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Owner Got A Cat In 1988, Probably Did Not Expect To Throw Him A Birthday Party 30 Years Later
Fluffy orange and white kitten in wooden box paired with text about owner getting a cat in 1988 and birthday party.
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Owner Got A Cat In 1988, Probably Did Not Expect To Throw Him A Birthday Party 30 Years Later

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Meet Rubble, a cat from Exeter, England, that is now being called the ‘oldest cat in the world’ after recently celebrating his 30th birthday. Rubble and his owner, Michele Foster, have been the very best of friends since she got him as a kitten on her 20th birthday, back in May 1988.

Michele believes that the secret to Rubble’s longevity is the fact that she pampers him as if he were a child, she never had children of her own so Rubble is positively showered with attention and care. “He’s a lovely cat, although he has got a little grumpy in his old age,” she said. “He has plenty of life left in him yet, but I don’t think we will go down the Guinness World Record route as I am not sure he would like lots of people coming to see him or a fuss being made out of him.He is old now and would not like too much attention or be hassled. We would prefer if he was just left to live out his old age in peace.”

The oldest cat who ever lived, according to the record books, is Creme Puff, who was born on August 3, 1967, and lived until August 6, 2005, an incredible 38 years and three days! Rubble has some way to go before breaking that particular record, but Michele is very proud of his achievement. She remembers her 20th birthday, the day they first met, quite clearly. “He was part of a litter of cats that my sister’s friend had, and I had just left home,” she explained. “I was lonely living on my own so got him in as a kitten. He is very loyal. We used to live in London and moved around a lot.”

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“If you care about something and someone and really love them, that goes a long way. I have always treated him like a child – I don’t have any children and had another cat called Meg – who passed at the age of 25. If you care about something, no matter what it is, it does last.”

Understandably, due to his advanced age, Rubble suffers from high blood pressure. He needs regular medication, which he gets from Shaun Moore of City Vets. “We recently had this amazing cat in for a check up and to celebrate his 30th birthday,” he said. “Rubble is quite likely to be the oldest cat in the UK and is still going strong. He is on medication for his blood pressure but apart from that, he is in remarkably good health.”

“He enjoyed a free check up, some Whiskas Catmilk and Felix pouches, and less appreciated a free supply of medication for the next month as his birthday present from City Vets.”

While we are sure Rubble appreciated the treats, if not the medication, we can only salute his achievement and wish him continuing good health. Scroll down to check him out for yourself, and let us know what you think in the comments!

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RELATED:

    Meet Rubble, a British cat who is now being called the ‘oldest cat in the world’ after celebrating his 30th birthday

    Old cat Rubble celebrating his 30th birthday with a colorful balloon in a cozy home setting.

    Image credits: SWNS

    His owner, Michele Foster, got him as a kitten on her 20th birthday May 1988

    Fluffy orange and white kitten with blue eyes resting on wooden stairs, showing a cute and calm expression.

    Image credits: SWNS

    “He was part of a litter of cats that my sister’s friend had and I had just left home”

    Orange and white cat resting indoors, capturing the charm of a pet owner celebrating a special birthday event.

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    Image credits: SWNS

    Cute orange and white kitten surrounded by plush toys, highlighting a cat birthday celebration and owner's long-time pet care.

    Image credits: SWNS

    “I was lonely living on my own so got him in as a kitten”

    Orange and white cat standing on stone steps near a brick wall, capturing the essence of a beloved pet's long life.

    Image credits: SWNS

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    The pair have been inseparable ever since

    Woman smiling and holding her cat, celebrating 30 years since owner got a cat in 1988 with a birthday party

    Image credits: SWNS

    Rubble has now matched the age of the last world record holder

    Side-by-side images of a cat as a kitten and 30 years later, showcasing a long-lived cat anniversary celebration.

    Image credits: SWNS

    Rubble had a party at his local vets where he was treated to some of his favorite cat food and a free check-up

    Woman holding and kissing an elderly cat with a colorful 30th birthday balloon in the background celebrating the cat's birthday.

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    Image credits: SWNS

    “He is on medication for his blood pressure but apart from that, he is in remarkably good health”

    Orange and white cat resting on a fluffy cushion, celebrating a milestone birthday after 30 years with its owner.

    Image credits: SWNS

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    A close-up of an old, fluffy ginger and white cat sitting outside on a wooden bench near plants.

