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Dee
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posted June 17, 2010 08:30 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Dee     Edit/Delete Message
http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/cutestuff/3827599/Smokey-still-smoking

The blue Burmese, born in 1985, was named the country's oldest cat following a search by pet food company Purina last year.

Now aged 25, he's doing "absolutely fine" according to owner Jean Elliot, 76.

"Last time we took him to the vet they said he's doing better than most cats half his age."

The elderly feline is, fittingly, a long-time resident of a Mt Roskill pensioner village.

He moved in with Mrs Elliot in 2001 after his previous owner passed away, but she says "he seems to prefer men", and spends most of his time with neighbour Ian Clarke.

Mr Clarke, who lives alone, says that Smokey can usually be found sleeping in his bed - an old laundry basket - or sunbathing.

"It'd be a shocking wrench if anything ever happened to him," he says. "It's just me and him so Smokey is my family." Despite being around 117 in human years, Mrs Elliot says Smokey "still has a little punch."

"There's one cat in particular that he really doesn't like," says Mr Clarke, "Smokey will always make sure he tells him what he thinks."

There's certainly nothing wrong with his hearing either, as Mr Clarke says he only has to open the fridge door and Smokey will appear in a flash.

"He can be gone for hours and then suddenly from out of nowhere he's there. He's certainly quite a character"

Mr Clarke attributes Smokey's long life to the stress-free environment of the pensioner village, and believes he may still have years in him yet.

"I don't know what I'd do without him," he says. "I'm always worrying, but he's actually in better condition than me!"

According to the Guinness Book of records, the oldest cat living cat was Creme Puff, who died in Texas in 2005 at the age of 38.

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