14-Year-Old Cat Earns World Record for Loudest Purr: ‘She’s a Stubborn Little Old Lady’

A 14-year-old cat just found her more purr-pose in life!

The cat, named Bella, earned the world record for the loudest purr by a live domestic cat from her home in the United Kingdom on August 30.

The noisy cat, who lives in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, broke the record with a purr of 54.59 decibels – a volume similar to a kettle boiling. Bella’s purr often overpowers the TV, owner Nicole Spink told Guinness World Records.

“You have to turn up the TV so you can actually hear,” Spink said, noting that her late husband often complained about “the sound of her purring blocking out the sound of the TV at night.”

Dog with 15 puppies sets record for largest litter at North Carolina rescue: ‘We were shocked’

But the cat’s deafening purr isn’t limited to TV time, her owner said.

“She purrs all day long! If there’s food or cuddles around, she always purrs,” the pet parent told Guinness, adding that the pet is also known for having its own road show.

“Some of the vets commented that she was the only cat that purred there,” Spink said.

Spink and others who know the “loud girl” “always thought Bella had the loudest purr in the world.”

“Everyone comments, ‘What’s that loud noise? Oh, it’s a cat,'” the mom cat shared. “Only Bella is happy!”

Bella the cat with her Guinness world record for the loudest domestic cat purr.

WHISKAS® and GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS®

More than 200 pets set the record for ‘most dogs at a movie screening’ on PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie in LA

Spink and her daughter decided to make things official after flipping through the Guinness Book of World Records one day. They downloaded the app to test their long-held theory by recording and measuring their beloved kitty’s purrs.

When the day of the official tryout arrived, Spink had no doubts about Bella’s deafening purr, but she was a little worried about the cat’s ability to perform in front of an audience.

“She’s a stubborn little old lady and she does what she wants,” she said, adding that “it’s very much Queen Bella’s world.”

Luckily, it only took a bowl of her favorite Whiskas food to get her purring going.

Bella the cat enjoys one of her favorite activities — eating!.

WHISKAS® and GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS®

After the sound engineers soundproofed and miked Spink’s living room, Bella sat in her fuzzy bed and let it rip, easily surpassing the minimum sound intensity (50 decibels) required to secure the record.

A tiny chihuahua the size of a dollar bill rightfully earns the record for the shortest dog in the world

Bella lives a pretty relaxed life when she’s not breaking world records. When he’s not purring about food and television, he’s probably sleeping or looking for cuddles.

“He always wakes me up early and asks for his food,” Spink told Guinness. “Then she’ll ask my kids or anyone else who comes into the house for more food. Then she’ll sleep, and then she’ll want more food and cuddles.

“Food and sleep are almost her life!” she added.

Spink, who describes the boisterous cat as “a very lazy girl” — but “she’s an old lady, so we let her go” — said the pet used to be a little more adventurous.

“Technically, she’s an outdoor cat. She has a cat flap and everything,” Spink said. “But as he gets older, he goes out less and less. He might venture into the garden and smell the flowers, but nothing beyond that.”

Bella the cat with her owner Nicole Spink.

WHISKAS® and GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS®

And while the Spink household is “definitely Bella’s house,” it’s also home to another—much quieter—cat, Lola.

“He’s a pretty scaredy cat. He’s pretty scared of everything around him and likes to hide,” Spink said. “Bella is much more outgoing. Anyone who comes in the front door, Bella is right there.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

According to the proud owner, Spinka’s children are telling “everyone how loud their cat is” — and now they’ll have proof.

“They will be so happy when they hear the news,” she said, adding that the title will be especially meaningful given her family’s affinity for Guinness World Records.

Bella the cat relaxes after earning a Guinness World Record for the loudest domestic cat purr.

WHISKAS® and GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS®

A puppy from Arizona with an ‘excessively’ large lick set the world record for the longest dog tongue

Before Bella, the world record for the loudest purr by a living cat was held by Smokey and Merlin, both purring at 67.8 decibels. Cats have died since they earned that honor.

Smokey won the title in 2011, and Merlin joined him in 2015. Together, they still hold the title for loudest domestic cat purr ever.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education