Tuesday, October 26, 2010 Longest Cat - world record set by Stewie
RENO, Nev., USA--Stewie, a Maine Coone who is five years old (owners Robin Hendrickson and Erik Brandsness), measures 48 and 1/2 inches from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tailbone - setting the new world record for the Longest domestic cat.
Photo: Robin Henderson stretches out her Maine Coon cat Stewie outside of her home in Reno, Nev. Stewie, a five-year-old Maine Coon owned by Hendrickson and Erik Brandsness, sets the new world record for the World's Longest Cat. AP Photo/Reno Gazette-Journal, Andy Barron
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Stewie's owners, Robin Hendrickson and Erik Brandsness, said they decided to inch their way into the record books after hearing countless remarks about their pet's length.
"The wows and the comments really led us to take a look at this," said Hendrickson, who described Stewie as a "very laid back kinda guy." She added, "I couldn't tell you how many times I have heard that he is the longest cat that person has ever seen."
The average cat spans 18 inches but Ms Hendrickson says Maine Coons are known as 'the gentle giants' of the cat world.
Stewie has been accepted by Guinness World Records as the world's longest cat at 48.5 inches.
The previous Guinness World record for theLongest domestic cat was another Maine Coon, just half an inch shorter.
The Maine Coone is a breed of cat which has a larger bone structure compared to other breeds.
His owners hope that Stewie will use his newfound fame to visit classrooms and bring awareness to animal welfare. "But it wouldn't hurt to see his picture on a bag of cat food," Hendrickson said.
Hendrickson and Erik Brandsness, sets the new world record for the World's Longest Cat. AP Photo/Reno Gazette-Journal, Andy Barron 
