Cats can live surprisingly long lives. They can be expected to reach their teenage years, while some can hit 20. The oldest cat ever, Creme Puff, lived to be 38 years old.
The current oldest living cat, however, has celebrated what is reportedly her 30th birthday, meaning that she was born in 1995. If accurate, not only has she seen plenty of the best cat treats over the years, but this would put her close to the ages of the oldest cats on record, too.
Millie, who lives in Stockport, part of Greater Manchester in the UK, with her owner, 70-year-old Leslie Greenhough, celebrated the milestone birthday with a cake featuring her face on it.
Leslie said of Millie’s birthday, per the Manchester Evening News, "It was a fantastic day, it’s such an achievement that she has turned 30. I had a birthday cake made with her face on. It was such a hot day she was licking all the cream off.”
Millie was originally owned by Leslie’s late wife, Paula, who died in 2020. Leslie met her on an online dating site in 2012 and was first introduced to Millie when he heard her in the background while the couple were calling each other. Leslie and Paula got engaged on Valentine’s Day in 2013 and married the following year, making Leslie and Millie a huge part of each other’s lives.
Millie started life as an outdoor cat, but then lived indoors after being bullied by other cats in the area. Leslie has credited her longevity to daily treats, lots of cuddles, and Buxton water, which is a popular bottled water brand in the UK. She also enjoys a diet of prawns, salmon, chicken, and tuna.
She begins her day “messing” around with Leslie before she jumps onto his knee to sit on the back of the couch in the sun.
Leslie would like to get Millie recognized by Guinness World Records, but finds it difficult to prove her age – the only person who could have done so, he said, was his wife. The cat with the official record is currently Flossie, also in the UK, who was born in December 1995.
Leslie explained that Paula’s death affected Millie, who struggled to eat following the loss.
"It was incredibly difficult on both of us,” he said. “Millie and I had bonded before she died, she would sit on my lap and my wife said she could see how much the cat loved me.
"I think Millie knew my wife wasn't well. Millie wouldn't eat anything at first, I used to give her prawns and chicken, but over time she's back to eating cat food."
And while she might be one of the oldest cats around, she’s not all too different from any other feline. As Leslie said, “Millie likes to do her own thing, I will find her either asleep behind the sofa or asleep in my bed. Sometimes she will play out in the garden – a cat is a cat really."
Read on to find out how long cats live? And take a look at the longest-living cat breeds
