A black and white kitty named Socrates who tipped the scales at a whopping 22.2lbs (10.1kg) was on a mission to lose half of his body weight in order to reach his ideal shape. He was given 100 days in a competition to help him lose weight. The kitty was not allowed to dine on his favorite snacks – cheese and onion crips. The super-sized cat was limited to two servings of a special diet food each day. Now 100 days have passed, Socrates weighed in 3.3 lbs (1.5kg) less. He is the biggest cat to ever participate in a pet slimming competition.
The story began when the 5-year-old “Socs” along with eight other obese pet finalists joined a Pet Fit Club organized by the PDSA. The club aims to help overweight or obese pets to get back in their healthy physical shape and to prolong their life expectancy.
Socrates’ owner, Mr Duncan’s biggest lesson from this experience is that “… a pet’s life is severely compromised by obesity, but you can make a change if you want to.”
Though Socrates only came in second in this traditionally canine dominated competition, the champion was also a feline named Amber who weighed 15.7lbs (7.1kg) or 60 percent over her ideal weight at the beginning of the competition and now has slimmed down 2.6lbs (1.2kg). She became the first cat that ever snatched the championship of this 5 year-old program. The previous winners were all dogs.
It is much more difficult for cats to lose weight than dogs. The dietary method needs to be done with close supervision by a veterinarian. Rapid weight loss can be harmful to cats. According to PDSA, a recent survey found that “the most common treats given to pets include leftovers, cheese, fatty meats, chips and biscuits.”
via the Shields Gazette & Sky News
Image via journallive.co.uk
Depends on if the cat in question is a Maine Coon or not as to whether he is deemed overweight. A maine coon will easily weigh in at 22lbs or considerably more and not be overweight
My male maine coon is only 7 mths old but is expected to tip the scales at 22lbs when he is fully grown.
You are right. The PDSA checked every "contestant's" background info to come up with an ideal weight for their breed. The winner Amber weighed 15.7lbs at the start of the competition. Her weight was considered more than 60% over for her. Apparently Amber came from a small breed
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I once had a Norwegian Forest Cat/Maine coon, he got *pretty* big, but not *that* big!
I have a Maine Coon and was very concerned about his weight as I really don't need to be chasing him with an insulin needle when he gets diabetes because of being overweight……….. i don't think he'd like that any more than I would. I had to invent a pet scale that he would go on and STAY ON long enough to weight him. see it at http://www.petfitnation.com . My Remy is the love of my life and I want him around as long as possible
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I have a mix breed cat named Sathya (Male) he weight 5.5kls at first and the doctos said sathya is over weight. My cat had this stone forming, everytime my cat make a pee it has a blood. After a week sathya weight down to 4.9kls. his doctors give him the dietary cat food with Urinaty S/O supplement plus the herbal medicine. Thank God my cat is healed….
awww I am so glad he is ok now. My kitties are sending him a lot of purrs and meows.
My cat is 14 pounds and very strong, but this cat could eat her for dinner!
That is one fat cat!