Jerry the cat's owner thought she had Epsom's oldest moggy, but the adopted tortoiseshell has been beaten by more than a whisker.

Ray Butten, 63, read the Epsom Guardian's article in which Sheena Campbell of Dirdene Gardens, Epsom, introduced us to Jerry, her 22-year-old tortoiseshell.

Is this Epsom's oldest cat? Jerry Hall the model cat is 105 in human years

Wimbledon Times: Jerry, above, has been beaten by a whisker

The semi-retired maintenance engineer, who lives in Manor Way, Banstead, immediately got in touch with the staggering news (or is that mews?) that he has a pet moggy that is almost a quarter of a century old.

Kira is also a tortoiseshell, and while Mr Butten lacks any documentation to prove her age he insists she has been with him ever since he lived in Crystal Palace 24 years ago.

He did approach Guinness a few years back for a stab at the world record but the lack of proof scuppered the bid.

He said: "Some friends of mine found her in a rubbish tip in Mitcham; she was pregnant, she’d lost teeth, and she was dying.

"They knew how much I love animals and asked me to take her in for a week – the rest is history!

"I have used the same vet for the last seven years and he is convinced she is as old as I say, judging by her general health, such as her being deaf and having kidney and back leg problems."

Kira allows her home to be shared by Mr Butten and his partner Carol Stacey and is known for her demanding lifestyle.

Mr Butten said: "She took over my life and all these years later she’s still in charge. She rules the roost no question.

"My friends know that I can’t come out with them unless there’s someone at home to look after her. She went in a cattery when I moved to Croydon and hated it so much I could never put her in one again.

"We love her to bits but she can be a pain at 4.30am when she decides she wants to eat breakfast and starts shouting to wake us up!"