Still ruling roost at 26 – is Tara oldest cat in Wales?
A FAMILY are planning a purr-fect party for their 26-year-old cat, who they think might be the oldest in the country.
When Tara the rag doll cat was born in March 1994, John Major was Prime Minister, Blur were number one in the singles charts with Girls & Boys and petrol cost just 49p per litre.
Mike Rosser, who thinks Tara could be the most elderly moggy in Wales, was just a twoyear-old boy when she joined his family as a kitten at their home in Llysworney, near Cowbridge.
He said Tara has been at his side for most of his life.
“It’s all me and my sister Jess know really,” he said.
“As far as we can see, she is the oldest cat in Wales.”
Although Tara doesn’t have an official “birth certificate”, her records show she was neutered in 1994 and at the time, her date of birth was given by Mike’s mum Pamela as March 18, 1994.
Tara is still fit and healthy, despite having clocked up the equivalent of 120 human years.
Cats live to be about 15 on average, which means Tara has nearly doubled her life expectancy.
Her advanced years haven’t slowed her down, however, and she is still a keen hunter.
Mike says it’s not uncommon to find her sitting in obscure places, although her favourite spot is next to the fire in the winter.
He adds that Tara has been the one constant in their ever-changing family.
Mike now lives and works in Cardiff, his sister Jess has moved out and had a daughter – Elliana – and their dad James sadly died last year after being diagnosed with cancer.
Yet Tara still lives with Pamela and continues to roam around her home village, with a fearsome reputation for terrorising the local dogs.
While Tara might get an extra-large bowl of Felix, her favourite cat food, on her big day, Mark is hoping some of the villagers and neighbours will help the family celebrate her 26th birthday.
They are planning to have a get-together to mark the special occasion.
However, Tara will need to live for another 12 years if she wants to be crowned the oldest cat in the world.
Creme Puff, of Austin, Texas, is the oldest recorded cat after she lived for an astonishing 38 years and three days.