16 isn't particularly old for a cat, it isn't all that uncommon for cats to live to 20 years old or so and still be fairly healthy. Pretty rare for them to make it over 20 though before getting significant problems which require medication (usually kidney problems and/or diabetes) or they get cancer. Not that different than what takes out most people as they get up to 90+.

In any case, it is hardly very surprising that all the 30+ year old cats disappeared now that we use microchips to track them. The current world's oldest documented cat is only 26 which shows how ridiculous the claim of a 38 year old cat is.

If the guy wasn't a liar he may just have been senile and just got confused. Vets don't see cats often enough (except near end of life) to be able to tell two similar looking cats apart without a microchip.

To put it in perspective, you would have to wait another 6 years (which would already be pushing the limit quite a bit) for your cat to be the same age as this cat was when your cat was first born.

Then living it’s entire 16 year life after that point.

Then having it happen twice.

It’s just beyond ridiculous.

Same! 19 years old here.

Except I only got her when she was 10, so I don't know how her life was before me. But she's thriving. Still doing zoomies and headbutting me for food (even though she's got like 3 teeth haha)

That your cat is doing well today doesn't mean they'll be doing well tomorrow.

Both my cats were fine until literally the day they died. My last one didn't go downhill until 18 hours before we had to have her put down.

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My cat is 18 now, he’s getting skinnier but still sneaks outside to do whatever cats do outside on the regular. He’s pretty tough still even for someone of advanced age.