This is a list of the oldest cats in the world, verified or not, listed by reported age, all of whom have attained the minimum age of 25 years. Aging in cats depends on breed, size and diet.
Some of the ages reported here are approximate. Others are based on either estimates or hearsay. Few of them have been confirmed by any authoritative agency. Creme Puff (1967–2005) of Austin, Texas, is the oldest verified cat ever, while Flossie (born 29 December 1995) is the oldest living confirmed verified cat (as of 2022), at 28 years.
Rank | Name | Birth date | Death date | Age reported in most recent source | Description | Sex | Country of origin | Ref. | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lucy | 1972 | 2011 | 38–39 years | Gray DSH | Female | United Kingdom | [1] | ||
1 | Creme Puff | August 3, 1967 | August 6, 2005 | 38 years, 3 days | Tabby mix | Female | United States | [2] [3] [4] | Same owner as Granpa Rexs Allen |
Baby | 1970 | March 2008 | 37–38 years | Black DSH | Male | United States | [5] [6] | ||
2 | Puss | November 28, 1903 | November 29, 1939 | 36 years, 1 day | Tabby | Male | United Kingdom | [7] | |
Great Grandma Wad | 1987 | Living | 36 – 37 years | Thai cat (Wichien Maat) | Female | Thailand | [8] | ||
3 | Ma | May–June 1923 | November 5, 1957 | 34 years, 5 months | Tabby DSH | Female | United Kingdom | [9] [10] | |
4 | Granpa Rexs Allen | February 1, 1964 | April 1, 1998 | 34 years, 2 months | Sphynx-Devon Rex | Male | United States | [11] [12] [13] | Age reported as 26 in 1996 newspaper article, then as 33 at death in 1998. Owner later claimed to have "miscalculated" age [14] |
Sarah | March 1982 | September 2015 | 33 years, 6 months | Female | New Zealand | [15] [16] | |||
Patata | 1989 | 26 January 2023 | 33 years | Tabby | Female | Italy | [17] | ||
Miez Maz | c. 1979 | February 2012 | 33 years | Male | Switzerland | [18] | |||
Sasha | 1986 | 2019 | 33 years | Tortoiseshell cat | Female | Northern Ireland | [19] | ||
Rubble | May 1988 | July 3, 2020 | 32 years, 2 months | Maine Coon | Male | United Kingdom | [20] | Reference indicates the cat died just before reaching his 32nd birthday. | |
Rosie | June 1, 1991 | Living | 32 years | Tortoiseshell cat | Female | United Kingdom | [21] | ||
Tiger | July 1988 | July 22, 2020 | 32 years | Ginger tabby | Male | United States | [22] | ||
5 | Kitty | June 1957 | June 1989 | Just short of 32 years | Female | United Kingdom | [23] | Oldest recorded feline mother; gave birth to a litter of 2 kittens at the age of 30. | |
Spike | May 1970 | July 2001 | 31 years, 2 months | Longhair (Ginger and white) | Male | United Kingdom | [24] [25] | ||
Kika | June 1987 | July 3, 2018 | 31 years | Female | Serbia | [26] | |||
Nutmeg | 1986 | August 29, 2017 | 31 years | Tabby | Male | United Kingdom | [27] [28] | ||
Chicchi | 1991 | October 2022 | 31 years | Female | Italy | [29] | |||
Tom | 1977 | 2008 | 30 years, c. 6 months | Black and white DSH | Male | Norway | [30] [31] | Ref cites proof of castration from 1978, in conjunction with the cat's ear-marking. Put down due to poor health about half a year after turning 30 years. | |
Whiskey | August 1, 1985 | September 11, 2015 | 30 years, 41 days | Black and white DSH | Male | United Kingdom | [32] | ||
Henry | March 1986 | 2016 | 30 years | Tabby | Male | United Kingdom | [33] | ||
6 | Scooter | March 26, 1986 | April 8, 2016 | 30 years, 13 days | Siamese cat | Male | United States | [34] | |
Missan | 1985 | 2015 [35] | 30 years | Female | Sweden | [36] | |||
Ebony | 1990 | April 16, 2020 | 30 years | Black DSH | Female | United Kingdom | [37] | ||
Squeak | 1987 | Living | 36 – 37 years | Calico cat | Female | United States | [38] [39] | ||
7 | Flossie | December 29, 1995 | Living | 28 years | Tortoiseshell cat | Female | United Kingdom | [40] | Guinness World Records verified as oldest living cat. |
