HAVE we found Busselton’s oldest cat?
Squid, aka Squid-the-hero, turned 20 last week and celebrated the occasion with a couple of prawns and a few flakes of salmon. He also received a card from his proud family.
The much-loved moggie was born in Fremantle on March 19, 1992, and his owner, Sheila Martin, has vaccination documents to verify his age.
Squid and his littermate, Nancy, were adopted by Sheila’s daughter Bev, and the kittens grew up on the busy streets of Fremantle, shifting homes 13 times over the years. When Bev moved to the UK, Sheila took them in, and they came to ‘retire’ in Busselton seven years ago.
Nancy lived to the ripe old age of 18, but despite being deaf, Squid is still going strong – and to say he is a character would be an understatement.
He enjoys twice-weekly showers under the backyard sprinklers, and comes in sopping wet demanding to be dried.
Squid loves running water, and will put his head under any tap, which he also likes to drink from. When that is not an option, he prefers a glass of water over a bowl.
He eats what Bev eats, and delights in a smorgasbord of options. Just last year he saw off a much younger rival, who was also tempted by the banquet.
In fact eating and sleeping take up a good deal of Squid’s time these days.
The long-lived tabby has survived a few health battles and near-misses over the years, proving that some cats really do have nine lives, and earning him the name of Squid-the-hero.
According to the website, www.cat-world.com.au, 20-year-old Squid is the equivalent of 97 years in human terms. The same site puts normal cat life expectancy between nine and 15 years, and claims the oldest cat on record lived to be 38.
• Do you know an older cat? If so the Mail would like to hear from you. Email us editorial.bdmail@ruralpress.com or drop in to our office at 51 Queen Street, Busselton.
