I adopted a cat from our local Cats Protection in 2001. They told me that he was 3 years old. When I took him to the vet to get checked over I told them his age - the vet burst out laughing and informed me that he was nearer 13 than 3.
Apart from the fact that I was living with the feline version of my father (grumpy old man) he was a great companion. Without him I would never have known the joy of waking up to someone sitting on my pillow crunching a big spider.
He put up with me for five years and then he began having fits.
Now I work for the twins from hell - they will be nine next month.