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World’s largest domestic cat stretches over 4 feet

5-year-old Maine Coon sets new Guinness world record

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Image: Stewie, world's longest cat, and co-owner, Robin Hendrickson
Andy Barron  /  AP
In this July 1, 2009 photo, Robin Hendrickson stretches out her 48-1/2-inch Maine Coon cat, Stewie, outside of her home in Reno, Nev.
updated 10/20/2010 7:25:51 AM ET 2010-10-20T11:25:51

RENO, Nev. — A cat in Reno has broken the Guinness world record for world's longest domestic cat.

The Reno Gazette-Journal reported that a 5-year-old Maine Coon named Stewie was certified as the new record holder after measuring 48.5 inches from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail bone. That's a little more than 4 feet long.

Slideshow: Guinness World Records 2011 (on this page)

The record was previously held by another Maine Coon that measured 48 inches.

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Stewie's owners, Robin Hendrickson and Erik Brandsness, said they decided to try for the record after hearing countless people say they were amazed by Stewie's length.

Hendrickson said Maine Coons are known as "the gentle giants" of the cat world.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Photos: Guinness World Records 2011

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  1. World's shortest living man

    Junrey Balawing smiles as he is presented with a Guinness World Records certificate for being the world's shortest living man following the last of a series of measurement conducted in Southern Philippines, Sunday June 12, 2011, his 18th birthday and coincidentally the Philippines' Independence Day. Balawing was officially measured at at 59.93 centimeters, or 23.5 inches. (Bullit Marquez / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
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  3. Biggest human smiley

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  4. Loudest purr by a domestic cat

    The loudest purr by a domestic cat -- 67.7 decibels -- was achieved on March 25, 2011 by Smokey, a furry feline owned by Lucinda Ruth Adams in Northampton, United Kingdom. Smokey's purr is as loud as busy traffic, a hair dryer or a vacuum cleaner. (Guinness World Records) Back to slideshow navigation
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  6. Fastest motorcycle hearse

    The Rev. Ray Biddiss says a prayer after setting a Guinness World Record for the world's fastest motorcycle hearse at Elvington Airfield in Yorkshire, England on May 10, 2011. Biddiss, 57, set a record of 114 mph in his specially built "trike-hearse." To be recognized by Guinness World Records, he had to reach a speed of more than 80 mph. (John Giles / Pa / EPA) Back to slideshow navigation

  7. Longest career as an entertainment news host

    Guinness World Records officially recognized television personality Mary Hart with the “Longest Career as an Entertainment News Host” for her tenure of 29 years as the host of CBS Television Distribution’s "Entertainment Tonight." The record accomplishment came shortly after her announcement that her final episode would air on May 20, 2011. (Guinness World Records) Back to slideshow navigation

  8. Largest gathering of people wearing costume masks

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  9. Widest mouth

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  10. Youngest perfect Dance Dance Revolution gamer

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  11. Highest Guitar Hero 3 score by a female

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  12. Largest Super Mario collection

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  13. Most perfect Wii bowling games

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  14. World’s largest shoe

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  15. Most dogs in costumed attire gathered in a single location

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  16. Largest melodica ensemble

    A total of 158 elementary-school-aged children from Hikone, Shiga, Japan earned a Guinness World Record for the largest melodica ensemble attempt on Nov. 18. The record they had to beat was 126. (Guinness World Records via EPA) Back to slideshow navigation
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  17. Oldest wing walker

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  18. Flame blowing records

    Preacher Muaddib of Ireland achieved three records: the “most consecutive fire flames blown by mouth” with 16 flames; the “most fire flames blown by mouth” with 69 flames; and the “most fire torches lit and extinguished in one minute.” (Tim Anderson / Guinness World Records via EPA) Back to slideshow navigation
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  19. Highest kicks by a single chorus line

    The Moulin Rouge can-can dancers in Paris, France broke the record by having 30 dancers perform 24 high kicks in a single minute. (Miguel Medina / Guinness World Records via EPA) Back to slideshow navigation

  20. Largest pop group

    All-female Japanese pop group AKB48 feature a total of 48 members (split into three groups -- Team A, Team K and Team B -- of 16 members each). The “AKB” is short for their home district in Tokyo, Akihabara. They released their first single, “Sakura No Hanabiratachi,” in 2006. (Guinness World Records via EPA) Back to slideshow navigation

