'UK's oldest cat' to celebrate her 24th b'day

London, Dec 11 (ANI): Blackie the cat, believed to be Britain's oldest moggie, is all set to celebrate her 24th birthday in January.

Quentin Shaw, 49, has owned the long-haired OA-Puss since 1987.

Incredibly she has even outlived three of her own litters along the way.

"I've had her since she was just a few weeks old," the Sun quoted Shaw, of Thurnby, Leics, as saying.

"I was 25 when I got her and her brother and it feels like 100 years ago.

"She had a black spot on her head and her brother had a brown spot, so we called them Black and Tan.

"She doesn't hunt any more, she can't see in the dark and if you try to brush her she usually falls over, but she's very determined and still going strong," Shaw added.

Brother Tan was killed when he was hit by a car aged five, but Blackie has battled on to reach a mammoth age thanks to a lot of love and generous helpings of food.

Quentin added: "I took her to the vets a couple of weeks ago and they told me she was the oldest cat they had ever seen.

"She's had three litters and I think she's probably outlived all her offspring."

Blackie, who lives with Quentin, his fiancee Kim and her children, Scarlet and Tom, are registering Blackie with the Guinness Book of Records.

A spokesman said: "There is no current holder of Britain's oldest cat so we will be very interested to hear from Blackie and his owners."

The average life expectancy of a cat is 16 years. (ANI)