World's Longest Domestic Cat Dies at 8

The world's longest domestic cat, Stewie, died Monday evening at his owner's home in Reno, Nevada. He was eight.

Stretching 48.5in (1.23m) from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail, Stewie was declared the world's longest domestic cat by the Guinness World Records in August 2010.

Stewie's owner, Robin Hendrickson, said that the Maine Coon cat succumbed to a yearlong battle with cancer Monday evening in Nevada. Stewie, whose original name is Mymains Stewart Gilligan, was bought by Hendrickson from a breeder in Hermiston, Oregon, in 2005. The cat was a certified therapy animal that frequently visited sick and hurting people at a Reno senior center. He also helped in promoting animal welfare awareness with the Nevada Humane Society, reported The Associated Press.

Stewie took part in the International Cat Show in Portland and performed well, just a month before his death. In early 2012, Stewie was diagnosed with Lymphosarcoma, a malignant disease of the lymphoid tissues. He was given chemotherapy treatment, after which the cat became cancer free. However, the veterinarian found a more aggressive tumor on his kidneys.

Following his death, the cat's Facebook page is flooded with condolence messages from his fans. "Stewie was always very social and loved meeting new people," Hendrickson told AP. "He has touched many lives, and for that I am grateful," she said.