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A Tyneside cat thought to be the oldest in the world has died aged 32.

Nutmeg was taken to Westway Veterinary Group in Newcastle with breathing difficulties, but vets were unable to save him after he suffered heart failure.

His heartbroken owners Liz and Ian Finlay, of Blaydon, Gateshead, said his death has left a massive hole in their lives.

The couple adopted Nutmeg after finding him in their garden in 1990. They took him to Cats Protection, where vets told them he was at least five, making him 32 when he died.

Until his death, he was thought to be the oldest cat in the world, taking the crown of 26-year-old Corduroy, the Guinness World Record holder.

Nutmeg made the most of his nine lives, undergoing lifesaving treatment at Westway’s main veterinary hospital on West Road, Newcastle, after suffering a stroke in 2015.

He fought back to health, but had to be put to sleep following his latest illness, leaving his owners distraught.

Liz said: “I feel like my heart has been ripped out. He is such a miss as he was a huge character, who was dearly loved.”

Her husband added: “I can hardly put into words how much we miss him. It has left a big hole in our lives, but we still feel he is with us in spirit.

“After his death we just had to get away for a week’s holiday, but it’s done nothing to heal the pain as he was such a special pet.”

Westway Veterinary Group managing director, Jason Atherton, described Nutmeg as a “real exception”.

He said: “Having cats of 20-21 registered with the practice is becoming more and more common but Nutmeg was 10 years older than our oldest feline patients.

“Cats are living longer thanks to better nutrition, better care and better monitoring of patients.

“He was clearly a much-loved family pet to have had such a long, happy life with Mr and Mrs Finlay.”

Nutmeg was in a bad way when arrived at the couple’s home in 1990 as he was suffering from a nasty abscess on his neck.

Liz and Ian managed to coax him into their home with food, before taking him to Cats Protection, who said they could keep the stray as they thought he had been abandoned.

Ian said: “He was checked over by Cat Protection, who said the condition of his teeth made him at least five years old and we owned him for 27 years.

“He knew where he was going to be well off and he particularly loved my wife.

“He was not our cat – we were his humans and he never let us forget that. I think that was the secret to his long life.”