Why are all domestic cats the same size?

Question

Dogs range in size from the tiny lapdogs to the huge Great Dane, but all domestic cats are generally the same size, ie. about 14 inches tall.

Why is this? And if you think it is down to genetics, then why is the opposite true in the wild, where all dogs (dingo, hyena, fox) are essentially the same size, but the cats (lion, tiger, leopard, lynx, ocelot, etc) vary greatly?

In addition, what would be the impact if domestic cats were the size of big dogs? Would we be allowed to keep them as pets?

To the maine coon owner - It is a specifically large breed of cat, but my question is in general terms rather than dealing with specifics. Please read the full question again.

Answer 1

Domestic cats have not been bred for size traits nor have they been specialized for certain tasks like dogs. Dogs are pack animals, like their forbearers wolves. They can be trained to hunt for their owners and can become retrievers, law enforcement tools, sheep herders, guides - all tasks that don't directly benefit them. They've been bred for certain characteristics to enhance their usefulness. Consider the bulldogs, bred strictly for bull and bear baiting several hundred years ago. Or greyhounds and whippets bred for racing. Cats are not pack animals and training them is far more difficult since they require no "leader" as dogs do. The service they provided in the past was strictly pest control and no specific size was necessary for them to catch rats, mice, moles and other small vermin.
Since they've been shown at Cat Shows, they've been bred for specific looks but not for size, other than actually miniturizing some breeds.
If you've ever owned a cat, and I say "owned" with a chuckle, you'd know why we don't want them to be really large. The small ones will bite and claw even people they love on occassion because no matter how tame they are it's their nature to try to establish dominance. Imagine trying to stop a cat the size of a golden retriever from rabbiting your arm in fun. Fun for kitty but a shredded arm for the owner.

Answer 2

Well domestic cats come in all different sizes. I have a Siamese who is tiny. I also have a tabby and she is huge!! Bigger then my small dog. I know several cats that are all different sizes, It depends on the breed.

Well you are right its all about genetics because i have also seen some huge Arctic wolfs that are about 300 lbs. A lot of the wild cats are so big because of natural selection. Often the mothers will kill off the smallest baby when they are born.

I think if domestic cats were the size of say a Labrador it would be horrible because cats are unpredictable and very very dangerous. Their saliva is poisonous and cats are built for killing. Imagine how long their nails would be if they were 100lbs plus. I would be scared to go around it and it would probably eat my little dog. I still want one though.

Answer 3

Humans started using domesticated wolves to help them hunt a long time ago and then specialized them as time passed for different purposes. Cats could do what people wanted them to do, get rid of the vermin that ate their crops, without changing their size or shape. Also, if cats where really large, they could be dangerous. As for the big cats, tigers, lions, etc. they are different species and don't usually interbreed (lions and tigers being an exception) so they stay pretty much the same size throughout their species. Each species has its place in the environment and sometimes the climate helps determine their size. Cougars who live in very cold climate tend to be larger than those who live in warm climates. Siberian Tigers are much larger than Bengals who live in warmer climes.

Answer 4

I think evolution has a lot to do with it. Unlike dogs which evolved from wolves, cats evolved probably out of less of a need to scavenge. The Egyptian's kept cats probably larger than our modern cats, but which were idolised by them. Thus, as they became more domesticated, there was probably less need to be any bigger because they didn't have to hunt to kill (although the instinct is still there) and therefore didn't need to be of such a threatening size. I think Mother Nature decided that there was no need for them to be so big., so genetics comes into it as well.

Answer 5

Wild cats have speciated from the original cat ancestor and adapted to live in different circumstances in different areas of the world. Domestic cats are just that - they are their own species.

Great Danes and Pekinese are still the same species and theoretically can breed together and produce viable offspring. Lions cannot breed with a housecat because they are different species. Being able to produce viable offspring is the criterion for one species to another.

Other posters have stated that it was not necessary to "alter" the housecat to increase its functionality from a human standpoint.

Answer 6

All domestic cats are not the same size.


The maine coon is significantly larger than the siamese, etc.