Stewie the Cat, who, at 48.5 inches from nose to tail-tip, was officially recognized as the World's Longest Domestic Cat by Guinness World Records, passed away earlier this week of cancer.
A Maine Coon cat like his predecessor Leo (48 inches), Stewie — whose full given name was Mymains Stewart Gilligan — earned his title in August 2010, and has held on to it since.
With fame and hundreds of Facebook fans came the opportunity to give something back. Stewie was certified as a therapy animal, and paid regular visits to a senior center in Reno to bring cheer to the residents.
"Stewie was always very social and loved meeting new people," owner Robin Hendrickson, a who brought Stewie from an Oregon breeder in 2005, told the Associated Press. "He has touched many lives, and for that I am grateful."
Sadly, Stewie was diagnosed with Lymphosarcoma last year, and even though he was said to be free of the disease after undergoing chemotherapy, the cancer eventually returned, and was even more aggressive the second time around.
A final video of Stewie was posted on Monday. He passed away later that same day, surrounded by his family.
[screengrab via Guinness World Records]