No pet lives forever, but one cat is pushing the limits, outpacing the average lifespan for felines.
A recent TikTok video posted by @katarinas.garage went viral, reaching over 1.1 million views within a week, after the owner showed off her 27-year-old cat, Sabre, calmly, and wobbly, walking around during at a vet appointment and exploring the room. His spry personality stopped viewers in their tracks, as his movements hardly reflected his age.
The average lifespan for felines is between 13 and 17 years, with lifestyle, nutrition, preventative care, breed and genetics playing a role in longevity, according to PetMD. Advances in medicine, nutrition and care have contributed to cats living longer lives, some well into their 20s. The oldest cat on record lived to be 38.
When translated to human years, Sabre would be about 124 years old. A Purina article explains that the first year of a cat’s life is roughly equivalent to 15 human years, with nine added in the second year and four more for each year after that.
And while Sabre might be a decade away from the record, TikTok users cannot get over his age, calling him “27 years young,” as they watch him unafraid and exploring the vet office. As of Thursday, the clip reached over 119,900 likes and 1,902 comments.
One viewer pointed out: “Dang, he still walks around like he got somewhere to be.”
Someone else added: “I never thought a cat would be older than me.”
The owner, Katarina, told Newsweek via TikTok that she got Sabre in 2000, when she was only 4 years old. At the time, he was a stray, and the vet estimated him to be about 2 years old. He has been with her ever since.
“Starting from Lethbridge, Alberta Canada and moving to Coaldale, Alberta and now finally Sundre, Alberta, he’s been around a bit,” she said.
But with age has come health issues. In the clip, she said her cat can no longer meow; he tries to, but nothing comes out. Sometimes Sabre will let out a low growl or hiss. Plus, he has slowed down in his golden years, as he has kidney disease and muscle degradation. She expected health conditions at his age, but that has not stopped him from exploring and enjoying life.
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