Pet Sox it to 'em for oldest cat title

Sox the pensioner puss looks like the cat which got the cream after stepping forward to claim the title of oldest moggy in Britain – at the grand old age of 28.

He is five years older than a previous contender for the title – Stanley the hotel cat at Kinver's Dunsley Hall.

Terrie Beardsmore believed her beloved pet Stanley, who will be 23 in November, held the coveted top spot. But Sox's owner Emma Smith got in touch with the Express & Star to highlight the age of her feline friend – which adds up to an amazing 128 in human years.

The claim has added weight, as in 2005 the oldest verified cat in the world was 23-year-old Spook, who lived in Ontario, Canada.

Miss Smith, 29, of Randall Close, Kingswinford, said despite Sox's grand old age he was still active and relatively healthy.

She added: "Sox still enjoys running around, although time is taking its toll on him. He still enjoys a bowl of milk each day and of course his senior cat biscuits and food.

"Six years ago when our old next-door neighbours came to live in the street, they brought Sox with them. We ended up looking after him and before long he was eating and sleeping in our house.

"When the neighbours left they said that because Sox was old they would not take him with them.

"Me and my parents took him in and he has been part of the family ever since."

The building society administrator said she was proud that Sox could be the oldest cat in Britain.

His rival in the age stakes, Stanley, lives with hotel owner Terrie Beardsmore at Dunsley Hall and has tandoori chicken and breakfast cereals to thank for keeping him in the pink.

Terrie has been Stanley's owner since he was eight-weeks-old and saved him from being put down because his previous owner did not want him.

Most cats live to be between 10 and 15.