Nevada feline certified as longest domestic cat ever

Emerson Marcus, Reno Gazette Journal | USATODAY

RENO, Nev. -- A Maine coon cat that called Reno home has officially been named the "longest domestic cat ever," according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

Robin Hendrickson, owner of the cat named Stewie, said she received the Guinness record certificate in the mail Friday.

The certificate reads: "The longest domestic cat ever was Mymains Stewart Gilligan at 123 cm (48.5 in) long. He was owned by Robin Hendrickson and Erik Brandsness (USA) and was measured on 28 August 2010."

Stewie was also certified as the longest living domestic cat before his Feb. 4 death.

Hendrickson got Stewie from a cat breeder in 2005 when he was 3 months old.

In October 2010, the Guinness Book of World Records sent Hendrickson a letter stating Stewie was the world's longest domestic cat.

In 2011, he added the record for having the longest tail.

Stewie worked as a therapy cat to help people in medical care and also served as an ambassador for animal causes.

Stewie was diagnosed in early 2012 with Lymphosarcoma, a malignant disease of the lymphoid tissues. He responded successfully to chemotherapy and was declared cancer-free, but the remission period was brief, and a vet recently found another, more aggressive tumor on his kidneys, Hendrickson said at the time of his death.

After his cancer diagnosis last year, Stewie's medical bills totaled $11,000, and the community pitched in $6,700 to help pay them.

"Erik and I are thrilled to have received this honor for Stewie," Hendrickson said in an electronic message Tuesday. "For him to be certified as the longest domestic cat ever is just too amazing. Stewie accomplished so much and made so many people happy...What a wonderful achievement to add to his legacy."

Contributing: The Associated Press