Cola | November 1985 | Living | 38 years | Black cat | Female | United Kingdom | [41] | ||
Soot | 1987 | 2016 | 28 – 29 years | Black cat | Male | Canada | [42] | ||
Minky | 1994 | August 19, 2021 | 26 – 27 years | Persian cat | Female | South Korea | [43] | Oldest cat recorded in South Korea | |
Tiffany Two | March 13, 1988 | May 22, 2015 | 27 years, 70 days | Tortoiseshell cat | Female | United States | [44] | ||
Wadsworth | March 6, 1986 | Living | 38 years | Black and white DSH | Male | United Kingdom | [45] | ||
Banjo | 1989 | Living | 34 – 35 years | Male | United Kingdom | [46] | Reference indicates year of birth could be as late as 1991. | ||
Kataleena Lady | March 11, 1977 | 27 years | Burmese cat | Female | Australia | [47] [48] | |||
Corduroy | August 1, 1989 | October 2016 | 27 years | Tabby | Male | United States | [49] [50] [51] | ||
Marduk | 1995 | Living | 28 – 29 years | Black DSH | Male | New Zealand | [52] | ||
Hobo | 1986 | October 2012 | 26 years | White DSH | Female | United States | [53] |
The Sphynx cat also known as the Canadian Sphynx, is a breed of cat known for its lack of fur. Hairlessness in cats is a naturally occurring genetic mutation, and the Sphynx was developed through selective breeding of these animals, starting in the 1960s.
The Maine Coon is a large domesticated cat breed. It is one of the oldest natural breeds in North America. The breed originated in the U.S. state of Maine, where it is the official state cat.
The Munchkin is a breed of cat characterized by its very short legs, which are caused by genetic mutation. Compared to many other cat breeds, it is a relatively new breed, documented since 1940s and officially recognized in 1991. The Munchkin is considered to be the original breed of dwarf cat.
The Devon Rex is a tall-eared, short-haired breed of cat that emerged in England during the late 1950s. The breed is known for its atypical appearance, with an oddly shaped head, large eyes, and the short and wavy coat.
Cat coat genetics determine the coloration, pattern, length, and texture of feline fur. The variations among cat coats are physical properties and should not be confused with cat breeds. A cat may display the coat of a certain breed without actually being that breed. For example, a Neva Masquerade could wear point coloration, the stereotypical coat of a Siamese.
The Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) was established in the United States in 1906. The CFA is currently the world's largest registry of pedigreed cats. Originally headquartered in Manasquan, New Jersey, the CFA moved to Alliance, Ohio in 2010. The association's stated mission is preserving and promoting pedigreed breeds of cats while also enhancing the well-being of all cats. CFA's first licensed cat shows were held in Buffalo, New York and Detroit, Michigan in 1906. The association today has a known presence in Europe, China, and Japan along with its well-established activity in the United States and Canada.
Creme Puff was a mixed tabby domestic cat, owned by Jake Perry of Austin, Texas, US. She was the oldest cat ever recorded, according to the 2010 edition of Guinness World Records, when she died aged 38 years and 3 days.
Aging in cats is the process by which cats change over the course of their natural lifespans. The average lifespan of a domestic cat may range from 13 to 20 years. As cats senesce, they undergo predictable changes in health and behavior. Dental disease and loss of olfaction are common as cats age, affecting eating habits. Arthritis and sarcopenia are also common in older cats. How a cat's health is affected by aging may be managed through modifications in a cat's diet, accessibility adjustments, and cognitive stimulation.
