'World's oldest cat' dies in UK city at the ripe old age of 152 as heartbroken owner pays tribute

A much-loved cat, believed to be the oldest in the world at 33 or the equivalent of 152 in human years, has sadly died.

Proud owner Lila Brissett, 73, was by the side of Rosie, a fluffy tortoise-shell, who passed away in the hallway of her home in Norwich this week.

Born in 1991, she was the unofficially the world's oldest cat as the current holder is a 28-year-old cat called Flossie from Kent - born in 1995. Rosie turned 33 on June 1 this year and so died at the equivalent age of 152 in human years.

Heartbroken Lila, who adopted Rosie when she was 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."

Rosie loved eating and sleeping and was often found napping in the window of Lila's home as she became an indoor cat in her later years. 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.

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Lila, who is widowed, had previously rescued an abused cat and a stray dog so happily welcomed Rosie into her home. Rosie's mum was a grey rag doll - which gave Rosie her bushy squirrel tail - and her dad is believed to have been a ginger tom.

She lived permanently indoors with Lila in her ground-floor flat and was fed Purina One cat food daily "or she'll kick up a fuss". Lila said previously: "She's quite a character. Rosie sleeps by the window all day and, like clockwork, she will have some food and use the litter tray.

"There's no need for an alarm clock. All she does is eat, sleep, use the litter tray and repeat. 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. 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. Flossie was born on December 29, 1995, as verified in Orpington, Greater London, on November 10, 2022. A spokeswoman from Guinness World Records encouraged Lila to send in an application for Rosie for them to review last year - but she never got around to it. The oldest cat ever is Creme Puff of Austin, Texas, who was born on August 3, 1967 and lived until August 6, 2005 - 38 years and three days.