There's hardly a person who hasn't heard of the Guinness Book of World Records. It contains a wealth of diverse records and achievements, and our furry friends—cats—are full members. Let's find out which four-legged friends are ahead of the rest.
The fattest cat, Himmy
The only cat listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the heaviest is Himmie, an Australian cat from Cairns, Queensland. His owner, Thomas Wise, weighed 21.3 kg (47.5 lbs), had a waist circumference of 84 cm (33.5 in), a neck circumference of 38.1 cm (15.5 in), and was nearly 1 meter (3.3 ft) long with his tail. He died on March 12, 1986, at the age of 10, from respiratory failure and physical inactivity. Himmie was so obese that he was unable to walk independently and was transported in a special wheelbarrow. Thomas claimed he had not intended for Himmie to be so overweight, and that his excess weight was due to natural laziness and overeating. In 2006, an examination revealed the presence of melengestrol acetate, a growth hormone used by dishonest farmers to fatten pigs, in the cat's system. After Himmy's death, all records that could cause irreparable harm to human and animal health (these records related to the amount of food eaten, drunk, swallowed, and so on) were removed from the Guinness Book of Records. This measure was necessary, as many cat owners, eager to break Himmy's record, rushed to feed their cats without regard for their health. So, it's safe to say that Himmy gave his life to end the fattening of cats.
The most prolific cat Dusty
The record for the most prolific female cat in a tabby breed belongs to Dusty, an American cat. Dusty was born in 1935 in Bonham, Texas. The feat was set in 1952. During her lifetime, she gave birth to 420 kittens, with her last litter being a single kitten, born at the age of 18 on June 12, 1952. For comparison, the average female cat can produce around 200 kittens in a 15-year lifespan if she gives birth to 3-4 kittens three times a year.
The longest cat, Snobby
The world's longest cat, Snobby, lived in Scotland with Lorna Sutherland. He measured 1.03 m from nose to tail, his tail itself was 31 cm long, and he weighed 9.5 kg. His height at the withers was only 33 cm. Lorna herself and a local veterinarian were the first to notice Snobby's size. Guinness World Records officials noticed the future record holder in 1997, when he was four years old. Lorna claims she always knew her pet would become famous worldwide, not just in his native country. Snobby didn't climb tables; he had no need to. He simply stood on his hind legs and took whatever caught his eye. The celebrity's menu included turkey, tuna, and rice pudding, and his favorite drink was coffee.
The richest cat Blackie
Blackie is the heir to millionaire antique dealer Ben Rea. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Blackie became the richest cat in the world in 1988. Ben was not a sociable person, living a reclusive lifestyle. His companions throughout his life were cats. Blackie was fortunate to be Ben's last furry companion. According to his will, the cat was to receive "the very best" and would receive 15 million pounds sterling. Ben left another 15 million pounds sterling to Blackie's guardians—British cat protection societies. The millionaire's relatives attempted to challenge the will, trying to convince the court that Ben Rea was not of sound mind at the time the document was written, but the court ruled in favor of Blackie.
The lightest cat breed is the Singapura.
The Singapura (Singapore cat) is a naturally miniature breed, listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the smallest in the world. Adult males weigh 2.5-3 kg, while females weigh around 2 kg. Representatives of this rare breed have an exclusive and only permitted golden-cream coat (sepia agouti). These cats perfectly combine an easy-going nature with a delightful appearance.
Legend has it that Tommy Meadow, an American visiting Singapore, once spotted miniature stray cats living in gutters. Tommy became intrigued by the unusual breed, captured four of them, and sent them to his friend, a cat breeder, in the United States. She began actively researching and breeding the cats. Soon, interested Americans arrived in Singapore to bring back a batch of the unique cats for breeding.
Singapura cats were first exhibited in 1981, causing a great stir among both professional breeders and amateurs. In 1984, this unique breed was thoroughly described and received recognition from felinologists worldwide.
The Singapore government declared cats of this breed a "living national monument," and residents made the cat their mascot and began to venerate its image.
The smallest Singapura cat weighed 0.79 kg at 23 months and lived in the United States with Angelina Johnson's family.
Anyone can break records registered in the Guinness Book of World Records. This will bring you worldwide fame and recognition.
