A 24-year-old cat has been declared the oldest cat in the world by Guinness World Records, Yahoo! News reported.
Poppy, of Bournemouth, England, is 114 in human years. That makes her one year younger than the world's oldest person, Misao Okawa of Japan. Guinness World Records made the announcement after her owner submitted Poppy for the category of 'Oldest Cat Currently Living" when she turned 24 in February.
"We've been overwhelmed with claims for the 'oldest living cat,' with owners from across the globe making applications on behalf of their cats," GWR Editor-in-Chief Craig Glenday said according to Yahoo! News.
"Today, though, I'm pleased to confirm that we're recognizing Poppy from Bournemouth in the UK as the world's oldest living cat, at the age of 24 years."
Poppy, with tortoiseshell-like fur, was adopted at the age of five by her current owner, Jacqui West. Since then Poppy has lived through five British prime ministers (four U.S. presidents), and has seen West's sons reach ages 11 and 8.
West is unable to pinpoint why Poppy, who is deaf and blind, has lived for so long. There were a few times last year when West thought Poppy was on her way out, but "she keeps on going," the owner said.
"People always ask what we put Poppy's longevity down to and I guess she has a good diet and lots of exercise," West said according to Yahoo! News. "She keeps herself fit by walking and she eats a lot. She has biscuits in the morning and tinned food later on. She's never been a big cat though."
Before Poppy, the title of world's oldest living cat belonged to a feline in Kansas named Pinky, who passed away last year at 23.
The longest lived cat in history was a Texas feline named Crème Puff who lived to be 38.
