Rosie, a fluffy tortoiseshell, died this week in the hallway of her home in Norwich, Norfolk, with her devoted owner, 73-year-old Lila Brissett, by her side.
Born in 1991, Rosie was the unofficial titleholder of “world’s oldest cat,” surpassing the current record holder, Flossie, a 28-year-old cat from Kent, born in 1995.
Rosie turned 33 on June 1 this year and died at the equivalent age of 152 in human years.
Heartbroken Lila, who adopted Rosie as a kitten, said:-
“I miss her so much.
She wasn’t very well and one day she just walked into the hallway of the house, laid down and passed away.”
“There were lots of good memories though and I’m happy we had our time together.”
Lila had been approached by a cat rescue in the 90s with Rosie as a kitten, who needed rehoming after her first household realised their daughter was allergic.
Lila, who is widowed, happily welcomed Rosie into her home.
As Rosie aged, Lilia expressed her fears about her imminent death.
“I often have to check if she’s still alive and breathing.
I’m worried about the day she crosses over the rainbow bridge.
She’ll leave a big void,” Lila said.
“I’ll miss her when she goes. But I’ll never have her put down.”
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the oldest cat alive currently on record is 27.
