What is the oldest that anyone has had a pet cat live to be?

Question

I had a cat called Bonnie and she lived to be nearly 20, I know this is pretty old, but I often wonder how many other cats have reached this age.

Before anyone says it she did not have any major health problems that meant that she should have been put to sleep. Apart from having dodgy eyesite and being a bit senile, but she was happy until the day she died, always purring.

Genuine answers only please.

Sorry I do not seem to have made myself very clear, she wasn't put down. What I meant was I have had people say before that she was probably suffering due to being so old and that it would have been kinder to have her put down.

Answer 1

Hi Steve & Mel...here are some of the statistics of the oldest pet cats:

http://www.petplace.com/cats/world-s-oldest-cat-140-in-human-years-but-who-s-counting/page1.aspx
Until he passed away at the ripe old age of 31 in July 2001, the world's oldest cat was chasing spiders without the equivalent of a feline walking cane. Spike, a British ginger and white tom, had been certified as the world's oldest living cat by the Guinness Book of Records in 1999, when the sprightly kitty was just 29.

http://www.messybeast.com/longevity.htm
In November 1972, the American Feline Society heard of a 37 year old cat living in Hazleton, Pennsylvania. When the AFS investigated, the claim turned out to be based on the combined life-spans of 3 different cats.

According to Guinness World Records, the oldest cat ever was Creme Puff, born August 3, 1967 and still living at the age of 37 in 2004. Creme Puff was owned by Jake Perry of Austin, Texas, USA.

After Creme Puff, the oldest cats ever are generally reckoned to be Puss (36 years, 1 day), Ma (34 years) and Granpa (34 years, 2 months). Puss was born in 1903 and was owned by Mrs T Holway of Clayhidon, Devon. Puss died on 29th November, 1939, one day after his 36th birthday.

Puss's case is not very well documented and doubts have been cast on its authenticity. The oldest reliably recorded cat was a female tabby named Ma, owned by Alice St George Moore of Drewsteignton, England. Ma was put to sleep on November 5, 1957 at the age of 34 years. Although 2 years younger than Puss, Ma's case is more reliably recorded. As a small kitten, Ma got her paw caught in a gin trap (steel jaw trap) and it was doubtful that she would survive. Though she survived, the injury worsened with age and Ma was cared for especially carefully. This was believed to be the secret of her longevity. Ma's natural diet of meat from the local butcher and a relaxed lifestyle (her owners were classical musicians) were also considered factors.

Granpa Rexs Allen, a Sphynx adopted from a Texas Humane Society, reached 34 years, 2 months and 4 hours old in 1998 (pedigree cats have the advantage of detailed birth records). He was adopted from the Humane Society of Travis County, Texas by Jake Perry on January 16, 1970. Granpa had been found as a stray in danger of being run over. Realising that Granpa was a Sphynx (then a rare breed), Perry put up posters in case anyone had any information about him. He received a call from the cat's former owner, Mme Sulinaberg from Paris, France. Sulinaberg had been visiting her daughter in December 1969 and her cat, Pierre, had escaped through an unlocked screen door. Sulinaberg checked the cat and agreed to let Perry keep the cat. She gave him Pierre's pedigree papers although by that time Perry had registered the cat as Granpa Rexs Allen with TICA as a household pet. The pedigree papers stated that Pierre had been born in Paris, France on the morning of 1st February, 1964. His sire was a Devon Rex (a permitted outcross for the Sphynx breed) called Pierre II and his mother was a Sphynx called Queen of France. Like Ma, Granpa was a cosseted cat, but his diet included bacon and eggs, broccoli, asparagus, mayonnaise and coffee with lots of cream!

Several other cats have been verified as reaching their 30s. In September 1955, a cat from Los Angeles, California died at the ripe old age of 33 years, 4 months. The name was not given, but the cat had been born in Surbiton, Surrey, England in 1922 and had gone to the USA with its owners. Bobby, a neutered male owned by Miss B Fenlon of Enniscorthy, County Wexford, Ireland, died on 5 July, 1973 at the age of 32 years 3 weeks. Selina, a silver tabby shorthair, owned by Mrs Margaret Chapman of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, England, died on 28 August 1983 at the age of 32 years. Fluff, a black-and-white domestic Persian-cross longhair, bought as a kitten by neighbours of Marjorie and Ken Wren of Gosport, Hampshire, UK, became the oldest living cat in 2003, at the age of 31. Fluff's longevity was attributed to her laid-back life style .