    Image credits: SWNS

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    He is quite likely to be the oldest cat in the world and is still going strong

    Fluffy orange and white cat sitting beside a ceramic cat statue near a green door, symbolizing a 30 year cat birthday celebration.

    Image credits: SWNS

    Happy 30th birthday Rubble!

    A senior orange and white cat sitting on a wooden bench, highlighting a long-term pet owner and cat birthday celebration.

    Image credits: SWNS

     

    Cats aren’t the only ones who get birthday love. See which celebrity birthdays hit significant milestones.

     

    Here’s how people reacted

    Comment saying how blessed the human is to have had a cat as a friend for 30 years, showing reactions.

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    Comment praising a majestic cat and wishing it a long life, highlighting the special bond between owner and cat.

    Comment about cat owner unexpectedly celebrating a cat's 30th birthday, reflecting on long pet companionship.

    Facebook comment praising a cat and owner, mentioning the cat looks well for his age with heart and cake emojis.

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    Facebook comment by Carol Jones sharing about putting her beautiful cat to sleep at age 21, reflecting on cats’ long lifespan.

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    Comment about an old cat named Sooty who lived to 23, highlighting the owner's long-term bond with their pet cat.

    Facebook comment by Janet Dixon sharing her cat lived to 16 years, reflecting on 30 years with the cat and birthday celebration plans.

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    Comment praising owners for celebrating a cat's 30th birthday and caring for him lovingly over the years.

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    Ilona Baliūnaitė

    Ilona Baliūnaitė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    I'm a Visual Editor at Bored Panda since 2017. I've searched through a multitude of images to create over 2000 diverse posts on a wide range of topics. I love memes, funny, and cute stuff, but I'm also into social issues topics. Despite my background in communication, my heart belongs to visual media, especially photography. When I'm not at my desk, you're likely to find me in the streets with my camera, checking out cool exhibitions, watching a movie at the cinema or just chilling with a coffee in a cozy place

    Read less »
    Ilona Baliūnaitė

    Ilona Baliūnaitė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    I'm a Visual Editor at Bored Panda since 2017. I've searched through a multitude of images to create over 2000 diverse posts on a wide range of topics. I love memes, funny, and cute stuff, but I'm also into social issues topics. Despite my background in communication, my heart belongs to visual media, especially photography. When I'm not at my desk, you're likely to find me in the streets with my camera, checking out cool exhibitions, watching a movie at the cinema or just chilling with a coffee in a cozy place

    What do you think ?
    Laugh Fan
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Aw, Rubble, you are a beautiful cat and I hope you have many more happy years to come. The only thing I'm uncomfortable with is the attempt to link longevity with the amount of love and care given. Taking excellent care of your animal will certainly help keep it healthy and flourishing, no doubt about it. However, there will be other pets who have had love and attention lavished on them and yet, sadly, have succumbed due to faults in their genes.

    LOttawa
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Agreed, I've had 2 cats pass when they were 4 years old. They were taken care of and loved as much as our cat that passed when he was 18.

    Load More Replies...
    Erin
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My dad had a cat who lived to be 23, and another 17. I hope my baby lives just as long, if not longer!

    LOttawa
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A free check up for birthday... I'd be miserable too, lol... But he is handsome.

    Lulik
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My Leon is about 14 years old now. I hope he will be with us at least another couple of years Leon_mini-...4a651d.jpg Leon_mini-5b157aa4a651d.jpg

    Laugh Fan
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Gorgeous boy! Many more happy years Leon.

    Load More Replies...
    Helena
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My cat, lived just for 3.5 years. She was my best friend and I was imagining how I will travel all around the world with her together. But she got really ill, did our best to save her but we couldn't. I think, although she had a short life, it was a happy one for sure! And that's the most important thing, to enjoy every moment of life. And my cat really knew how to do it until the last breath.

    Alusair Alustriel
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm so so sorry for your loss. I know how it is, I was the one who brought my cat into the house when he fitted in my palm and I was the one holding him at the vet at the final moment. Still breaks heart although it happened 14 years ago. It's a hole in the heart that nothing can ever fill in.

