Millie, a 31-year-old tortoiseshell cat, is believed by her owner, Leslie Greenhough, to be the oldest living cat in the world. Her age equates to approximately 146 human years. Greenhough, 71, has cared for Millie since she was three months old, when she was first owned by his late wife, Paula.
Greenhough attributes Millie's longevity to a specialized diet and consistent care. Millie's diet consists of bottled mineral water, salmon, prawns, chicken, and tuna. Greenhough began giving Millie bottled water about 10 years ago when local tap water became discolored due to pipe work. He has continued to exclusively use Buxton mineral water for her since.
Millie celebrated her 31st birthday in March with a special meal of chicken. To mark the occasion, Greenhough also had a cake made with Millie's face on it, complete with 30 candles.
Recent heatwaves in Britain also required special attention for Millie. Greenhough ensured she stayed cool by placing two fans near her at all times and putting ice cubes in her water.
Millie's personality has evolved with her age; she is described as more cautious and shy, having been bullied by neighborhood cats in the past, which led her to become primarily an indoor cat. This sheltered lifestyle, according to Greenhough, may have contributed to her extended lifespan. She now spends her days napping, sometimes in the sun or on Greenhough's bed, and engaging with him for about 30 minutes around dinner time. She also occasionally plays in the garden.
Greenhough expressed pride in Millie's milestone, stating that his late wife would have been amazed by her current condition. He also shared that Millie struggled to eat for a period after Paula's death six years ago, but eventually resumed eating cat food. Greenhough's ambition is to have Millie recognized in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's oldest cat, but he lacks the necessary documentation, as the proof of her age would ideally come from his late wife.
The only existing evidence he has is a photograph of Millie eating from a bowl, taken in 1995. Greenhough met his late wife, Paula, in 2012, and they married in 2014. Millie has been a constant companion since, bonding closely with Greenhough, especially after Paula's passing in 2020.