Dallas Rescue Cat Oscar Breaks Guinness World Record with 8ft 5in Horizontal Jump

In an inspiring tale of resilience and determination, Oscar, a 7-year-old rescue cat from Dallas, Texas, has etched his name in the Guinness World Records by achieving the longest horizontal jump by a cat, leaping an astonishing 2.58 meters (8 feet 5 inches) on February 26, 2025. Owned and trained by Theodore Shiells, Oscar’s journey from a frail, heartworm-afflicted stray to a record-breaking feline is nothing short of remarkable.

When Theodore Shiells first rescued Oscar, the cat was in dire condition, scavenging for food and battling heartworm disease with only a 50:50 chance of survival. Compounding his struggles, Oscar had fallen from a second-story window, sustaining injuries that made his recovery even more challenging. Yet, under Shiells’ care, Oscar not only regained his health but also revealed an extraordinary talent for jumping. “Oscar is a very smart cat and loves learning tricks like sitting, begging, and fetching,” Shiells told Guinness World Records. “About two years ago, he started jumping horizontally, beginning with just a few inches and progressing to a few feet.”

Shiells began training Oscar with small jumps, rewarding each successful attempt with treats to boost his confidence. Over two years, Oscar completed over 1,000 practice jumps, gradually mastering greater distances and even leaping through hoops. Initially, Shiells had no intention of pursuing a world record, but when Oscar’s jumps reached around five feet, he discovered the existing record was 2.3 meters (7 feet 6 inches). “We thought beating it would be impossible, but since Oscar loved the ‘air time,’ we decided to go for it,” Shiells said.

On February 26, 2025, Oscar’s perseverance paid off as he soared 2.58 meters, surpassing the previous record by over 25 centimeters, with Guinness officials on hand to verify the feat. The achievement has captivated cat lovers worldwide, with videos of Oscar’s record-breaking jump going viral on platforms like X, where users are celebrating his story of survival and triumph with hashtags like #OscarTheCat and #GuinnessWorldRecord. Shiells also highlighted Oscar’s adopted sister, August Ray, a surfing cat who competes against dogs, noting that his household is full of talented felines.

Oscar’s record comes at a time when other cats have made headlines for extraordinary feats, such as Kit Kat from Missouri, who set a Guinness record for jump-roping in 2023. However, Oscar’s story stands out for its emotional depth, showcasing the power of care and dedication in transforming a rescue animal’s life. As Theodore Shiells proudly stated, “Oscar proved as tough as he is handsome, blossoming into a healthy, mischievous kitty who’s now a world record holder