    Load More Replies...
    Lisa Shaw
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My grandfather found an abandoned kitten on some railroad tracks in Scotland, many years ago, staggering home from the pub. He picked the kitten up, put it in his pocket, got home and hung his coat in the closet. Next day, my grandmother went to grab her coat out of the same closet and something grabbed her, it was the kitten. Very tiny, she put him in a box on the counter, went out to the shops, came home and fed tiny kitten pablum and milk with an eyedropper, vet estimated kitten was just a few weeks old. That kitten was named Peter and lived on that corner of the kitchen counter for 27 years. everyone thought gran was going dotty long before she did, because even when she was alone in the kitchen she would be talking away, having entire conversations, turned out she was talking with Peter, not to herself. That cat would nod and look to where she was pointing and carry on like he was actually following the conversation, he provided an old lady many years of comfort.

    Shana
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Beautiful cat, and 30 years... wow... I just lost one of my cats last week, she would've been 13 next month... :(

    LOttawa
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm So sorry to read this. I know how much it hurts.

    Load More Replies...
    Usernameofgag
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Happy birthday Rubble... Do s/he get letter from queen? Lol. S/he already 100++ yo in cat year.

    BusLady
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    When Queen Elizabeth turns 100 in a few years, who will send her a letter? ;-) Amazing woman!

    Load More Replies...
    Nini Meow
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Lovely cat.. It's nice to have a cat for that long...

    Nadine
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love you, Rubble! What a beautiful cat and what a funny grumpy old man face you have now! I hope you live for many more years (and I also hope my own cats get to be that old!).

    Load More Comments
    Laugh Fan
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Aw, Rubble, you are a beautiful cat and I hope you have many more happy years to come. The only thing I'm uncomfortable with is the attempt to link longevity with the amount of love and care given. Taking excellent care of your animal will certainly help keep it healthy and flourishing, no doubt about it. However, there will be other pets who have had love and attention lavished on them and yet, sadly, have succumbed due to faults in their genes.

    LOttawa
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Agreed, I've had 2 cats pass when they were 4 years old. They were taken care of and loved as much as our cat that passed when he was 18.

    Load More Replies...
    Erin
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My dad had a cat who lived to be 23, and another 17. I hope my baby lives just as long, if not longer!

    LOttawa
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A free check up for birthday... I'd be miserable too, lol... But he is handsome.

    Lulik
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My Leon is about 14 years old now. I hope he will be with us at least another couple of years Leon_mini-...4a651d.jpg Leon_mini-5b157aa4a651d.jpg

    Laugh Fan
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Gorgeous boy! Many more happy years Leon.

    Load More Replies...
    Helena
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My cat, lived just for 3.5 years. She was my best friend and I was imagining how I will travel all around the world with her together. But she got really ill, did our best to save her but we couldn't. I think, although she had a short life, it was a happy one for sure! And that's the most important thing, to enjoy every moment of life. And my cat really knew how to do it until the last breath.

    Alusair Alustriel
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm so so sorry for your loss. I know how it is, I was the one who brought my cat into the house when he fitted in my palm and I was the one holding him at the vet at the final moment. Still breaks heart although it happened 14 years ago. It's a hole in the heart that nothing can ever fill in.

    Load More Replies...
    Lisa Shaw
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My grandfather found an abandoned kitten on some railroad tracks in Scotland, many years ago, staggering home from the pub. He picked the kitten up, put it in his pocket, got home and hung his coat in the closet. Next day, my grandmother went to grab her coat out of the same closet and something grabbed her, it was the kitten. Very tiny, she put him in a box on the counter, went out to the shops, came home and fed tiny kitten pablum and milk with an eyedropper, vet estimated kitten was just a few weeks old. That kitten was named Peter and lived on that corner of the kitchen counter for 27 years. everyone thought gran was going dotty long before she did, because even when she was alone in the kitchen she would be talking away, having entire conversations, turned out she was talking with Peter, not to herself. That cat would nod and look to where she was pointing and carry on like he was actually following the conversation, he provided an old lady many years of comfort.

    Shana
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Beautiful cat, and 30 years... wow... I just lost one of my cats last week, she would've been 13 next month... :(

    LOttawa
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm So sorry to read this. I know how much it hurts.

    Load More Replies...
    Usernameofgag
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Happy birthday Rubble... Do s/he get letter from queen? Lol. S/he already 100++ yo in cat year.

    BusLady
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    When Queen Elizabeth turns 100 in a few years, who will send her a letter? ;-) Amazing woman!

    Load More Replies...
    Nini Meow
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Lovely cat.. It's nice to have a cat for that long...

    Nadine
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love you, Rubble! What a beautiful cat and what a funny grumpy old man face you have now! I hope you live for many more years (and I also hope my own cats get to be that old!).

    Load More Comments
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