Stockport tortie thrives on Buxton mineral water, prawns and sofa cuddles.
In a quiet Stockport home, a shy tortoiseshell named Millie has just marked another quiet milestone. At 31 years old, her owner believes she may be the oldest cat in the world, quite possibly setting a world oldest cat milestone still living on the planet.
Leslie Greenhough, 71, cares for the cat his late wife Paula brought home as a three-month-old kitten in 1995. Paula died in 2020 from Covid-19. Millie was heartbroken at first and stopped eating. Leslie slowly won her trust with prawns, chicken and patience. The bond that formed has lasted, and it’s remarkable considering she might rival the world oldest cat ever known.
A simple switch that stuck
About ten years ago, roadworks near their house left the tap water dirty. Because Leslie was classed as vulnerable, the water company left bottles of Buxton natural mineral water at the door. He drank it. So did Millie. When the pipes were fixed, the tap water still looked murky. He kept the bottled spring water going. He has never stopped, and this decision might have contributed to his own household having the world oldest cat.
“I have been feeding her mineral water for the past 10 years now,” Leslie said. “She only drinks Buxton water and has a diet of salmon, prawns, chicken and tuna.”
He treats her birthday the same way. Earlier this year in March he put a bowl of chicken in front of her. Two fans run near her spot in the heat. Sometimes he drops ice cubes into her water. She wakes around midday, messes about with him for half an hour, then claims the sunny end of the sofa or the cool floor. Truly, her daily routines are fitting for a world oldest cat contender.
A cautious life indoors
Millie once went outside. Neighbourhood cats bullied her. She retreated indoors and stayed. Leslie thinks that caution helped her last this long. “She’s developed a cautious attitude – she’s very shy. I think that’s helped her live longer and maintain a status almost worthy of the title world oldest cat.”
In cat years the 31 mark equals roughly 146 human years. The verified record for the oldest living cat currently belongs to Flossie, another British tortoiseshell born in December 1995 and recognised by Guinness World Records. Millie lacks the paperwork to claim the official title. The only proof Leslie holds is a 1995 photo of the kitten at a food bowl. His wife was the one who could have confirmed the exact date. He still hopes one day to get her recognised, mainly for Paula.
Why this matters
Most cats live 12 to 18 years. A handful reach their twenties. Thirty-one is rare enough that it stops people mid-scroll. Leslie does not claim a miracle formula. He points to clean water, good food, quiet days and company. Millie sleeps behind the sofa or in his bed. She still ventures into the garden now and then. Leslie sometimes wonders what makes a world oldest cat go the distance. “A cat is a cat really,” he says.
He is proud for both of them. “I’m proud of Millie mainly for my wife really. She would be amazed with how well she is doing.”