I have extra-large pets on my mind, since we had a return visit from the biggest cat I ever saw at the cats-only boarding facility.
Mr. Big-But-Lovable tipped the scale at a mind-boggling thirty-three pounds the first time we met in late spring. This time around, he’s down to twenty-nine pounds… and I can already see a difference. Mr. Big used to be very rigid through his torso, and nearly unable to flex at the waist. Now, with just four pounds gone, he’s already able to bend more.
It’s really encouraging to see such improvement with such a small change! Mr. Big’s family has been very faithful with his diet. With time, he’ll be back at a safe, healthy weight again.
Then I spotted the story of Prince Chunk on the news. The fattest cat on record (according to the Guinness Book of World Records) weighed over forty-six pounds… but ten year old Prince Chunk comes close. He was found wandering Voorhees, New Jersey over the summer and weighed in at forty-four pounds.
Prince Chunk (formerly known as Powder) was brought to the Camden County Animal Shelter. The big guy got a thorough check from the resident vet, who pronounced him surprisingly healthy. No diabetes, no thyroid problems, no joint issues. Lucky boy! Even so, the veterinarian has prescribed a high-protein, low-carb diet — the same type of diet our large friend from the boarding facility is on.
Close to four hundred people put in an application to add Prince Chunk to their furry family. A south Jersey family with two cats was selected to give the big guy a healthy, happy, loving new home.
Obesity is dangerous for pets. In fact, the Guinness Book of World Records no longer has categories for heavy animals for fear that owners would try to force their pets to achieve great size (and notoriety). If you believe that your pet is overweight, talk to your vet about a safe, healthy weight loss plan. Losing extra pounds can add years to your pet’s life.