  21. Largest industrial screw mosaic

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  22. World’s largest painting

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  23. Largest maple leaf

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  24. Largest Macarena dance

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  25. World's heaviest shoes

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  27. Biggest bottle cap scultpure

    Alistair Galpin poses with the largest bottle cap sculpture, made of 19,205 caps, in Auckland, New Zealand. The caps were used to create a sculpture in the shape of rugby ball. It took 18 months to complete and was finished to unveil on Guinness World Records Day. (Guinness World Records via EPA) Back to slideshow navigation

  28. Most arrows caught by hand

    Joe Alexander catches 43 arrows from the air, shot by German archers Peter Dubberstein and Robin Puls in Germany. Alexander caught 43, and the record to beat was 36. (Guinness World Records via EPA) Back to slideshow navigation
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  30. Oldest twins in the world

    Sisters Ena Pugh, right, and Lily Millward have been confirmed as the oldest twins in the world at 100 years and 10 months. Both live in the United Kingdom. (Wales News Service) Back to slideshow navigation
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  31. Largest collection of navel fluff

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  34. Largest enchilada

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  36. Largest modeling balloon sculpture

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  37. Longest nose

    The longest nose on a living person measures 8.8 cm (3.46 in) long from the bridge to the tip and belongs to Mehmet Ozyurek (Turkey). It was measured on the set of Lo Show dei Record in Rome, Italy, on March 18, 2010 (Paul Michael Hughes / Guinness World Records) Back to slideshow navigation

  38. Shortest man

    Khagendra Thapa Magar entered the record books as the world's shortest man, standing at just 25.8 inches as he celebrated his 18th birthday. Magar is from Nepal and the son of a fruit seller. He weighs about 12 pounds. (Prakash Mathema / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
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  39. Longest tongue on a dog

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  40. Most spoons balanced on a face

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  41. Most straws stuffed in a mouth

    The most straws stuffed in a mouth is 400, achieved by Simon Elmore (Germany), who held them there for 10 seconds at the Mark 'n' Simon Show, Sollhuben, Bavaria, Germany, on Aug. 6, 2009 (John Wright / Guinness World Records) Back to slideshow navigation

  42. Largest collection of Smurfs

    Stephen Parkes (UK) began collecting Smurfs as a child, when they were sold by a chain of garages across the UK, and has never stopped. As of Jan. 28, 2010, his collection totals 1,061 and includes Christmas Smurfs, Easter Smurfs and Smurfs dressed as historical figures. (Ranald Mackechnie / Guinness World Records) Back to slideshow navigation

  43. Shortest cow

    The shortest cow is 85 cm (33.5 inches) from rear foot to hind and was achieved by Swallow, a Dexter cow owned by Martyn and Caroline Ryder (both UK), measured at Pike End Farm, Rishworth, United Kingdom, on Sept. 14, 2009. (Ranald Mackechnie / Guinness World Records) Back to slideshow navigation
    Image:
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  44. Heaviest limousine

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  45. Most bottles recycled by a dog

    A Labrador called Tubby, owned by Sandra Gilmore of Pontnewydd, Torfaen, UK, has helped recycle an estimated 26,000 plastic bottles over the past six years by collecting them on his daily walks, crushing them and passing them to his owner. (Paul Michael Hughes / Guinness World Records) Back to slideshow navigation
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  46. Longest hair

    The world's longest documented hair belongs to Xie Qiuping (China) at 5.627 meters (18 feet 5.54 inches) when measured on May 8, 2004. She has been growing her hair since 1973 from the age of 13. (John Wright / Guinness World Records) Back to slideshow navigation
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  47. Heaviest shoes walked in

    The heaviest shoes walked in weighed 122.8 kilograms (270.73 pounds) and were used by Zhang Zhenghui (China) on the set of Lo Show dei Record in Rome, Italy, on March 18, 2010. (Paul Michael Hughes / Guinness World Records) Back to slideshow navigation
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  1. Image: Junrey Balawing, Reynaldo Balawing, Craig Glenday, Filomeno Sy
    Bullit Marquez / AP
    Above: Slideshow (48) Guinness World Records 2011
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