Cat Named Rubble, The World's Oldest, Has Died At 31 Years Old
The world’s oldest known cat has died at 31, and Rubble’s story has left his owner heartbroken. The Maine Coon had been part of Michele Heritage’s life since she was 20, growing from a tiny kitten into a record-breaking companion who outlived the average cat by decades.
Rubble had no known health problems for most of his life, and Michele said he only became frail near the end. The beloved pet died in Exeter on 3 July 2020, just before what would have been his 32nd birthday.
He was more than a pet to Michele, and his final days brought an end to a remarkable run. Here’s how the cat who made history spent his last moments.
Michele attributes Rubble's incredible lifespan to the fact that she never had children, so she doted on him as if he were her child.
"He would have been 32 in May, so it was such an achievement. He was an amazing companion, and I had the pleasure of living with him for such a long time," Michele said.
"I got him just before my 20th birthday when he was a kitten."
Rubble managed to surpass the oldest living cat record, previously held by a Siamese named Scooter from Texas, who was 30 years old before he passed away in 2016.
The oldest known cat of all time is Creme Puff, who lived until 38 years and 3 days old.
"We never pursued the Guinness Book of Records. I didn't want to do that given his age. The record wasn't of interest to us," says Michele.
He grew old very quickly towards the end. I told my husband at Christmas that I thought it would be the last we spent with Rubble. He had started to stop eating and was only drinking water.
That was the point when everyone knew something had changed.
"He grew old very quickly towards the end. I told my husband at Christmas that I thought it would be the last we spent with Rubble. He had started to stop eating and was only drinking water."
He was a creature of habit, had his favorite places to sleep, and liked his food, so when that stopped happening, we knew something was wrong.
This is a lot like the world’s oldest living cat getting adopted and finally living her best years.
"He became very thin. I went to work as usual, and when I got home, my husband said Rubble had gone across the road as he did every day and never came back, so we believe he went off to die as cats do."
Michele remembers the moment she first met Rubble on her 20th birthday, saying, "He was part of a litter that my sister's friend had, and I had just left home."
"He was a creature of habit, had his favorite places to sleep, and liked his food, so when that stopped happening, we knew something was wrong."
I was lonely living on my own, so I got him as a kitten. It was in May 1988.
Michele remembers the moment she first met Rubble on her 20th birthday, saying, "He was part of a litter that my sister's friend had, and I had just left home."
Rest peacefully, Rubble!
Rubble’s record is gone, now see how a British cat hit 26 years old.
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