An animal lover who claims to have the world's oldest cat puts its long life down to only feeding it spring water.

Leslie Greenhough, 71, believes his tortoiseshell moggy, Millie, who was born in 1995, is currently the oldest living feline at aged 31 - equivalent to 146 human years.

The puss was first owned by Leslie's late wife, Paula, who passed away aged 55 in 2020 who got Millie the same year as a three-month-old kitten.

And Leslie has since said Millie's incredible lifespan is down to feeding her only Buxton natural mineral water for the past decade - alongside "lots of treats" including "cuddles on the sofa".

The purchasing manager, from Stockport, celebrated her birthday earlier this year in March, treating her to a bowl full of chicken.

And due to the heat he says Millie has two fans on her at all times to keep he cool in the heat.

Leslie said: "I am very proud she has made it to 31, she is a real trooper.

"I have been feeding her mineral water for the past 10 years now.

"Nearby to our house work was being done to the water pipes, and because I am old I was classed as a vulnerable person.

"So they began dropping off Buxton water at my doorstep which I drank and also gave to Millie.

"When I turned my taps back on afterwards, dirty water came out, so I chose to stick with the Buxton which I have stuck with ever since.

"But I'm proud of Millie mainly for my wife really, she would be amazed with how well she is doing.

"Millie is around 146 in human years, I think that says it all really.

"Imagine being 146-years-old, I can't - it is only animals like tortoises that live to daft ages like that."

Leslie met his wife on the dating site Plenty Of Fish in 2012, and he was introduced to Millie after he overheard her 'meowing' in the background of the calls.

The couple got engaged in 2013 on Valentine's Day and married in 2014.

Leslie had owned a cat once before as a child, named Blackie, but hadn't had a pet in several decades, until meeting Millie.

He said: "Blackie used to follow me everywhere she was born in a paper mill and such a sweet thing.

"Millie was such a sweet cat when I first met her.

"Over the years Millie was bullied by other cats the her neighbourhood, so she stopped going out and became more of an indoor cat.

"She's developed a cautious attitude - she's very shy.

"I think that's helped her live longer."

Leslie's wife Paula sadly passed away six years ago, in 2020, after contracting Covid-19.

His wife's passing also affected Millie, who struggled to eat after losing her mum.

He said: "It was incredibly difficult on both of us.

"Millie and I had bonded before she died, she would sit on my lap and my wife said she could see how much the cat loved me.

"I think Millie knew my wife wasn't well.

"Millie wouldn't eat anything at first, I used to give her prawns and chicken, but over time she's back to eating cat food."

Leslie says his "life ambition" is to get her in the Guinness Book of records, but sadly he can't prove her age.

He said: "Unfortunately, the only person who can do that is my late wife."

And the only item of proof he has is an image taken in 1995 of Millie eating out of a food bowl his wife took.

Leslie says Millie has begun to struggle in the heat so he has been pulling ice cubes in her water and blowing two fans in her direction.

He said: "She has also began sleeping on the floor, the air must be cooler down there."

The retiree also says Millie's personality has changed with her age with her now becoming more "relaxed" and "chilled out".

Millie starts her day "messing" about with Leslie before jumping up onto his knee to sit on the back of the sofa in the sun.

Leslie also credits Millie's longevity to 12pm wake-up calls and a diet of prawn and salmon.

The cat lover said: "She keeps herself to herself, she will wake up around dinner time and I will mess about her with for 30 minutes.

"She only drinks Buxton water and has a diet of salmon, prawns, chicken and tuna.

"Millie likes to do her own thing, I will find her either asleep behind the sofa or asleep in my bed.

"Sometimes she will play out in the garden - a cat is a cat really."

By Charlie Fenton and Jake Meeus-Jones

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