We tend to think that stray cats will be skinny instead of obese but Sumo weighed over 25 pounds when he was found, even though he had obviously been on his own for quite some time. Like many fat cats who end up on the street or at the shelter, he was most likely overfed by an elderly guardian who died or was placed in a facility.
A homeless London, UK kitty that weighs almost twice his recommended size is being slimmed down with the help of leading feline welfare charity Cats Protection. CP tells the story:
The six-year-old black-and-white cat, affectionately named Sumo, weighed in at a scales-busting 11.75 Kg / 25.9 pounds when he was found late last year, making him one of the fattest moggies to be found in the capital. He is being looked after by Cats Protection’s North London Adoption Centre who hope to find him a home after he has lost sufficient weight.
Sumo turned up as a stray in a house in Dagenham in September and was so large he had broken the house’s cat flap on the way in. His fur was extremely matted and he had an old wound on his back, suggesting he had been living rough for some time.
Emily Collins, the RSPCA Inspector who collected him said: “It was a bit of a shock to see such a large animal sitting there instead of the skinny stray that I was expecting. We think he had been owned by an elderly lady on the same street who had died. I’m sure Sumo’s owner had been feeding him out of love but obviously it was having a negative effect and was really dangerous for his health. We took him to our Harmsworth Hospital and put him on a strict diet, but it is going to take a while to get him nice and slim again.”
After leaving the Harmsworth Hospital, Sumo is continuing his diet and rehabilitation at Cats Protection’s North London Adoption Centre.
Michelle Igoe, the centre’s manager said: “Sumo currently weighs around 10 Kg / 22 pounds but there is still some way to go before we can let him go to a new home. Because of his weight, Sumo is at risk of serious health problems such as arthritis, diabetes or heart trouble, so it’s important we gradually get him down to his target weight of around 6 Kg. / 13 and a quarter pounds This is still considerably more than would be desirable for an average-sized cat, but Sumo has an unusually large frame so it is expected he will reach his ideal body condition score at around 6 Kg.
“We’re sure he will make a lovely family pet as he’s extremely affectionate.”
Sumo’s story follows that of Alanna, a cat being looked after at Cats Protection’s Warrington Adoption Centre that was overfed by her previous owner and weighs around 6.5 Kg / 14 1/3 pounds, well above her ideal weight of 4 – 4.5 Kg / about 9 to 10 pounds.
A Cats Protection survey of 1,120 owners indicates that around a quarter of cats (23 per cent) are regarded by their owners to be overweight. Michelle said: “Following a few simple steps, owners can help their puss to lose weight and stay healthy.”
• Seek veterinary advice before putting your pet cat on a diet – sudden, crash diets are not healthy and your vet will be able to offer the best, healthy-eating plan
• Stick to a reputable pet food which includes everything cats need to stay healthy
• When feeding your cat, stick to the manufacturer’s recommended feeding amount
• If giving treats to cats, choose brands that are specially formulated for cats, and consider a cat’s total calorific intake so that their other food can be reduced accordingly
Cats Protection offers help and advice to concerned guardians of overweight pets at their national Helpline on 03000 12 12 12 and at online at www.cats.org.uk.
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