Posted on 12/02/2007 1:08:03 PM PST by Daffynition
A 26-year-old domestic cat from Shropshire could be one of the oldest in the UK.
Pussywillow lives in Ratlinghope and is still "sharp in her mind and her eyes", according to owner Lin Brown.
The black cat, who now enjoys curling up by the stove, lived off animals she caught herself until she was 22, Ms Brown said.
Healthy cats can normally live to about 18, with previous world record holders only reaching their early 20s.
Pussywillow was near-feral when she was first taken in by the family.
"When Willow came my son was four. He is now 30," Ms Brown said.
"I know from my local vet that they've always been absolutely astonished and said they have never known a cat that old."
The family only started feeding the elderly feline after she survived an attack by a fox four years ago.
"Because of her wildness when she came she was pretty much an outdoor cat and had an organic diet and I hardly fed her anything," Ms Brown said.
Marion Micklewright, from Shropshire Cat Rescue, said she had not heard of any other cats living for 26 years.
"Cats are living longer, but I'd love to know what they fed it on. It's a bit of a rarity." Story from BBC NEWS:
My mom had a Maine Coon for 20 years who came to her as an adult stray ... so she had to be well more than 20 y/o. Cat and mom moved in with us after dad passed and the cat adapted well to her new home. When mom passed, the cat mourned. I know she did; she was never herself again. Exactly one year after mom’s death, the cat died in her sleep under the chair where mom sat at the dining room table ... the spot where she’d get a tidbit off mom’s plate. ;)
| Q. | How do I determine the age of my cat? |
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| A. | Except in young cats, determining the age of a cat is an 'educated guess,' at best. The age of kittens up to 4 months of age can be determined by which temporary and permanent teeth are present. Using radiographs (x-rays), the presence or absence of growth areas of the bones in kittens under 6 months of age can help determine a more exact age. Radiographs are rarely taken for this purpose, however. In older cats, age is generally estimated by the wear on the teeth. Unfortunately, this can be influenced by the breed of the cat, the cat's diet, the shape and positioning of the jaws, and the amount of dental care the cat has received. Cat years in human terms We often want to think about the age of our cat in human terms. We cannot necessarily say one cat year equals so many human years, since the comparison changes with the age of the cat. The following table provides a comparison of cat and human years.
There is no specific definition of a 'senior' or 'geriatric' cat. In general, cats are considered to be 'senior' when they are 8-10 years of age. Cats over 12 years of age would probably be considered 'geriatric' by most veterinarians. These classifications are rather arbitrary; a cat on his 8th birthday is not suddenly a 'senior.' We need to remember aging is a gradual and lifelong process. |
Your cats are adorable! They have such round eyes!
They look great for cats their ages. =^..^=
My old girl made friends with our golden retriever when we got her. She was way too young, but her mama had been hit by a car. She adopted the goldie and used her as a personal bed for the rest of the dog’s life. If it was hot out she sat on top of the dog. If it was cold she burrowed under her leg. The dog loved it.
My old girl is currently having a snit fit over the arrival of a 2 year old youngster. She hates her, we think because she gets surprised by her. Being deaf, she doesn’t hear her coming, so when surprised there is a spat.
Sigh.... I hope they work it out soon.
Mew.
It usually takes a couple of weeks for them to sort things out. We had an all-white cat that was deaf and she was impossible with the others. She came aboard as an adult and it took quite a bit longer, but she finally adjusted to the clan. ;-D
I have these two white feral cats I feed. one is deaf. I worry to death for her....she’s about 6 years old now. Poor thing constantly looks around and goes psycho if something moves.
My current two are a brother and sister that were the only kitties in their litter. They are the best of friends and I hope they live long lives together. They are terribly spoiled as they are the cats of my prosperous middle age. I was a poor student when I started the last round of kitties. These guys don't know how good they have it.
A recent issue of CAT FANCY magazine listed some oldsters, the oldest of whom was somewhere over 30 years.
What beautiful babies! The expression on Nibbles face reminds me of my GG (Goofy Girl).
Still cute after all those years...
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