- Fenrir, a two-year-old Savannah cat from Michigan, has been named the tallest living domestic cat by Guinness World Records.
- His siblings previously had titles of their own, including the powers of Altair Cygnus and the powers of Arcturus Aldebaran.
- Fenrir’s owner said he wants to use the title to help stray cats and shelters in Detroit.
He likes treats, helps patients relax in the doctor’s office, and is now the tallest living house cat in the world.
Fenrir Antares Powers, a 2-year-old Savannah cat, measured 18.83 inches on January 29, 2021. His record was published in the Guinness World Records 2023 edition.
Savannah cats like Fenrir are crosses between domestic cats and big-eared wild African cats, according to the International Cat Association. The crossbreed gained popularity in the 1990s, and in 2001, the association accepted Savannahs as a registered breed.
Fenrir’s owner is Michigan physician and HIV specialist Will Powers, the website said. Powers adopted Fenrir when Fenrir was only 12 weeks old.
“He grew and grew like Clifford, the big red dog,” Powers said in a video about the kitten.
And Fenrir’s family is no stranger to fame. Four of Powers’ cats have officially won Guinness World Records.
Famous cats in the family include:
- Altair Cygnus Powers: The Guinness World Record holder for the longest tail of a living domestic cat. Its tail measures 16.07 inches.
- Arcturus Aldebaran Powers: The Guinness World Record holder for tallest cat in history, and previously held the title of tallest living domestic cat. He died in a fire in 2017.
- Cygnus Regulus Powers: A silver Maine Coon who held the record for the longest tail on a living domestic cat. Cygnus also died in the 2017 fire.
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The last record of the family, Fenrir, is slightly taller than the medium-sized Savannah cats; they usually measure between 14 and 17 inches, the Guinness website said. He may end up taller than his late brother, Arcturus.
Fenrir, whom Powers lovingly calls “Fen”, is friendly and outgoing. She also loves helping Powers’ office calm anxious and stressed patients.
He also has a “ravenous” hunger and has had his diet limited because he’s getting too big, Powers said in a video.
And Fenrir’s height helps him do things others can’t.
“When we were trying to take some pictures of him, we had to lock some of the other cats out of the room, and Fenrir decided he didn’t want to be in the room anymore,” she recalled. “So he got on his hind legs and opened the door.”
He also grabs things off the counter if he sees them.
It’s still growing, and some people mistake the feline for a small panther, cougar or ocelot, Powers said.
“That can scare people, and they shy away from him in fear, but once I explain that he’s a therapy cat and very friendly, people are happy to go up to him,” Powers told Guinness World Records.
The doctor admits that he does everything for his cats, and even joked that his father wants to be reincarnated as one of them because of how much he loves them.
But Powers realizes that not all cats are so lucky. Because of this, he wants to use the Fenrir registry to organize charity events and raise money for stray and shelter cats in Detroit.
Powers, who is president of a cat shelter and has six cats in total, said the cats have helped her a lot since the fire that took two of her feline friends.
“They make my life good,” he said. “They did me good. I guess they gave me a reason to get out of this hole.”
Saleen Martin is a reporter for USA TODAY’s NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757 – and loves all things horror, witches, Christmas and food. Follow her on Twitter at @Saleen_Martin or email him at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
