Owner Got A Cat In 1988, Probably Did Not Expect To Throw Him A Birthday Party 30 Years Later
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.”
“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!
Meet Rubble, a British cat who is now being called the ‘oldest cat in the world’ after celebrating his 30th birthday
Image credits: SWNS
His owner, Michele Foster, got him as a kitten on her 20th birthday May 1988
Image credits: SWNS
“He was part of a litter of cats that my sister’s friend had and I had just left home”
Image credits: SWNS
Image credits: SWNS
“I was lonely living on my own so got him in as a kitten”
Image credits: SWNS
The pair have been inseparable ever since
Image credits: SWNS
Rubble has now matched the age of the last world record holder
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
Image credits: SWNS
“He is on medication for his blood pressure but apart from that, he is in remarkably good health”
Image credits: SWNS
Image credits: SWNS
He is quite likely to be the oldest cat in the world and is still going strong
Image credits: SWNS
Happy 30th birthday Rubble!
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
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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.
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...My dad had a cat who lived to be 23, and another 17. I hope my baby lives just as long, if not longer!
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
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.
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...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.
Beautiful cat, and 30 years... wow... I just lost one of my cats last week, she would've been 13 next month... :(
Happy birthday Rubble... Do s/he get letter from queen? Lol. S/he already 100++ yo in cat year.
When Queen Elizabeth turns 100 in a few years, who will send her a letter? ;-) Amazing woman!
Load More Replies...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.
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...My dad had a cat who lived to be 23, and another 17. I hope my baby lives just as long, if not longer!
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
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.
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...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.
Beautiful cat, and 30 years... wow... I just lost one of my cats last week, she would've been 13 next month... :(
Happy birthday Rubble... Do s/he get letter from queen? Lol. S/he already 100++ yo in cat year.
When Queen Elizabeth turns 100 in a few years, who will send her a letter? ;-) Amazing woman!
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