It's time to play taps for Col. Meow. The world's furriest cat has died at the age of 2 in Los Angeles, according to his owner, Anne Marie Avey.
Judged the cat with the longest hair in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records in August after three veterinarians measured his fur, the Persian-Himalayan mix became an Internet sensation. His grumpy face and beastly, disdainful gaze won him more than 350,000 Facebook friends, and he made multiple TV appearances with his owner. Impressed by his commanding cat-titude, his fans called themselves "minions" and vowed that his wishes were their commands.
The frosty feline's fur, which measured 9 inches, received a brushing three times a day.
Avey rescued the cat in Seattle but moved with him to LA, where he took up the celebrity lifestyle after his grouchy-faced photos went viral on the Internet. At the time of his death, the world's crossest cat had his own YouTube channel and website, among other ventures.
Col. Meow, who liked to drink scotch and was especially partial to Johnnie Walker Black Label, aspired to be a dictator, his owner said. But beneath that commanding exterior, Col. Meow was just a pussycat, according to fans.
Said to suffer from heart problems, the colonel underwent surgery and blood transfusions in November after coming down with a mysterious illness that stumped veterinarians. A fundraising campaign brought in more than $20,000 to help pay his vet bills -- but in the end, his caregivers could do nothing more for the famous feline than wish him eight more lives.
"Your love and support has meant the world to us both," Avey wrote on Col. Meow's Facebook page after he died Wednesday evening. Nicknamed "Slave Beast" in honor of her subordinate position to the Fuehrer-like feline, she promised to release more details about Col. Meow's untimely demise after she had "a few days to grieve."
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
