The Top 10 Oldest Cats Ever!

Written by Krishna Maxwell
Updated: October 24, 2023
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Throughout modern history, there have been many cats that have had long lives. They have been cherished family members who their families loved for many years. There doesn’t seem to be any one thing in common among these long-lived felines. They come from all backgrounds, breeds, and parts of the world. The only thing they share is a person or family that loves them and has provided the best possible care.

In compiling this list, we accepted the owner’s word as reported in the media for the age of their beloved animal. The oldest cat ever was named Creme Puff who passed away aged 38 years and 3 days. Read on to see the top 10 list of oldest cats ever!

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#10. Rubble – 31 Years

Rubble passed over the rainbow bridge shortly after friends and family held a 30th birthday party for the Maine Coon. His veterinarian threw the party that included a free checkup and some of his favorite cat food. Rubble lived in Exeter, Devon, England, with his owner Michelle Foster. She received him as a birthday present when he turned 20. He lived with three other cats who were Persians. His owner said that he became a little grumpy when he got older.

Oldest Cat Ever

Rubble was a

Maine Coon cat

, like this Maine Coon.

©Aleksei Verhovski/Shutterstock.com

#9. Tiger – 31 Years

Tiger was a ginger tabby who belonged to Robert Goldstein of Spring Grove, Illinois. Tiger loved to sit on top of his owner’s car. She would also only drink water from the bathtub. Tiger’s nickname was Lincoln because he was about the same color as a penny. Tiger’s constant companion was a pit bull who Tiger would slap in the head with his paw to keep him in line.

#8. Sasha – 31 Years

There is no doubt that Sasha, who lived in Newtownabbey, Ireland, did not have an easy life. Her owner, Beth O’Neill, found her in a stable about to be mauled by a Jack Russell terrier. She took her to the vet, who estimated her age at five. At that point, Sasha already had a dent in her left side where she had either been hit by a car or kicked. Beth took her home to live with her and her daughter. Beth says that she lived with her but would often disappear for days as she went on roaming adventures until she got too tired to climb the fence. Then, she would often lay in the garden sunning herself.

#7. Plucky Sarah – 31 Years

Plucky Sarah was abandoned by her previous owners in 2002, but she came across the hall to live with the Fords. Mrs. Ford once ran over her with her car, but the vet put the cat back together again. Sarah, a nondescript cat, was spoiled by the Fords, who say they seldom leave home because they worry that Sarah will get in trouble. They also ran the heat pump all day and night at their Christchurch, New Zealand, home because Plucky Sarah had trouble staying warm.

#6. Grandma Wad — 34 Years

The Wanna family found Grandma Wad as a kitten living in front of their grandmother’s house. The daughter, who took care of the cat, was just 3 years old. Grandma Wad lived in a house on a fruit orchard in Thailand. She only gave birth to one litter throughout her life. She gave birth to four kittens, but she managed to outlive them all. Toward the end of her life, the Wichien Maat cat was attacked by dogs twice, which left her having problems getting around.

#5. Granpa[sic] Rexs Allen — 34 Years 2 Months

Granpa Rex Allen was adopted from the Humane Society of Travis County (Texas) by Jake Perry on January 16, 1970. Later that year, he received a phone call from Madame Sulinaberg, who claimed that it was her animal. Perry ended up keeping the cat, and Madame Sulinaberg gave him the pedigree papers showing he was born on February 1, 1964. Sulinaberg says he got away because someone left the screen door open when she was away.

The International Cat Association made Granpa Rexs Allen a grandmaster, the highest award given to a household cat after Perry started showing him. This cat, who was a Sphynx and Devon Rex cross, reportedly loved broccoli, which he would often eat for breakfast.

Oldest Cat Ever

Granpa Rex Allen was a Devon Rex and Sphynx cross, looking almost like this Devon Rex cat.

©Veera/Shutterstock.com

#4. Ma – 34 Years 5 Months

The female tabby named Ma was perhaps the luckiest animal alive. She lived with Alice St George Moore of Drewsteignton, England. Ma got caught in a gin trap when she was a kitten and barely survived the accident. Yet, she was rescued by the classical musician and her husband, who was also a musician. The accident caused special problems for the feline, so she lived on meat from the local butcher. When asked what they contributed to their cat’s longevity, Mrs. Moore replied about the fresh meat and the relaxed atmosphere in their home. Ma had to be put to sleep on November 5, 1957.

