Smokey Breaks World Record!

5 May 2011, 13:00 | Updated: 6 May 2011, 08:11

The cat whose purr is so loud it's been compared to a 747 coming in to land broken the Guinness World Record for having the loudest purr in the world.

Guinness made the confirmation to Heart this morning (Thursday May 5th) after a recording of Smokey's purr hit 67.7 decibels.

The 12 year old female British short-hair lives with Ruth Adams and her family in Pitsford in Northampton. Ruth has been telling Heart the family are overjoyed at the news:

“Smokey and I are very excited at being awarded the Guinness World Records title for the Loudest purring domestic cat.  We originally started a purring competition in our home town of Northampton to promote the cats charity ‘Cats Protection’. We wish to thank all those who have supported Smokey with her record attempt and especially wish to thank Northampton College for organising the trials and supplying the expertise I needed to comply with the technical aspects of a Guinness World Records Claim.

"We are very happy and purring loudly at the announcement that we hold a Guinness World Records title.”

When asked if the family ever get fed up on Smokey's loud purr Mrs Adams says:

“We’re sort of immune to it now because it’s a constant noise in the back ground. But it’s annoying when we’re watching films and it gets in the way but most of the time we don’t notice it.”

Craig Glenday, Editor-in-Chief of Guinness World Records, has been telling Heart:

“Guinness World Records is a veritable cat-alogue of fantastic felines, and Smokey is a welcome addition to the family. It’s incredible to think that a cat’s purr can be as loud as a vacuum cleaner!”

Smokey is now an ambassador of the Northampton Branch of the Cats Protection League to help them spread their message about re-homing and neutering cats.

The family have two other cats - none as are loud as Smokey.