An unspoken rule of owning a pet is that they don’t live nearly as long as you. Even with a home, food, care and regular visits to the vet, you’d be lucky if your pet made it to 15 years old. Granted, life spans can vary quite a bit between species and even breeds. But, with some exceptions, a decade or a decade and a half is all the time they have.
This is precisely why numerous people cherish their pets every day they can. The time spent between the two of you is short. Perhaps the days are long, but the years will go by before you notice. You won’t have them all your life, but they need you for all of theirs.
However, there are rare occasions where you can have your cake and eat it too. Maybe it’s due to good genes, good owners, or good healthcare. Whatever it is, some pets live extraordinarily long lives which means the joy lasts longer.
Here we meet Rubble, the world’s oldest known house cat.
https://www.facebook.com/cityvets/photos/a.129412413736256/706630669347758
Rubble is a veteran kitty just hitting 32 years old. That’s over double the expected life span of a house cat! His genes were kind to him, clearly. Maybe he just eats healthy and does kitty yoga.
His mom is Michelle Foster, and Rubble was already 20 when she adopted him. He was already a senior kittyzen even before Michelle took him in!
https://www.facebook.com/TheMeowMission/photos/a.415151068594581/2456114437831557/?type=1&opaqueCursor=Abq_FQy-xiU3PLodCHbmxLvv7WaemBclxATBYtYx7_8FCs3-BB0B_3t9P2onPIbFo5bM2-7HWeq7QBOYKByS6N8upcZWKok7Dus4CAy4NSw6Xangbyge957emoW1R1c7MK3-yWE3yrBSdP1eOO6XBuYYaQ_in1UFb5uQQNZqFkVMIIa6pnPwMqoNsxOuc2QLl1dPdzrRgl3UqdtSWz88R4ojXGn-NjV3hTazD31DmJJOd51ppfFjvwQFO5vkEVVUG4EwTfh4N3yuzLrPk369FabPvo-G50FjjR_ztCPqqSwFdayWIjMz37GvmWPTeFzEEMoY_jol_HiBUdujkxiXSpCNYrg_smHYvsEb13Hv36hG65apHTYaFGjsp-Fu8RLjvGZYHbI4J24i25GIXNvW_67GKgG-1tKZndZ2BwoHuVsRltdruNArEJFkScmwSQ15ipIjqS17pO9rM9qyUNPxV8hO_XNptA9QYkb0EpzFD-_mWg&theater
In case you want a better idea of how remarkable a 32 year old cat is, think of it this way : This cat is older than Taylor Swift, Daniel Radcliffe, Ariana Grande and Emma Watson.
And he’s only 4 years younger than Chris Hemsworth, and 8 years older than Google.
Talk about a grand-kitty, right? He wasn’t always the only senior cat in Michelle’s home either. Before him, another cat named Meg was also under Michelle’s care. Meg passed away at the ripe old age of 25.
https://www.facebook.com/cityvets/photos/a.129412413736256/721149761229182
Michelle seems to have the magic, caring touch! Maybe the next cat she adopts will live even longer. Perhaps if she keeps going, she’ll eventually raise a cat that will outlive all of us.
Rubble isn’t too keen on a grand celebration, though. In true old folk fashion, he doesn’t enjoy loud noises or huge gatherings of people. A quiet, free check up day at the vet with Felix Catfood and Whiskas milk is more his style.
“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.”
“Is it possible to learn this power?”
https://www.facebook.com/dusty.rainbolt/posts/10157819612969372
What most of us would give to have our pets live that long! But is there really a novel secret behind it?
It appears to be just tender loving care! Michelle sure knows what a cat needs. Her cats are probably living better lives than most of us, come to think of it. Moreover, given her track record with caring for senior cats, it’s almost like she has her very own kitty retirement home.
“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.”
While his joints may be stiffer, his earring a bit harder, and his eyesight nowhere near like his younger days, Rubble was still a happy cat.
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2977254539009636&id=584099078325206
Though 32 is an impressive age for a cat, it doesn’t mean he was immortal. As of July 2020, Rubble finally passed away from old age. He lived for more than 30, long happy years being cared for by Michelle. If there’s a kitty heaven, Rubble probably went in there as a legend.
Not every pet is going to live as long as Rubble, so make sure you care for and love them while you still have time. Trust me, I think they care more about being happy than living long. Read more about Rubble the retirement age cat in the sources at the end!
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