What does it take to become the oldest cat in the world? Lots of love, sleep and exercise. So says Ashley Reed Okura, whose half-Maine coon, half-domestic longhair cat, Corduroy, at 26 years, has just been named the oldest cat alive, according to the Guinness World Records.
"We are thrilled! I bought Corduroy a mouse to celebrate ... it is wonderful to share him with the world," said Okura, according to Guinness World Records.
"It's truly amazing to have picked Corduroy out from a litter when I was almost 7 years old and still have him in my life today," Okura told CNN.
"I was so excited I could hardly contain myself. The 20-minute drive to Redmond felt like forever. He was my buddy and I would carry him like a baby," Okura recalled to The Canada Journal.
"Growing up on 160 acres in Oregon, I allowed Corduroy to roam the ranch freely, so he always gets lots of exercises. I really think the key to his longevity is I've allowed him to be a cat. We've kept his claws and I think that really has helped him out. It's allowed him to go outside and defend himself and also hunt. I think Corduroy has good genes. Typically cats live until they're 15 years old," said Okura, sharing the secret of the feline's long life with USA Today.
Corduroy became top cat after previous record holder, Tiffany Two, passed away at 27 years, two months and 20 days of age.
