It’s a cruel world sometimes. Just a few weeks after being officially awarded the Guinness World Records title of the world’s oldest cat, Poppy passed away at the ripe old age of 24.

An Extraordinary Cat

24 is quite an amazing age for any cat. The average lifespan of a domestic moggie is 12-15 years, and although many cats live to be as old as 21, not many cats can reach Poppy’s achievement. In fact, Poppy’s equivalent human age would have been 112.

Poppy was born in 1990 and lived with her family in Bournemouth for all of her life. She has lived through the birth of the Internet (although she said at the time it would never catch on), five prime ministers and the London 2012 Olympics.

Poppy lived a great life, but even when they reach such an old age, it is always a shock when our pets have to leave us. Poppy had been a part of the West family for almost two and a half decades so it is no surprise how upset they were to lose her.

‘We knew she was very old, but it’s still so sad.’ said Poppy’s owner Jacqui West. ‘We knew she wouldn’t go on forever, but she has been a part of our lives for so long and we are utterly devastated. We are really proud that she managed to get her World Record before she left us.’

World Record Holder

At the time that Guinness World Records gave Poppy her title, Jacqui described Poppy as ‘the top cat’ and ‘still one to be a bit feisty with the other cats in the house’. When it comes to the secret of Poppy’s long life, Jacqui puts it down to ‘a healthy diet and lots of exercise outdoors.’

Whether your cat is a record holder or not, we’re sure you want to give them as much love and care as possible. Cat insurance allows you to get them treatment when they need it ensuring they are happy and healthy throughout their life, whether it’s 24 years or not.