This Exists: Guinness Certifies World Record 67.7 Decibel Cat Purr As Loudest

The Guiness Book of World Records has made it official: 12 year-old British house cat, has the world’s loudest purr. To put that into perspective, Smokey is louder than a “busy general office,” but 2.3 db quieter than a cruising passenger car  from 20 yards away. Smokey is the toast of the fluffy news world, but ABC’s Good Morning America lays claim to being the first to alert The Colonies about his eardrum-punishing purr.

Smokey’s story isn’t the most ridiculous (non)human interest story by a damn sight, but given the pack mentality of the 24-hour news cycle, look for Smokey to fill the fluff-spot in this week’s cable news hours. This would be a good time to buy stock in cat-related puns.

Here’s GMA’s original report on Smokey, which includes a shot of the gray tabby watching George Stephanopoulos on TV that’s eerily reminiscent of the recently released tape of a gray-bearded Osama bin Laden watching himself on the tube. Turns out Smokey is less pathetic, and has a better TV than, the now-dead terrorist leader:

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