Flossie, the world's oldest living cat, is nearly 27 years old

Flossie, at the age of almost 27 -- which is the feline equivalent of being 120 human years old, according to Guinness World Records -- has been crowned the world's oldest living cat.
The British brown and black cat received official recognition from Guinness World Records on Thursday at the record-breaking age of 26 years and 329 days, according to a news release. Although she's poorly sighted and deaf, she is reportedly in good health.
"I knew from the start that Flossie was a special cat, but I didn't imagine I'd share my home with a world record holder," said owner Vicki Green, who adopted her after the elderly pet was handed in to U.K. cat welfare charity Cats Protection in August.
"She's so affectionate and playful, especially sweet when you remember how old she is. I'm immensely proud that Cats Protection matched me with such an amazing cat," she added.
Flossie has been in several homes since living as a stray kitten close to Merseyside hospital in Liverpool, northwestern England, in the first few months of her life in 1995.
She was adopted by a worker at the hospital, who she lived with for 10 years before her owner died. Flossie was taken in by her late owner's sister. After 14 years, her second owner died. She was then with her second owner's son for three years, before being entrusted to volunteers at Cats Protection.
That is when word of her incredible age began to spread and the journey to confirm her record began.
"We were flabbergasted when we saw that Flossie's vet records showed her to be 27 years old," said Naomi Rosling, the charity's branch co-ordinator, in the release.
Most cat owners prefer to adopt a much younger cat, with elderly animals often living their final days in shelters, according to the release.
"I've always wanted to give older cats a comfortable later life," said Green, who hopes Flossie's story will encourage potential cat owners to provide a haven for older pets.
The oldest cat who ever lived, Crème Puff, reached the age of 38 years and three days. They died on August 6, 2005.
The former oldest living dog, Pebbles, died on October 3, five months before the toy fox terrier's 23rd birthday. Gino Wolf, who lives with his owner in Los Angeles, is the current record holder at 22 years and 2 months old.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING | Former Mississauga, Ont. mayor Hazel McCallion dies at 101
Former Mississauga, Ont. mayor Hazel McCallion, nicknamed 'Hurricane Hazel,' has died. She was 101 years old. Premier Doug Ford said McCallion died peacefully at her home early Sunday morning.

Majority of affordable homes approved under federal program not yet constructed
The federal government has set aside billions of dollars to quickly build affordable housing across the country, but delays in construction suggest many of the projects approved for funding are missing their deadlines.
'Don't be numb to this': Battling despair over gun deaths
When President Joe Biden signed a bill last year to fight gun violence -- the first such measure to pass Congress in a generation -- a substantial majority supported it. But 78 per cent said they believed it would do little or nothing at all, a survey by the Pew Research Center found.
Memphis police disband unit that beat Tyre Nichols
The Memphis police chief on Saturday disbanded the unit whose officers beat to death Tyre Nichols as the nation and the city struggled to come to grips with video showing police pummelling the Black motorist.
As Canada's RCMP marks 150th anniversary, a look at what it says needs to change
After years of reports and allegations detailing a 'toxic' workplace, Canada's RCMP says it is trying to evolve, focusing on diversity in its organization and repairing relationships with communities as it marks its 150th anniversary.
Once-in-a-lifetime discovery: Indigenous jacket that may be a century old turns up in small U.K. town
When 1990s suede fringe jackets started making a comeback last year, a U.K.-based vintage clothing company decided to order four tonnes of suede from a supplier in the United States. Along with that shipment came a once-in-a lifetime discovery.
How to get over the 'mental hurdle' of being active in the winter
When the cold and snow have people hunkering down, these outdoor enthusiasts find motivation in braving the Canadian winter through community and sport.
Tyre Nichols case revives calls for change in U.S. police culture
Tyre Nichols' fatal encounter with police officers in Memphis, Tenn., recorded in video made public Friday night, is a glaring reminder that efforts to reform policing have failed to prevent more flashpoints in an intractable epidemic of brutality.
W5 EXCLUSIVE | Interviewing a narco hitman: my journey into Mexico's cartel heartland
W5 goes deep into the narco heartland to interview a commander with one of Mexico's most brutal cartels. W5's documentary 'Narco Avocados' airs Saturday at 7 pm on CTV.