Are Cats bigger now that they were in the past& why?

Question

Used to be cats were in my opinion smaller and some pictures my mother has of their pet cars show them as litteraly half the size of today's cats, even pictures of fat cats. Today's cats seem to be really big like a small dog. Are we breeding cars to be bigger or is it hormones in what we feed them. Kind of like how rats are getting bigger too.

WonderingManII · Accepted Answer

I ran a search on google. Are Cats bigger now?

Google AI Response.

Yes, it appears that cats have become larger over time, with a study suggesting an increase in size by 16% between the Viking Age and modern times. This increase is likely due to factors like greater food availability, a shift in human culture, and possibly genetic changes.

Here's a more detailed look at the topic:

Evidence of Increased Size:
A study published in the Danish Journal of Archaeology compared cat skulls from various Danish archaeological sites, dating back to the late Bronze Age to the 1600s, and found that cats have grown significantly in size.

The study indicates that the average cat today is 16% larger than it was during the

Viking Age.
Possible Reasons for Increased Size:
Greater food availability:

As cats became domesticated, they had access to a more reliable and varied food supply, which could have contributed to their larger size.
Shift in culture:

Human cultures have changed over time, and these changes may have influenced how humans interact with and care for cats, potentially impacting their size.

Genetic shift:
The study suggests that there may also be a genetic component to this increase in size, with cats evolving to become larger over time.
Important Considerations:

While the overall trend is towards larger cats, it's important to note that there's a wide range of sizes within the cat population, and some breeds are known for being significantly larger than others.

The size of a cat is also influenced by factors like diet, activity level, and genetics.

Lliam · Accepted Answer

There's evidence suggesting that some feral cats in Australia are indeed getting larger. While not all feral cats are gigantic, some individuals have been reported to be significantly larger than domestic cats, and there's speculation that this may be due to natural selection favoring larger individuals in a new environment.

Some can weigh about 3–6 kg (6 kg is 13.2 lbs), with body lengths ranging from 40–60 cm. (60 cm = 23.6") Males are usually larger than females. Most feral cats are short haired and not showy breeds like siamese or persian. Coat colours range between ginger, tabby, tortoiseshell, grey and black.

Those cats aren't gigantic. My wife and have a super fluffy, marmalade-orange, part Maine coon male named POTUS (Poatie) that is the same size as the largest feral cats in Australia. 2' body length and 12.5 lbs. My sister's cat is almost that large. And I've seen larger domestic cats.

FreyaRed · Accepted Answer

They are top predators and they grow like humans do due more protein rich diet. Humans were 30-40cm smaller 600 years ago, you can see it on armors from XII-XIV century. I guess this is some hormonal thing or some specific protein in food, because 200 years like in case of those cats is too short time for effective natural selection caused by evolutionary pressure.

purplepoppy · Accepted Answer

I've yet to see a rat report in the British tabloids where they're not described as "big as cats".

But you might have a point with cats. Here in the UK we get a lot of "big cat" sightings, usually accompanied with a blurry photo of a cat in a field. I think these are just normal cats but people think cats are smaller

MisterWack · Answer

Apparently in my 2 seconds of research there was a scientific article that compared domesticated cat skeletons over different time periods and have concluded that cats have gotten bigger by a substantial amount.

I don’t really know for sure, here is the link:

https://www.science.org/content/article/viking-cat-skeletons-reveal-surprising-growth-size-felines-over-time

RavVid · Answer

Driving along a gravel country road I've seen at cat loping along. I actually exclaimed "what was that" to my companions because it looked cat like but was far too big. Reputedly our Aussie feral cats can be as large as a small dingo. One was measured at 5' 9" inches (176 cm) from nose to tail tip with DNA confirmation it was a cat.

That is a huge tabby.

I like large cats myself and when I do get a new one I will select a big tabby. So collectively we might be selecting them bigger. I'm doing my bit towards the evolution of knee high cats.

Joshydavid25 · Answer

I remember my exes friend's cat.. And sheesh those were huge.. Tall and athletic.. If cats could be basketball players, they definitely would be.. I don't know if they were a certain breed or what.. I usually think that cats are adorable but... I didn't know about those cats.. So I guess I could believe that they were getting biggee..

bolverk · Answer

It would not be surprising if Feral Cats in the Australian Bush are getting larger as it is truly a Darwinian place, where the weakest of them will be weeded out, and being larger than your average house cats would give them advantages.

Makeushiver · Answer

Most animals grew bigger until humans gained the ability to walk upright so they they could see over the tall savannah grasslands were most big cats live. The second big step for humans to become apex predators was learning to hunt in packs. Then as brains got larger and more "technological" skills in tool and weapon making sealed the deal. In many places humans were scarce (Arctic and Siberia) Mammoths and the white grizzlies we call polar bears remained longer

Sunrising · Answer

I've not noticed any difference in the domestic cat size.

NoDecision · Answer

They are bigger because people feed them too much.  FEED ME!!

glennos89 · Answer

Cats come in many different sizes depending on the different breeds.

I do know that humans have cross breeds between lions and tigers which resulted in the birth of the biggest of all big cats called a "Liger". If I'm correct it was created breeding a male lion with a female tiger

Anonymous · Answer

I've seen cats 20lb to 34lb in USA... because are obese. not sure, I suspect global climate change favors more food... which makes for larger animals.

aren't humans larger too?

Get a 10,000 year freeze and I suspect we go backwards again.

Zack-Bann · Answer

Humans are bigger as well We feed them just as we feed ourselves, abundantly and relying on processed foods

Lilizabeth · Answer

Nay, absolutely not, who is't toldeth thee this tush tush?

Massageman · Answer

I'm getting bigger, but my specie isn't changing. They may be bigger, but the scare headline from the pic doesn't seem to follow logically.

exitseven · Answer

My cats were pretty big. I think it was because they ate well.

Sevenpointfive · Answer

i've seen cats bigger than raccoons. there must be a reason... maybe they're cheaper than cows to breed and cat will be soon on the menu?

Anonymous · Answer

I didn't read the question content, just here to say

Sal_Monella · Answer

Subspecies, perhaps, emphasizing their environment.

Professor-college · Answer

Wild cats are probably getting a little bigger but domestic ones are just the same because they don't have to grow larger in size

Danny_dan92 · Answer

There’s a possibility. That’s part of evolution and why there are multiple species

Babebytheshore85 · Answer

Those are not domestic cats pictured

Dongie · Answer

"Than" they were? No.

Sluttt · Answer

They become pussy cat like michelleobama

jahaims · Answer

Open a book

Bklynbadboy12 · Answer

Nope they are about the same size

EmmiL · Answer

Yes I don't get it

beefcakebradybatson · Answer

Yes.

Anonymous · Answer

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