Meet world’s biggest cat ‘Barivel’ – the 3ft 11in feline who needs walking in BUGGY… and people think he’s photoshopped
THE world's longest cat is so huge that some fans question if he's real, his owner said.
Barivel, a 3ft 11in moggy in Italy, set the world record for his incredible length.
Edgar Scandurra and Cinzia Tinnirello, Barivel's owners, said the feline was a special cat for the family.
Edgar said: "He is a little shy and when people see him, they are very shocked.
"For us, he's a little gift. A big gift."
Barivel was born in September 2016 - and he was two years old when he broke records in 2018, measuring 120cm.
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Longer than a baseball bat at the time, the family said they expected Barivel to grow a little more.
Maine Coon's don't stop growing until they are between three and five years old.
Of his large size, Edgar said: "A lot of people, when I post a photo, ask in a direct message, if he's photoshopped because of Barivel's large size.
When the family first got Barivel, they were a little shocked at his size compared to the other cats they own.
Edgar said: "He was very calm and very shy. He is a very good cat.
"We like to go outside but we like to go with the buggy. People are very surprised to see him. It's strange to see a cat outside in a buggy.
"They want to take a photo of him and want to pet him."
But with a massive cat like Barivel, the record books were never far from Edgar and Cinzia's minds.
They said: "From the start, we thought about this Guinness World Records title... for us he is like a gift."
And Barivel has found fame online - with an Instagram account and thousands of followers.
Pictures show the furry feline playing with his toys and dressed up in Santa hats and sunglasses.
A big cat like Barivel has a big appetite, his owners said.
"But when strangers come to the house, everyone first confuses him with a dog."
Maine Coon's are one of the largest breeds of domesticated cats.
They originated in Maine and have a distinctive physical appearance and a dense coat of fur which helps with the cold Maine climate.
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According to the American Cat Fanciers Association, Maine Coon's are also known to have a dog-like disposition and gets along well with children, other cats and dogs.
The owners of Barivel and Kefir were contacted for comment.
World's biggest animals
BARIVEL the Maine Coon cat might be the longest domesticated cat in the world, but how does he compared to the some of the world's largest living animals?
The Blue Whale is currently the largest animal alive, the Blue Whale averages approximately 110 tonnes and 79 ft.
The African Bush Elephant is the largest of all elephants. Its average weight is 6 tonnes and they can reach up to 10.4 tonnes and measure 23 ft.
Saltwater Crocodiles are the larges of the reptiles. They often weigh between 1,000 - 2,000 lbs and average about 14.8 ft. A crocodile called Cassius in Australia is the largest living saltwater crocodile in the world.
The Common Ostrich is the largest bird in the world. Ostriches weight 230 lbs and are approximately 6.9 ft