OLDEST CAT IN THE WORLD WHO LIVED IN NORWICH HAS DIED AGED 33 – OR 152 IN HUMAN YEARS
Source: Mail Online (Extract)
Posted: September 15, 2024
A beloved cat, thought to be the oldest in the world, has passed away at the age of 33.
Rosie, a fluffy tortoiseshell, died in the hallway of her Norwich, Norfolk home this week, with her devoted owner, Lila Brissett, 73, by her side.
Born in 1991, Rosie was the unofficial record-holder for the title of ‘world’s oldest cat.’ The current official record is held by a 28-year-old cat named Flossie from Kent, born in 1995.
Rosie celebrated her 33rd birthday on June 1 this year, which is roughly equivalent to 152 in human years.
Heartbroken, Lila, who adopted Rosie as a kitten, expressed her grief, saying, “I miss her so much.”
“She wasn’t feeling well, and one day she simply walked into the hallway, laid down, and passed away.
“Despite the sadness, I have many fond memories, and I’m grateful for the time we shared.”
Rosie enjoyed eating and sleeping, and in her later years, she could often be found napping in the window of Lila’s home, having become an indoor cat.
In the 1990s, Lila was approached by a cat rescue organization with Rosie as a kitten. Rosie needed a new home after her first family discovered their daughter was allergic.
Widowed and experienced in rescuing animals, having previously taken in an abused cat and a stray dog, Lila welcomed Rosie into her home with open arms.
Rosie’s mother was a grey ragdoll, which gave her the bushy squirrel-like tail, while her father is believed to have been a ginger tom.
Rosie lived exclusively indoors with Lila in her ground-floor flat and was fed Purina One cat food daily—otherwise, she’d make her displeasure known.
Lila shared, “Rosie is quite a character. She sleeps by the window all day, and like clockwork, she eats and uses the litter tray.
“There’s no need for an alarm clock; her routine is eat, sleep, use the litter tray, and repeat. I often find myself checking to make sure she’s still breathing. I’m dreading the day she crosses the rainbow bridge; she will leave a huge void.
“I’ll miss her deeply, but I would never consider having her put down.”
According to the Guinness World Records, the oldest living cat currently on record is 27 years old.
Flossie, born on December 29, 1995, was officially verified as the oldest living cat in Orpington, Greater London, on November 10, 2022.
A Guinness World Records spokeswoman had encouraged Lila to submit an application for Rosie to be reviewed last year, but Lila never managed to do so.
The record for the oldest cat ever is held by Creme Puff from Austin, Texas, who was born on August 3, 1967, and lived until August 6, 2005—reaching the remarkable age of 38 years and three days.
