The record for longest tail belonging to a living domestic housecat belongs to Altair Cygnus Powers, a Maine Coon belonging to Dr. William Powers, a Michigan HIV specialist. Altair’s supremely fluffy tail measures an impressive 16.07 inches, which understandably causes some issues in day-to-day life. Dr. Powers says that Altair is a very playful kitty at heart, but adorably, “gets embarrassed” to play sometimes because his sweeping, floofy tail gets in the way.
Intriguingly, Altair comes from a family of cat record holders, though not by blood. His adopted brother, Fenrir, is currently the tallest living cat in the world at a skyscraping 18.87 inches and gets confused for an ocelot or other wild cats on a regular basis. Before Altair, Dr. Powers owned a cat named Cygnus, who was the previous record holder for the cat with the longest tail. Cygnus’s tail measured a bit longer than Altair’s at a whopping 17.58 inches. Most tragically, Cygnus passed away in an accidental house fire in 2017.
Cats’ tails are one of their most defining traits, from the way it curls to indicate their mood, the way it helps them balance, and more. Let’s check out some more detailed info on cat tails down below, including whether breed affects the tail length and just why a cat’s tail is so darn important.
Does Cat Breed Affect Tail Length?
Yes, a cat’s genetics do affect their tail length. For instance, the Manx breed lacks a tail altogether due to a genetic mutation, while the Savannah breed tends to have longer tails. Cygnus, for example, was a Savannah cat. While a cat’s tail will generally be more or less proportional to their body’s length, certain breeds tend to have shorter or longer tails. To give you a better idea, let’s first briefly take a glimpse at some common cat breeds that tend to have longer tails, then look at some cats with especially short tails.
- American Shorthair
- Cornish Rex
- Egyptian Mau
- Maine Coon
- Savannah
- Scottish Fold
- American Bobtail
- Manx
- Highlander
- Japanese Bobtail
- Pixie-Bob
Why Are Cats’ Tails Important?
Many people think of a cat’s tail as just a wavy little bit connected to a cat’s mood, but it’s more like an extension of their spine that helps them balance. If you’ve ever watched a cat walk atop a perilous fence, you probably didn’t even notice their tail. In those situations, a cat’s tail will seem to wave back and forth, but you can notice a distinct rhythm that’s attached to their footsteps. In fact, the tail acts as a counterweight that works hand in hand with their other senses.
As if that’s not enough, you’ll probably be shocked to learn a cat’s tail does much more than just help with balance. It does several other jobs at the same time, from keeping your cat warm to keeping them upright when they fall. Let’s talk a bit more about the other purposes of a cat’s tail, including why they’re important.
- Communication: Tail position is an unconscious indicator of your cat’s mood, from a petulant, annoyed back-and-forth swish to its default curved shape which signals contented relaxation.
- Righting Reflex: AKA the “cats always land upright” reflex, a kitty’s tail acts as a rudder to control and twist the body as well as a sort of neural signal amplifier to get their muscles moving more quickly.
- Temperature Regulation: When they’re cold, a cat’s tail automatically dilates or closes its blood vessels, which restores blood flow and a sensation of warmth to the rest of the body.
Conclusion
The current record holder for longest cat’s tail goes to Altair Powers, a Maine Coon living in a house of record-breaking kitties, including the current tallest cat. A cat’s tail is critical for maintaining balance, conveying mood, and helping them stay warm, but every cat has a tail that’s as unique as they are.
Featured Image Credit: italay, Shutterstock
