Mr. Pugsley Addams, also known as Puggy, is no stranger to attention. The nearly two-year-old Maine coon cat has become a star in the Cameron household in Orono, Minnesota, where he lives with three other beautiful Maine coons. However, what truly sets Pugsley apart from his feline siblings is his record-breaking tail, which now holds the title of the world’s longest tail on a living domestic cat.
Pugsley’s tail measures an astonishing 18.5 inches, and it was officially recognized by the Guinness World Records in March. Amanda Cameron, Pugsley’s owner, recalls how it all began when friends, family, and even their veterinarian started commenting on the extraordinary length of his tail. Curious, Amanda and her children decided to look into the current record.
“I submitted the record a year ago, and we just remeasured it a month ago, and it’s grown another two centimeters. It just keeps growing. The vets don’t know what’s going on,” Amanda said.
Previously, the longest tail was measured at 16.07 inches and belonged to a cat in Michigan. While it’s possible that Pugsley’s tail is so long due to extra or unusually long vertebrae, it doesn’t seem to cause him any trouble—aside from the occasional accident when family members step on it. After much paperwork, witness testimony, and notarization, the Camerons received confirmation that Pugsley had earned the world record, and soon, the world found out too.
Pugsley’s story quickly spread to major news outlets, including USA Today and People Magazine. The cat’s newfound fame reached far beyond the U.S., with coverage in the U.K., Pakistan, and Turkey. “It’s been all over. It’s kinda crazy,” Amanda said. “I think people are really hungry for news that doesn’t suck right now.”
The Camerons’ journey with Maine coons began in 2022 when they welcomed their first Maine coon, Dutchess, into the family. Joie, their daughter, had been asking for a cat ever since she could talk. “I love them so much,” said Joie, now 10. “I just feel like they’re really pretty, and I would just choose them over dogs.”
Joie had a specific vision for her cat: she wanted the world’s fluffiest white cat. Amanda began searching for a Maine coon from a breeder in Ukraine, and during the process, she decided to adopt one for herself. As a result, Dutchess and Winifred were flown to Minnesota.
The family then added Gomez, a cat re-homed from Wisconsin, originally from Russia. Finally, they brought in Pugsley, the youngest of the bunch. The family’s Maine coon cats were all named after characters from “The Addams Family,” “The Aristocats,” and “Hocus Pocus,” and each member of the family has a special bond with their particular cat. For Pugsley, that special person is 12-year-old Finn.
Finn and Joie said they couldn’t wait to share the big news with their friends at school when they found out that Pugsley had set a world record. Now, Pugsley is enjoying his moment in the spotlight, something the Cameron family feels he’s always deserved.
“It’s been super exciting. They’re just nice pets to have around,” Finn said about their four Maine coons.
Pugsley is known for being mischievous, curious, and incredibly smart, much like the character he’s named after. He’s also never one to turn down a cuddle, making him the perfect companion.
As for the future, the Camerons don’t plan to add any more cats to their family at the moment, as they’ve reached the city limit. However, Pugsley’s tail is likely to continue growing a bit longer. “Maine coons aren’t fully grown until they’re four or five, and they don’t grow a whole lot after they are about one and a half or two, but they fill out. I think it’ll probably grow another centimeter or two,” Amanda predicted.
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