#3. Puss – 36 Years 1 Day

Not much is known about Puss, who was reportedly born on November 28, 1903, in Devon, England. This male tabby passed on November 29, 1934, one day after his 36th birthday.

cat

Puss, the third oldest cat, was a tabby like this one.

©Photography by Adri/Shutterstock.com

#2. Baby – 38 Years

The second oldest cat ever was a black domestic house cat named Baby, who lived with Al Palusky and his mother, Mabel, in Duluth, Minnesota. He had never left the house where he was born until he was 28 years old. When Al married, his new wife insisted that the cat-clawed furniture be replaced and for Baby to be declawed. That was the first time that the cat had seen a veterinarian. The animal did not like children, so when they came over, he hid behind furniture. Al attributes the cat’s longevity to the exercise he gets every time he uses his litter box or wants to eat. His food bowl and litter box are kept in the basement, which requires the cat to climb up and down 14 steps each time he wants to use it.

Oldest Cat Ever

The second oldest cat, Baby, is a black cat like this one lying on a sofa.

©Elya Vatel/Shutterstock.com

#1. Creme Puff — 38 Years 3 Days

Creme Puff is the oldest cat ever at 38 years and 3 days old. She was born on August 3, 1967, and died on August 6, 2005. Creme Puff was owned by Granpa Rex Allen’s owner and started her day with bacon and eggs, asparagus, broccoli, and coffee with heavy cream each morning. Then, every other day, she got an eyedropper of red wine to enjoy. Her owner was so committed to his animals that he even had wooden stairs built into the walls of his home so that the cats could have a place to rest.

A Record Breaker? Lucy — 39 Years

There’s a cat named Lucy who lacks proper documentation of her birth but was debatably the longest-living cat, dying at the estimated age of 39. From South Wales, Lucy was inherited by a man named Bill when his wife’s godmother died in 1999. When an elderly aunt came to visit him, she testified to having known the cat since 1972 when it was a kitten. Lucy passed in 2011, and there was a debate as to whether or not she deserved the official title. While the Guinness Book of World Records doesn’t recognize Lucy as the oldest cat to have lived, it’s safe to surmise that she deserves an honorable mention.

There is much debate over the oldest cat that ever lived. Since many people do not take their cats to the vet regularly, veterinarian records, as required by the Guinness Book of World Records throughout the cat’s life, are often not a reliable source.

Summary of the Top 10 Oldest Cats Ever

Some cats have lived a truly long time! Let’s recap the oldest in recorded history:

RankCatAge
1Creme Puff38 years 3 days
2Baby38 years
3Puss36 years 1 day
4Ma34 years 5 days
5Granpa Rex Allen34 years 2 months
6Grandma Wad34 years
7Plucky Sarah31 years
8Sasha31 years
9Tiger31 years
10Rubble31 years

Honorable Mentions: Other Long-Living Cats

There are other felines that didn’t make the top 10 but also lived long, memorable lives. Below are some honorary cats that lived out their 9 lives in style!

  • Rosie Rosie was born June 1, 1991, in the United Kingdom. This tortoiseshell cat is listed as still living, so she may be a potential record-breaker. She’s currently 32 years old!
  • Kitty A fitting name for this British-born cat, Kitty was born in 1957 and passed in 1989, just shy of her 32nd birthday.
  • Spike Born in the spring of 1970, Spike ginger and white colored longhair cat, also from the United Kingdom, lived to the ripe old age of 31 years 2 months, passing in July of 2001.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Sergio Photone/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

Krishna is a lifelong animal owner and advocate. She owns and operates a small farm in upstate New York which she shares with three dogs, four donkeys, one mule, and a cat. She holds a Bachelors in Agricultural Technology and has extensive experience in animal health and welfare. When not working with her own animals and tending her farm, Krishna is helping other animal owners with behavior or management issues and teaching neighboring farmers about Regenerative Agriculture practices.

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