Two Guinness World Records-holding cats who were reported missing after a fire gutted their owners’ suburban Detroit home have been found dead.
Arcturus and Cygnus who are both two-years-old hadn’t been seen since the house fire six weeks ago.
Their owners, Will and Lauren Powers managed to escape the blaze and even opened some doors as they fled in the hope that the pair of felines would also be able to flee, but on Thursday the couple posted an update, confirming the sad news.
Will and Lauren Powers escaped the fire that destroyed their Detroit-suburb home but their record holding cats Arcturus and Cygnus were both killed. Arcturus is pictured here
‘I was not able to find any of them before I was overcome with smoke. We are nearly sure all perished,’ said Will Power in an Instagram post at the time of November’s fire. Cygnus is picture here
‘We confirmed today that Cygnus and Arcturus remained hidden in our home and succumbed to smoke inhalation,’ Powers posted to Facebook.
Arcturus holds the Guinness World Record for being the tallest domestic cat, measuring at about 19 inches, while Cygnus is the domestic cat with the world’s longest tail, measuring at more than 17 inches.
In a heartbreaking post, the couple describe how they made every effort to ensure their beloved pets could escape.
‘Although Will opened as many doors as he could upstairs and downstairs, and searched in vain for our boys, he was not able to locate them prior to being physically removed by the fire rescue and law enforcement.
The two were ‘best friends in life and it gives us a small amount of peace that they were together at the end of their amazing journey on this earth,’ their owners posted online. Arcturus, left and Cygnus, right
The couple opened some doors as they fled their burning Farmington Hills’ house in hopes the cats would be able to escape. Cygnus is pictured left, and Arcturus, right
Cygnus is the domestic cat with the world’s longest tail, measuring at more than 17 inches
Arcturus was the tallest cat in the Guinness Book of World Records
In a glowing tribute, the couple fondly remember the pair: ‘Cygnun and Arcturus were best friends in life and it gives us a small amount of peace that they were together at the end of their amazing journey on this earth.
‘We are forever grateful for the time we were given to love them. We want them to be remembered for their incredible personalities and their love for each other.’
Two other felines named Sirius and Yuki also disappeared following the fire however couple say there’s no evidence to indicate they died in the home, and the search for them continues.
Powers’ sister, Brittney Powers, told the Free Press that investigators determined it was an electrical fire. An electric massage chair that was plugged in — but not turned on — caught fire, she said.
Arcturus holds the Guinness World Record for being the tallest domestic cat at about 19 inches
Cygnus Regulus, a silver Maine Coon, holds the record for longest tail on a cat, at 17.58 inches
The couple searched in vain for their cats but eventaully were forced to leave as it became ever-more dangerous