Leslie Greenhough, 71, from Stockport, Greater Manchester, believes his tortoiseshell cat, Millie, is currently the world's oldest living feline at 31 years old - the equivalent of 146 human years. Millie was born in 1995 and was first owned by Leslie's late wife, Paula, who passed away aged 55 in 2020.
Leslie puts Millie's extraordinary lifespan down to giving her only mineral water for the past decade, along with "lots of treats", including "cuddles on the sofa". The cat also benefits from 12pm wake-up calls and a diet of prawns and salmon.
Mineral water switch
Leslie began giving Millie mineral water after nearby water pipe works left his taps running dirty. Because he was classed as a vulnerable person, Buxton water was dropped off at his doorstep, which he drank and also gave to Millie.
He said: "I am very proud she has made it to 31. She is a real trooper. I have been feeding her mineral water for the past 10 years now. Nearby to our house, work was being done to the water pipes, and because I am old I was classed as a vulnerable person. So they began dropping off Buxton water at my doorstep, which I drank and also gave to Millie. When I turned my taps back on afterwards, dirty water came out, so I chose to stick with the Buxton, which I have stuck with ever since."
Birthday treats and keeping cool
The purchasing manager celebrated Millie's birthday in March, treating her to a bowl of chicken. Due to this summer's record heat, Leslie says Millie has two fans on her at all times to help keep her cool.
A family bond
Leslie was first introduced to Millie after overhearing her meowing in the background during calls with Paula, after they connected on the dating site Plenty of Fish. The couple got engaged on Valentine's Day in 2013 and married in 2014. Leslie had owned a cat called Blackie as a child, but hadn't had a pet for several decades until meeting Millie.
Millie had been bullied by other cats in her neighbourhood, so she stopped going out and became an indoor cat. Leslie said: "Millie was such a sweet cat when I first met her. Over the years, Millie was bullied by other cats in her neighbourhood, so she stopped going out and became more of an indoor cat. She's developed a cautious attitude - she's very shy. I think that's helped her live longer."
Loss of Paula
Paula died in 2020 after contracting COVID-19. Her passing also affected Millie, who struggled to eat after losing her mum. Leslie said: "It was incredibly difficult on both of us. Millie and I had bonded before she died. She would sit on my lap, and my wife said she could see how much the cat loved me."
"I'm proud of Millie mainly for my wife, really. She would be amazed with how well she is doing," he added.
Leslie said his "life ambition" is to get Millie into the Guinness Book of Records, but he can't prove her age. He explained: "Unfortunately, the only person who can do that is my late wife." The only proof is a 1995 image of Millie eating from a bowl, taken by Paula.
