29-03-2025
Owner of 'world's oldest cat' reveals secret of his ancient pet's long lifespan
The owner of the "world's oldest cat" says her unusually long lifespan is down to "lots of treats", "cuddles on the sofa" - and one other premium item.
Tortoiseshell Millie was adopted by Paula Greenhough in 1995, when the now-ancient feline was a spritely three-month-old kitten. When Paula sadly passed away after catching Covid-19 in 2020, her husband Leslie took sole responsibility for Millie's care, and now believes his thoroughly spoiled pet is the oldest cat alive as she recently celebrated her 30th birthday
He said: "It was a fantastic day, it is 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.
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"My life ambition is to get her in the Guinness Book of records, but I can't prove her age. The only person who can do that is my late wife who sadly died five years ago.
"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."
Leslie, a former storekeeper, from Stockport, believes Millie owes her vigour to a healthy diet, "lots of treats", "cuddles on the sofa" and only drinking bottled Buxton water.
The pampered puss also enjoys 12pm wake-up calls and a special diet of her favourite meals, prawn and salmon, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Leslie said: "She keeps herself to herself, she will wake up around dinner time and I will mess about with her for 30 minutes. She only drinks Buxton water and has a diet of salmon, prawns, chicken and tuna.
"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."
Leslie met his wife on the dating site Plenty Of Fish in 2012, and he was introduced to Millie after he overheard her 'meowing' in the background of the calls. The couple got engaged in 2013 on Valentine's Day and married two years later in 2014.
Leslie said he had owned a cat once before as a child, named Blackie, but hadn't had a pet in several decades until meeting Millie. He said: "Blackie used to follow me everywhere. She was born in a paper mill and such a sweet thing. Millie was such a sweet cat when I first met her.
"Over the years Millie was bullied by other cats in her neighbourhood, so she stopped going out and became more of an indoor cat. She's developed a cautious attitude - she's very shy. I think that's helped her live longer."
