Meet Fenrir, The World's Tallest Living Domestic Cat

A gentle giant in Farmington Hills, Michigan, has set a Guinness World Record as the world's tallest living domestic cat. Fenrir Powers measured an impressive 18.83 inches on January 29, 2021. The two-year-old Savannah cat's achievement was revealed in the Guinness World Records 2023 edition, released on September 13, 2022.

Savannah cats are a cross between domestic cats and large-eared wild African cats. Measuring between 14 and 17 inches tall, they are the tallest and one of the largest cat breeds. But, Fenrir, who stands a full inch taller, is exceptionally tall even for his breed. "He just grew and grew like Clifford the Big Red Dog," Fenrir's owner, Dr. Will Powers, said in a video about the cat.

Dr. Powers adopted Fenrir when he was just 12 weeks old. The proud owner says the intelligent cat uses his height to his advantage. "When we were trying to take some pictures of him, we had to shut some of the other cats out of the room, and Fenrir decided he didn't want to be in the room anymore," he recalled. "So he stood on his hind legs and opened the door."

When not breaking records, Fenrir spends his time helping anxious patients at the clinic. Powers said, "He wanders around the office receiving pats from people, snoozing on exam room tables, and begging for treats."

Fenrir is not the only celebrity in the Powers household. The physician's other famous cats include Altair Powers and Cygnus Powers — the current and previous Guinness World Record holders for the longest tail on a living domestic cat. Fenrir's late brother Arcturus Powers, who holds the Guinness World Record for the tallest domestic cat ever, was also a family pet. Unfortunately, Cygnus and Arcturus died in a house fire in 2017.

Resources: Guinnessworldrecords.com, USAtoday.com, Cbsnews.com