Longevity is partly influenced by genes which explains why "twin" cats (i.e. littermates) Ginger and Sandy both lived into their twenties. They were born on 18 May 1956 and owned by Miss Pat Hillman of Birmingham. Sandy died aged 20 years, 5 months and 3 weeks on 7 January 1977. Ginger was put to sleep aged 21 years, 3 months and 3 weeks on 8 September 1978.

On the whole, moggies are considered to be longer lived and more robust than purebred cats (due to the greater degree of inbreeding in purebred cats). Fluff, a Blue Persian owned by Mrs Mary Forster of Dalbeattie, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland, died on 15 October 1982 at the age of 29 years 7 months. An unnamed blind Blue-Point Siamese owned by Mr Howard Little of Redwood City, California, USA was recorded as being 25 years and 8 months in November 1975. A 27 year old Burmese called Kataleena Lady, owned by Mrs V Hayward of Melbourne, Australia was still living in 2004.

http://www.recordholders.org/en/news/news056.html
Granpa Breaks "Oldest Cat" World Record
It’s official. In mid-August, the Guinness Book of World Records confirmed that Granpa, who appeared in the March 1997 Cat Fancy centerfold, was the world's longest-living cat. Granpa, who died on April 1, 1998, lived to be 34 years, two months and four hours. The previous record was 34 years and one day and had been set in 1957 by a tabby from England.

Answer 2

Sorry for your loss. I keep in touch with a gentlemen from this forum. He told me 32 years was the oldest cat!! My brother had also told me that a friend of his had cats live to be 20-22 years old. And good for you! No, she should not have been put to sleep. I will report any knucklehead that tells you that. And thank you for......I was going to ask if a cat still purrs even before they are going to die. Mine still did purr so I was confused as to why she died (recently). I couldn't understand, she had her eyesight, hearing and a healthy appetite but she was old. Just not sure how old. I was told she had been around for many years. Took her in Labor Day weekend of 2005. Thanks again and so sorry for your loss! I'm so glad to hear, just like mine, she was so happy until the day she died. Be well!! HUGS!!!!
Update.....wow! I just read some answers, SEATTLE & REDSNOWYK and others. Didn't know. RE: the story about the 32 year old cat, I will ask my "pen pal" for it and send it to you. Gees, I hope my one other cat lives that long. I'd be happy with 20 years. Nice to know.......

Answer 3

My pal Jane has a cat called Oscar. He is a fine elderly ginger gentleman, who has just reached 20. He is deaf, mildly incontinent, and can no longer groom himself, but is still going strong - a few weeks ago he attacked next door's bulldog and escaped with a grazed leg - what a fighter! He's still happy, and for as long as he has no major problems (it's usually the kidneys which go) then there is no reason to put him to sleep. Apparently he is now on special food for senior cats (not too tough on the kidneys and has a new lease of life......

Answer 4

18

Answer 5

25

Answer 6

When I was growing up we had two cats the eldest lived until it was 21 years of age and had to be put down due to kidney failure the second cat was 14 years old

Answer 7

I have 4 cats - two babies and the two older ones are 19
are you sure there wasnt more wrong like cancer or something,
one of my older cats isnt walking that well, but the other one seems fine, cats shouldnt be put down for no reason...just because they are old, id look further into this if i was you, that doesnt sound right!!!

Answer 8

19
She was one of a litter of six. At first it looked as though there had only been five, but then a few days later, the mother cat brought in this little scrap of fur... She had obviously been the runt, and left to die, but had survived.
All of her brothers and sisters died many years ago, but she kept going. Always very skinny though!! She was put down due to a brain tumour last month (poor kitty).

Answer 9

Wow... I salute you (and your cat). I pray every day that my cats live as long or even longer.

As to your question, I read an article about cat longevity and it stated that the record for longest living cat is 32 years old! Apparently that grand old kitty lived in England. Sorry can't find that article for you. Maybe you can look it up in the Guinnes Book of Records.

Answer 10

My hubby had a cat when we got married that he had gotten for his 17th birthday. He was then 32. the cat"pee" past away two years ago. He was 27 years old . thats like 90 something I think in cat years. As they get older they do lose certain abilities but as long as they are in no pain you shouldnt have to put them down. But beware our cat "pee" suffered from FIV and we didnt even have a clue till it had its final stages.

Answer 11

Well I wouldnt like to be put down because i'm a bit old and crazy! So I don't think you did any thing wrong..
Our cat is 16 she is getting a bit wobbly on her jumping legs and is most definatly deaf....I said she's deaf. He he. I hope she carries on as long as yours.
I've heard planty of cats living to about 20.