Secret to long life for the country's oldest pub cat, still propping up the bar aged 112? Real ale on tap, her owner claims

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Long drink: Rosie, at 25 years old, is believed to be one of the oldest cats in the country

Veteran pub moggy Rosie is the cat that got the cream amongst the regulars of her local - after clocking up the equivalent of 112 in human years.
Rosie has been standing at the bar of the Swan with Two Neck in the village of Pendleton near Clitheroe, Lancashire, since the 1980s and has just reached her 25th birthday making her one of the oldest cats in Britain.
Pub landlady Christine Dilworth who owns Rosie believes her long life is down to the real ale fumes going up her nose. Cats normally have a life expectancy of 15 years.
Christine, 52, said: "She has always had good company and enjoyed time by the open fire and I think the real ale fumes have helped as well.
'She is quite frail and she has always been small, but she is a real character. She is so happy when people are around, because she has grown up in a pub.
'We've had other cats over the years, but Rosie is special. She's a real lady and very gentle and happy even when the children are pulling at her.

Fancy a drink? Owner Christine believes the secret to Rosie's longevity is fumes from the real ale the pub serves

The family got a scare a couple of years ago, when Rosie developed cancer on her ear.
'She had to get part of her ear chopped off - maybe it was down to too much sun-bathing, they do say to rub sun cream on cats' ears.'
Rosie laps up all the attention and has even struck up friendship with regular punters.
Christine said: 'It's just amazing - she'll meow back when they speak to her.
'There was a lady who came in 20-years-ago who would let Rosie lick the cream pot every time she had coffee and she's never forgotten that - whenever anybody has a cream pot, she's expecting a treat.'

Friendly: The elderly cat enjoys the company of the pub's regulars, keeping a close eye on the action

It has also been 25 years since Christine and her husband, who know also have a seven-year-old cat called Raisin, moved to Pendleton to set up family life running the Swan And Two Necks pub, when a local farmer told them of the white kitten and her mischievous ways.
Christine, 52 said: 'He said she was the only kitten of the litter to dare go into the milking parlour for a taste. She was so tiny and lovely - I loved her straight away.
'We'll be celebrating 25 years of having the pub on August 25 - it would be great If Rosie was still with us - that would be the icing on the cake.'
Rosie is so famous, she is even featured in the Good Beer Guide.

source: dailymail