This children’s article, Oscar the flying cat: Meet the world’s longest jumper!, has been written for native English speakers and learners of English as a second or foreign language. It can help children with reading and comprehension, learn useful vocabulary, and explore the amazing story of Oscar the cat. Written by Mark Pulley, a children’s writer and EFL teacher with eight years’ experience.
Oscar broke the Guinness World Record
We know that cats are good jumpers. Usually, we see them leap onto a sofa or a windowsill, but Oscar, a seven-year-old rescue cat from Dallas, Texas, can jump a lot further than that.
Earlier this year, Oscar broke the Guinness World Record for the longest jump by a cat. He leapt an amazing 2.58 metres (8 feet 5 inches).
From rescue cat to record-breaker
Oscar’s life didn’t start easily. When his owner, Theodore Shiells, first met him, Oscar was injured and very sick. He was only given a 50/50 chance of survival, but with love and care, Oscar recovered and became a perfectly healthy cat.
Oscar is a clever boy who has always enjoyed learning new tricks. Then, about two years ago, his owner started to notice Oscar’s hidden talent, jumping.
Training for the big leap
It started with some little games, but after some time, and knowing that Oscar was enjoying it, Theodore started to take it more seriously and trained Oscar to try to beat the world record. They started with small jumps, just a few inches, and slowly increased the distance. Oscar loved the challenge and even began asking to practice by hopping into his owner’s lap and meowing at him.
After more than 1,000 practice jumps over two years, Oscar was ready. On the big day, he leapt 2.58 metres, beating the previous record by over 25 centimetres. You can watch the incredible leap on YouTube.
The story of Oscar the flying cat, shows that with patience, practice, and a bit of fun, even a rescue cat can become a world record holder.
Article vocabulary list
- Rescue cat – A cat that has been saved and given a new home, often after being lost, sick or in danger
- Injured – Hurt or damaged
- Survival – Staying alive, especially after danger or illness
- Talent – A natural ability to do something well
- Practice – To do something again and again to get better at it
- Challenge – Something difficult that tests your skill or ability
- Record – The best or most something that has ever been done
Comprehension questions
Just click the plus (+) to see the answer
1. How far did Oscar jump to break the world record?
A. 1.8 metres
B. 2.58 metres
C. 3.6 metres
B. 2.58 metres
2. What kind of cat is Oscar?
A. A rescue cat
B. A wild cat
C. A farm cat
A. A rescue cat
3. What helped Oscar recover from being very sick?
A. Lots of cat food
B. A visit to a zoo
C. Love and care from his owner
C. Love and care from his owner
4. How did Oscar ask to practise jumping?
A. By meowing and hopping into Theodore’s lap
B. By scratching the door
C. By chasing birds
A. By meowing and hopping into Theodore’s lap
5. What message does Oscar’s story show?
A. All cats should be trained
B. Only young cats can learn tricks
C. Patience and practice can lead to great things
A. Watch over forests to stop fires from spreading
Mark is a writer and EFL teacher from England with eight years’ experience. He’s passionate about travel, sport (especially football), animals, nature, and history, and enjoys helping children explore the world through language and learning.
