Cat Tips to Live Twenty and Beyond (from the Oldest Cats in the World)

Pet companionship brings many benefits to us, it provides us with the opportunity to nurture and to love and be loved. Consequently, such human need results in a significant improvement of the quality of life of our cats, cats reaching into their late teens and early twenties are nothing new for well-cared-for felines. Let us take a lesson or two from the oldest cats in the world.

World’s oldest cat in the history

Here’s a fascinating collection of cats that lived longer, excellent lives, and are recognised by the Guinness World Records.

Creme Puff the Cat

Creme Puff, who has remarkably lived for thirty-eight years and three days, is recognised as the oldest cat on record, according to the 2010 edition of Guinness World Records. She was born on the 3rd of August, 1967 and it was not until the 6th of August, 2005 that the oldest cat died.

Jake Perry, Crème Puff’s owner, is also the owner of the previous record holder of the Oldest Cat Ever, Granpa Rex Allen. Granpa Rex reached the golden age of thirty-four years and two months! This leads to the question, “What did Perry feed and do with these renowned felines?” According to an article, Perry had been providing his furry friends with love and a diet of broccoli, eggs, asparagus, and bacon.

Nutmeg

Nutmeg’s love for chicken is said to be the secret ingredient to longevity. “He comes in every morning at 5 am from his bed next door, and we get up and feed him. We have no children, so he is our baby,” says Liz and Ian Finlay, his owners. The couple first spotted Nutmeg in their garden in 1990. They brought him to the local Cats Protection League and were informed that Nutmeg was at least five years old.

He died at the age of thirty-two due to a difficulty in breathing caused by heart failure. His owners were utterly shattered, saying, “He was not our cat, we were his humans; he never let us forget that.”

Rubble

Here is possibly the oldest cat in the world, alive and celebrating his thirtieth birthday last year in June. The moggy appears as a massive fluffy Maine Coon type of feline that is still in great shape considering his age. He celebrated his thirtieth birthday party in the company of his owners and vets in Exeter, Devon.

“Rubble is quite likely to be the oldest cat in the UK and is still going strong,” stated Shaun Moore from City Vets. “He is on medication for his blood pressure, but apart from that, he is in remarkably good health being.”

Rubble is thought to be one of the oldest felines in the world.

Signs that your cat is getting older

In general, at the age of eleven, our furry friends are considered as senior cats. At this stage of life, they are expected to manifest certain physical and mental changes that could impact their quality of life in the future years.

Photo Credit: WeChat public platform

Common signs of senior cats

Signs that senior cats have cognitive dysfunction

• Eliminates in areas outside the litter tray
• Stares into space
• Cannot navigate familiar locations
• Less interested in human contact or needs constant contact
• Less grooming
• Eats less
• Becomes easily restless or agitated
• Vocalises more
• Improper sleeping cycle

Tips for a long, better-quality feline life

Photo Credit: WeChat public platform

Know that most diseases in cats are acquired due to lifestyle-related concerns. As your kitty’s parent, you have the key for her to have an optimal quality of life.

1. 1. Beware of over-vaccination in cats. If you have been meticulous in keeping your furry companion indoors, there are only a few certain vaccines that she needs. Vaccination for indoor felines only involves vaccines against herpes, rabies, calicivirus, and panleukopenia.

You may also like:

•  Everything You Need to Know About Cat Vaccinations
• Indoor Cat Care Guide

A vaccination is defined as a preparation of microorganisms (bacteria or viruses) administered to create a sense of immunity to a particular disease. However, keep in mind that every vaccine brings a risk of adverse side effects. Choose a holistic veterinarian who will guide you and your cat on the necessary and unnecessary vaccines.

• Follow regular vet examinations. As with humans, older cats are relatively vulnerable to certain health conditions. As such, it is best to keep a regular physical examination to remain up-to-date on his condition.
• Provide her with a well-balanced nutritional diet. Their natural diet consists of fresh meat that is high in protein and minerals, and an adequate amount of fat. With that being said, feeding her with kibbles may not be the best idea. Instead, provide her with a diet that is low in carbohydrates, but has excellent-quality meat and high-quality animal fat.
• Keep her fit and lean. Overweight felines pose a greater health risk, which affects both their quality of life and longevity. Achieve your cat’s healthy weight by providing her with an appropriate diet and introducing a physically active lifestyle. Consider purchasing a cat tree or tower for her to climb. There are also a lot of interactive toys that will keep her moving and entertained, such as laser toys, robotic cat toys, and others.

You may also like:

• Cat Dietary Nutrition Guide
• How Much Should I Feed My Cat?

The path to your cat’s healthy lifestyle lies in your hand. Do not forget to share these tips along with your cat-owner friends!