How Tall Is A Cat When Sitting – Average Height & More

Cats are some of the most majestic creatures out there when they’re sitting. They look so calm and collected, especially when they wrap their tails around themselves simultaneously. 

But it’s common for people to be surprised by how big cats are when they stand up. Sitting down hides a lot of your cat’s height and length and makes it harder to see their real size. 

So, how tall is an average cat when sitting?

The average seated height for all domesticated cats is about 9.5 inches tall. However, your cat might be smaller or larger than that, depending on its breed and gender. Some breeds are taller than others and show it when they sit. Female cats are usually 1-2 inches smaller than male cats of the same breed. 

So, there’s a lot of variation among domesticated cats, but the average is a good ballpark if you don’t know your cat’s measurements. 

Of course, if you do need to know your cat’s measurements to estimate their current weight or figure out how much food they need in a day, we’ve got you covered. We’ll talk about cat measurement, their relative size for different kinds of breeds, and everything else you need to know about your cat’s size. 

What Are The Measurements Of A Cat

The most critical measurements of your cat are usually height, length, and their chest/belly measurement. Those measurements will be a little different for every cat, but most cats are a foot tall or shorter, about two feet long, tail length included, and about 10-14 inches around. 

Small cats should be on the small side of the around measurement, but larger breeds should also get proportionately larger. 

Of course, you’ll need to measure your cat if you want to get an accurate measurement of their size. A soft measuring tape is usually the best tool; the biggest trick is to get your cat to hold still! 

The other important measurement for your cat is usually only necessary if you want to fit them for a harness. This measurement is a diagonal circle from the back of their shoulders to the front of their chest. 

Usually, cats are a little narrower in this measurement than their chest/belly measurement. Still, it’s one of the most critical measurements for harnesses because it helps ensure they have plenty of room to breathe, move, and jump. 

How Do You Measure A Cat’s Height

There are two different measures of your cat’s height that you can use. Some people measure their cat’s height at the shoulders; others measure from the top of their head to the floor. However, the trick with both of these measurements is that your cat might not want to cooperate. 

Measuring their height at the shoulder is usually easier and more accurate than measuring from the top of the head. 

To measure your cat’s height at the shoulder, the easiest option is usually to hold them under their chest and with just a tiny bit of lift to stop them from squirming. The goal is to hold them well enough you can get an accurate measurement without lifting them high enough to increase their height measurement. 

How Tall Are Cats At The Shoulder

The average cat height is about 10 inches at the shoulder, but they can be up to about 15 inches tall at the shoulder for the biggest breeds. Smaller cats might be as little as 6 inches at the shoulder, especially if they’re both a small breed and female. 

However, your cat’s height at the shoulder shouldn’t have a significant impact on their health, other than it tells you a bit about how much food they need in a day. Their weight will always be the more important measurement for food intake, though. 

How Big Is A Medium-Sized Cat

A medium-sized cat will be about average when it comes to domesticated cat sizes. That means they’ll probably be about 10 inches tall at the shoulder, and probably 9-10 inches around at the chest, and about a foot long from head to the start of their tail. 

How Big Is A Large Domestic Cat

A large domestic cat is any cat that’s bigger than average, so anything taller than 10 inches at the shoulder and ten or more inches around. The range is pretty big when it comes to big, domesticated cats. Everything from 10.5 inches tall to almost two feet tall for the biggest breeds. 

What Size Onesie Fits A Cat

It might seem a little strange to put your cat in a onesie, but they’re a great solution to a lot of problems. 

For instance, if your cat needs to have gastric surgery for any reason, putting them in a onesie while they recover can help protect the incision and prevent infections and irritation. 

Onesies are also a great alternative to cat sweaters and other clothing that’s designed for cats and more expensive. They can be good options if you need to keep your cat warm, know they have a sore you want to keep under control, want to give them a little extra warmth after a lion clip. 

Most cats fit in a 0-3 month onesie, but some will need a slightly larger size or will only fit the larger onesies in that category. 

Things To Consider

The size of your cat might not be as important as you think, or not in the ways you think, but it does mean a few critical things in terms of how you take care of them. 

For instance, smaller cats need less food than large cats, and it’s easier for them to get overweight if you overfeed them. But large cats need to control their weight even more closely than most small ones because their higher healthy weight already puts more stress on their joints. 

Letting a larger cat get overweight can make it harder for them to move, especially for them to jump and play. 

You may also have a hard time getting a good measurement from your cats. Since cats are very flexible and usually don’t like holding still. 

Even careful measurements can give you different results each time. It’s a good idea to take two or three different measurements and compare them to see the most accurate measurement. 

Remember, no matter what size your cat is, your bond is the most important thing. Some people feel like a larger or smaller cat would be better, but realistically it’s hard to predict the size of an adult cat from their kitten self. So, it’s better to accept whatever size your cat turns out to be. 

Besides, your cat’s size and personality aren’t that connected, and personality is always more important in a cat!