Edna Ruth Parker was an American supercentenarian who, for 15 months, was recognized as the oldest person in the world. She was featured in two documentaries and included in a Boston University DNA database of supercentenarians.
A dwarf cat is a domestic cat with dwarfism due to rare genetic mutations causing a disproportionate feline body and significant health problems. Unlike undersized cats of normal proportions, dwarf cats suffer from the genetic mutations osteochondrodysplasia and achondroplasia. These genetic disorders of bone and cartilage are typically manifested as abnormal bone shape, poor growth or lack of growth, bowing of the limbs to the side – front legs are more likely to be affected, and spinal malformations.
Tabby's Place is a cat sanctuary situated in Ringoes, New Jersey, United States. Opened in 2003, it can house approximately 130 cats, which come primarily from high-volume public animal shelters where they have been scheduled to be killed.
The Lykoi is a breed of cat derived from a natural mutation causing a form of hypotrichia found in domestic short-haired cats. The mutation has occurred in domestic cats over the last 20 years. DNA testing has been done by UC Davis to confirm that the cats do not carry the Sphynx/Devon Rex gene. The breed was developed by Patti Thomas in Vonore, Tennessee.
Bobi was a male purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo dog owned by Leonel Costa of Conqueiros, Leiria, Portugal. Bobi was claimed by his owner to be the oldest dog to ever live and the first dog on record to reach 30 years. On 2 February 2023, Bobi was certified by Guinness World Records as the oldest living dog, along with being the oldest dog on record to ever live. However, after veterinarians became suspicious of his real age, an investigation was pursued. Once his records were revoked, he was stripped of the title. Bobi died on 21 October 2023, reportedly aged 31 years and 165 days.
Flossie is a British domestic cat recognized by Guinness World Records as the oldest living cat. Flossie lives in Orpington, England, with her owner Victoria Green.
The oldest cat ever was Creme Puff, who was born on August 3, 1967 and lived until August 6, 2005—38 years 3 days in total.
A report from MSNBC News notes that the oldest cat ever recorded was a 38-year-old feline named Creme Puff, according to a rep from Guinness World Records.
Baby won the oldest cat entry in a recent contest held by Cat Fancy magazine. Palusky's main evidence of Baby's age is a photo of him when he was 3; the photo is dated 1973
The oldest cat ever recorded was probably the tabby "Puss," owned by Mrs T. Holway of Clayhidon, Devon, England, who celebrated his 36th birthday on Nov 28, 1939 and died the next day
The greatest reliable age recorded for a cat is 34 years 5 months for a female tabby named 'Ma' owned by Mrs Alice St George Moore
He's often mistaken for a Chihuahua but this is the nation's oldest known cat who has well outlived his nine lives. Meet Granpa Rexs Allen - part Rex, part Sphynx - celebrating his 32nd birthday. That's 32 in human years, 165 in cat years.
In noting his passing, the Austin American-Statesman began, 'Grandpa Rexs Allen, possibly the oldest cat in the United States at 33, died Wednesday morning at his Austin home. His owner said the cause of death was pneumonia.' The article also mentioned that 'Perry had hoped to get Grandpa into the Guinness Book of Records. The oldest cat in that book is an English feline that died at 34. Perry still thinks Grandpa may get into the book - he said he might have miscalculated the cat's age, and Grandpa may have been 34 already.' Eager to learn how Granpa, who had been a reported 26 and an estimated 31 in 1996, had gotten to be 33 just two years later, Cats & Kittens spoke with Jake Perry last spring.
My cat Ebony was born in 1990 and died just over three years ago in April 2020, at the beginning of COVID.
According to Guinness World Records, the oldest living cat is a Burmese called Kataleena Lady who lives in Melbourne, Australia. Kataleena Lady was born on March 11, 1977. Roll on, you saucy Aussie!
As of 2004 Guinness recognizes Kataleena Lady of Victoria, Australia, as the oldest living cat, born on March 1, 1977.