Total b.s.
Well, I wouldn't go that far but I would say that I'm darned well suspicious.
LOL. I have a hamster the same age. I bought him at Merle's Pet Shop in Los Angeles in 1973. Really.
Until last year I would have been doubtful also.
But a worker at my vet’s office has a cat that is 26, and when I seemed surprised at that, she told me that one of their feline patients in that office is 30.