A cat believed to be among Britain’s oldest has died at the grand old age of 23.

Much-loved Kier was born on October 20, 1994, and lived through three decades - with her longevity credited to a daily diet of cod fillets.

But her fulfilling life came to an end this month after she suffered a seizure and was rushed to the vets, where it was discovered she had suffered brain damage.

Owner Ann Pollen, of Mickleburgh Hill, Herne Bay, said: “We knew Kier was very old for a cat but she was always healthy and only ever had things like vaccine boosters.

“Although she was getting old and showing signs of slowing down, it came out of the blue and we are all upset because she was a lovely, gentle character.”

Kier, who was a mix of Persian and English short hair, came to the family as a 16-week-old kitten.

Ann, who is married to retired policeman Tony, said: “Our dog had just died and we said, ‘right, no more pets’. But my daughter Justine wanted a kitten and found her for sale in Sturry.

“We named her after the lead singer of the group Deee-lite, which Justine was a fan of at the time.

“Although she liked the garden, Kier wasn’t one for roaming off. She was just very sweet and enjoyed a cuddle on the sofa and was very much one of the family.

“We are all very sad but just consoling ourselves that she had a good life.”

The average lifespan of a cat is between 14 and 16 years, making Kier’s 23 the equivalent of about 108 human years.

In 2016, it was reported that Nutmeg from Newcastle may have been one of the world’s oldest cats, although her claimed age of 31 could not be officially verified.

In the same year, Tammy, from Macclesfield, aged 26 and 26 days, was officially thought to be Britain’s oldest cat.