A pet moggy called Merlin has been hailed the world’s loudest cat after his purrs measured an ear-splitting 100 decibels – as loud as a Lion’s roar.
The 12-year-old rescue cat purrs four times louder than the average feline – and as noisy as a pneumatic drill.
A typical cat makes 25 decibels of noise but Merlin’s purrs are as loud as a classroom full of children, a DIY drill and a tractor.
Merlin’s noise is also the same as a roar from his relative the lion – which typically measures between 100 and 114 decibels.
Sound experts say that noise levels of 90dB to 95dB can result in hearing loss after prolonged exposure.
The previous record for a cat’s purr was 92dB by a feline called Smokey from Pitsford, Northampton.
But Merlin has been recorded at 100 decibels – making him the world’s noisiest cat.
Owner Tracy Westwood, a mum-of-two of Torquay, Devon, says her cat purrs – all day.
Tracey, who runs a candle business, said: ”He purrs when he wakes up. He purrs when he’s hungry. He’s always purred very loudly. I guess I’m used to it now.
”But when I’m on the phone I often have people asking me what on earth is the noise in the background. It’s just Merlin the cat.”
Merlin’s purrs are louder than a car’s horn from 25ft away and even noisier than the London Underground to a passenger stood 65ft away.
Tracey, mother of Lucy, 28, and Alice, 19, rescued Merlin when he was a kitten from an animal rescue centre in Kingskerswell, Devon.
She decided to start measuring Merlin after reading about Smokey in the Guinness Book of World Records in record in 2011.
Tracey said: “We’ve measured Merlin at peaks of 100dB. But we know he is much louder than that, even 105. My oldest dog is completely deaf. Maybe Merlin’s purred him to deaf.”
