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Michele HeritageOwner of 30-year-old cat Rubble, who is vying to be Britain's oldest cat
Date of Birth: 01.01.1968
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
- Rubble, the Potential Oldest Cat in the UK
- A Feline Star in the Making
- A Serendipitous Start
- Health and Support
- Record-Breaking Predecessors
- Exceptional Longevity
- Rubble's Journey
Rubble, the Potential Oldest Cat in the UK
A Cat's 30th Birthday CelebrationRubble the ginger cat celebrated his 30th birthday at a local veterinary clinic, where he underwent a health checkup for his blood pressure. The milestone makes Rubble a contender for the title of the oldest cat in the United Kingdom.
A Feline Star in the Making
Hosted by veterinarians in Exeter, Devon, Rubble's birthday party included his favorite cat treats and a complimentary health examination. "He's just a beautiful cat, although he has got a bit grumpy in his old age," said Michelle Heritage, Rubble's owner and an employee at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.
A Serendipitous Start
Rubble's journey began in 1988 when the then 20-year-old Heritage acquired him as a kitten from a litter owned by her sister's friend. "I'd just left home, so I was on my own," Heritage recalled. "I was lonely, so I got a kitten. It was in May 1988."
Health and Support
"City Vets has been brilliant with Rubble," Heritage shared. "He's on medication for his blood pressure, which he has to take every day."
Record-Breaking Predecessors
In April 2016, Scooter, a Siamese cat from Mansfield, Texas, USA, became the world's oldest living cat at 30. However, he sadly passed away before being officially recognized by Guinness World Records.
The Guinness World Records holder for the oldest cat ever is Creme Puff, a black-and-white cat born on August 3, 1967, and passed away on August 6, 2005, at the age of 38 years and three days.
Exceptional Longevity
Creme Puff lived with her owner Jake Perry in Austin, Texas. Perry also owned a cat named Grandpa, who was reportedly born in Paris in 1964 and died in 1998 at 34 years and two months. Grandpa was posthumously awarded "Cat of the Year" in 1999 by Cats & Kittens magazine. It has been speculated that Perry's cats' unusual diet, which included bacon, eggs, asparagus, broccoli, and coffee with heavy cream, may have contributed to their remarkable longevity.
Rubble's Journey
At 30 human years, Rubble is a large, fluffy Maine Coon in exceptional health for his age. Sean Moore, a veterinarian at City Vets who cares for Rubble, stated that he had never encountered a cat as old as he was.
"We recently had this absolutely amazing cat come in for a health checkup, and we got to celebrate his 30th birthday," Moore said. "Rubble is probably the oldest cat in the UK, and yet he's still going strong."
"He takes medication to manage his blood pressure, but apart from that, he has no real health problems."
As part of his birthday celebration, Rubble received a free health checkup, a bowl of milk, Felix cat treats, and a month's worth of medication from City Vets.
