Which is larger — a rat or a cat? - briefly
A cat exceeds a rat in size, typically weighing 4–5 kg and measuring 23–25 cm at the shoulder, whereas a common rat weighs 0.2–0.5 kg and measures about 20 cm in total length. Consequently, felines are markedly larger than rodents.
Which is larger — a rat or a cat? - in detail
A common laboratory rat measures 20–25 cm from nose to the base of the tail, with a tail length of 15–20 cm. Body mass typically ranges from 200 g to 500 g, with some individuals reaching 700 g under optimal conditions.
A domestic cat stands 23–25 cm at the shoulder, the torso extending 46–51 cm in length, and the tail adding another 30 cm. Adult weight usually falls between 3 kg and 5 kg; large breeds or well‑fed individuals can exceed 8 kg.
Size comparison
Even the smallest mature cat outweighs the largest typical rat by at least a factor of four, and its overall body dimensions are roughly double those of a rat. Variations such as dwarf rat strains or giant cat breeds narrow the gap slightly, but the cat remains the larger animal in all standard measurements.