Corduroy

In 2015 an orange-and-white cat from Oregon named Corduroy was recognised by Guinness World Records as the oldest living cat, at the age of twenty-six. Born in 1989, "Cordy" had by then outlived the ordinary feline lifespan more than twice over, and his owner Ashley Reed Okura — who had adopted him as a small child — attributed his longevity to a simple, low-stress country life with plenty of outdoor time and a diet built around meat rather than heavily processed food.

Records for the oldest living cat pass from one long-lived pet to the next as record-holders die, so the title is always a snapshot of a moment. The all-time record for the oldest cat ever belongs to Creme Puff of Texas, who reached an astonishing thirty-eight years — but among cats still living, Corduroy briefly wore the crown, and his story drew attention to just how long a well-cared-for cat can survive.

What made Corduroy notable was less the exact number than what he represented: evidence that with attentive care, a settled environment and good nutrition, cats can remain healthy and content deep into their twenties. Veterinarians increasingly treat cats over fifteen as a distinct "geriatric" group needing tailored care, and long-lived cats like Corduroy are part of why feline senior medicine has grown into its own field.