those who wonder what life would be like owning a big cat as a pet would find it challenging to imagine managing the sheer size of Jaipur and the amount of care it took to raise such a behemoth. While the large Siberian tiger has passed, the current record holder and largest big cat found in America still offers the chance for feline enthusiasts to witness adorable cats living their best lives, large and proud.
The largest cats you can find in North America
Whether a cat as large as Jaipur will ever exist again remains uncertain; however, the current record holder comes close. Hercules, a cross between a male lion and a tigress known as a liger, resides at the Myrtle Beach Safari in South Carolina. Measuring 10 feet, 11 inches in length and 4 feet, 1 inch at the shoulders and weighing 922 pounds, Hercules is undoubtedly a massive cat that knows how to draw an audience.
@myrtlebeachsafari big chungus
Among the seven wild species native to the Americas — jaguars, pumas (also known as mountain lions or cougars), ocelots, Canada lynx, jaguarundis, bobcats, and margays — the largest is the jaguar. Jaguars inhabit the southwestern mountains of the United States, with males growing up to 2 feet, 7 inches tall at the shoulder, reaching lengths of 6 feet, and weighing as much as 250 pounds. The puma follows closely behind in size, weighing up to 200 pounds.
Thankfully, there are plenty of opportunities for feline enthusiasts to see some of the biggest cats, whether in captivity or in the wild. For more awe-inspiring content about large felines, check out our article on the best big cat moms in the wild.