A much-loved mixed-breed cat believed to be the world’s oldest living cat has died aged 33.
Rosie, a fluffy tortoiseshell cat, passed away this week in the hallway of her home in Norwich, Norfolk, surrounded by her proud owner Lila Brissett, 73.
Born in 1991, she was the unofficial holder of the title of “world’s oldest cat”, but the current holder is Flossie, a 28-year-old cat from Kent, born in 1995.
Rosie turned 33 on June 1st of this year, which would be 152 years old in human years when she passed away.
A heartbroken Lila, who adopted Rosie as a kitten, said: “I miss her so much.
“She wasn’t feeling very well and then one day she suddenly walked into the hallway of her house, lay down and passed away.
“But we have a lot of good memories and I’m glad we had the time together.”
Rosie loved eating and sleeping, and even though she became an indoor cat in her later years, she was often seen taking naps on Lila’s windowsill.
Lila was contacted by a cat rescue group in the ’90s when Rosie was a kitten and was looking for a new home after her original owner discovered her daughter was allergic to cats.
Lila, a widow who had previously rescued abused cats and stray dogs, was happy to welcome Rosie into her home.
Rosie’s mother was a grey rag doll, hence Rosie’s bushy squirrel tail, and her father was thought to have been a red-haired tom cat.
She lived with Lila indoors in her first-floor apartment and fed her Purina One cat food every day because “otherwise Lila would make a fuss.”
“She’s quite a unique person,” Lyra previously said.
“Rosie sleeps by the window all day, eats at regular times and uses her litter tray.
“She doesn’t need an alarm clock. All she has to do is eat, sleep, use the toilet and repeat.”
“I need to make sure she’s still alive and breathing. I dread the day she crosses the Rainbow Bridge. She will leave a huge void behind.”
“I’m going to miss her, but I have no intention of euthanizing her.”
According to the Guinness World Records, the oldest living cat is 27 years old.
Flossie was born on December 29, 1995 and was confirmed on November 10, 2022 in Orpington, Greater London.
A Guinness World Records spokesperson encouraged Lila to submit an application for Rosie for review last year, but she was ultimately unable to do so.
The oldest living cat in history is Creme Puff of Austin, Texas, who was born on August 3, 1967 and lived until August 6, 2005, making her 38 years and three days old.