Record Holder
Rubble
1988–2020
The Exeter cat who reached the grand age of 31 and was widely reported as the world's oldest living cat — a devoted one-owner companion given as a birthday kitten and cherished for three decades.
- Owner
- Michele Foster
- Years
- 1988–2020
- Known for
- Record Holder
Rubble was a grey-and-white cat from Exeter, in Devon, England, given to Michele Foster as a kitten for her 20th birthday in 1988. The two were together for the whole of Rubble's long life, and in 2019 he made headlines around the world when, at 31 years old, he was reported as the oldest living cat — the human equivalent of roughly 150 years.
His owner put his longevity down to a quiet, stable, single-cat household and a great deal of attention. Rubble was an indoor-leaning cat who lived a calm, well-cared-for life, and although old age eventually brought the usual feline complaints — a little weight loss and the slowing of a very senior cat — he remained a contented companion.
Rubble died in 2020, aged 31, shortly after his owner made the difficult decision to let him go peacefully as his health finally declined. His story struck a chord as a portrait not of a stunt or a viral sensation but of an ordinary, deeply-loved pet who simply kept going, and going, and going.
Further reading: Rubble on Wikipedia