9 Lives in 34 Years

November 5, 1957 - The world's oldest cat died on this day. She was an English tabby named Ma and she lived to be 34 years old.

When Ma was a kitten she got her paw stuck in a steel jaw trap. The injury was pretty bad, and the cat almost didn't survive, but her owners doted on her and made sure that she was carefully tended to for the rest of her long life.

One theory about Ma's longevity is that since her owners were classical musicians, the cat was regularly listening to relaxing symphonies. She also enjoyed a diet of fresh meat from the local butcher.

There are plenty of other cat owners claiming that their kitties have lived longer, but Ma's case is one of the most well-documented, so she gets the glory.