A tabby cat named Nutmeg – who just might be the world’s oldest cat – has just celebrated his 31st birthday! This kitty from Gateshead, United Kingdom showed up at his owner’s garden 26 years ago as a stray, and they immediately adopted him and (obviously) have taken wonderful care of him ever since. Liz and Ian Finlay found Nutmeg in 1990 with an abscess on his neck, and took him to their local Cats Protection where they were told that he was at least five years old.
In an interview with Metro:
‘We celebrate his birthday in March every year so we know it was around March 1990 when we got him,’ says Ian.
That would make Nutmeg the oldest cat in the world – taking the crown from 26 year old Corduroy who currently holds the Guinness World Record! What’s the secret to Nutmeg’s longevity? His owners say the secret is his love of Sunday dinners – especially hot roast chicken with gravy – his Double Delicious pate and Felix Meaty loaf. They also say, “He is not our cat, we are his humans and he never lets us forget that. Maybe that is the secret to his long and happy life.”
Or, perhaps this lucky kitty has more than 9 lives? Nutmeg suffered a serious stroke last year and ended up having life-saving treatment. And now, they say he’s fitter than ever.
Happy birthday, Nutmeg! Here’s hoping we get to wish you a happy 32nd!
While 31 is an amazing age, the oldest living cat ever on record was Creme Puff who lived to an astounding 38 years! Check out that and other world records by clicking here.
