Owner Jennifer Lewis keeps an eye on elderly Squido Photo: Glenn Phillips (30772)SQUIDO the cat is scratching at the door of the record books as he enters the 24th year of an extraordinary life.

Owner Jennifer Lewis, of Wynsome Street, Southwick, believes her mature black moggy could be one of the world's oldest cats at the grand old age of 23.

According to the Guinness Book Of World Records, the oldest feline is 'Kataleena Lady', a Burmese born on March 11, 1977 and still alive in 2002 but it is not known when she died.

Squido, who came to the Lewis family as a kitten in 1982, is still as lean as ever and has shown no signs of taking a permanent catnap.

Mrs Lewis, 53, who also keeps a Pincer dog called Bobby and a rabbit called Bambie, said Squido was given to her mother by a family friend who could not cope with his playful antics.

Mrs Lewis said: "Squido was a young kitten of no more than six months when he came to my mother.

"She kept him for 10 years until she moved to a new apartment in Trowbridge where tenants were not allowed to keep any pets. I agreed to look after Squido and he has been with us here in Southwick ever since."

Mrs Lewis's son, Simon, was just eight years old when Squido arrived at the family home. Now 31, the Trowbridge scrap yard merchant says he can't believe the feisty feline is still going strong.

Mr Lewis said: "Squido was a nasty piece of work when he first came to us. If you left your toes hanging out of the bed at night he would come over and scratch them. I'm so proud that our cat could be one of the oldest in the world. He's not very active now though but that's not surprising considering he is 168 years old in cat years."

Family friend Patrick Ford helps Mrs Lewis, who suffers from osteoporosis, with odd jobs around the house and garden.

He described Squido as a 'wonderful cat' who continued to defy the laws of nature on a daily basis.

Mr Ford said: "Squido has survived two strokes in his life and his fur is now starting to moult, but apart from that there is nothing wrong with him.

"He eats like a horse we've tried to vary his diet but he just keeps coming back for more. Some days he can eat five whole meals and even then he tries to steal food from the dog.

"We've been expecting something to happen to Squido for a long time now but he just goes on and on and long may that continue."

Pet heroes

Have you got a pet story to rival that of Squido? If so, ring Gareth Moorhouse on (01225) 352480.