A hefty feline weighing 40 pounds and dubbed as the fattest cat in the world has finally been put on a diet by its new owner. The cat, named Patches, was rescued by an animal shelter in Richmond, Virginia, recently and quickly gained fame on the internet after being put up for adoption by Richmond Animal Care and Control. Thanks to the efforts of his new owner and cat enthusiast Kay Ford, Patches has already lost two pounds since starting his new diet. Despite being abnormally large, Christy Peters, the director of Richmond Animal Care and Control, revealed that Patches is actually quite discerning with his food choices.
Kay Ford, a resident of Mechanicsville, Virginia, has taken on the task of putting her 40-pound cat, Patches, on a diet. Patches, who was once dubbed the world’s fattest cat, gained internet fame when Richmond Animal Care and Control put him up for adoption and his pictures were shared far and wide. Despite his hefty size, Kay is determined to help Patches shed some pounds and lead a healthier lifestyle.
Upon seeing the massive feline, the woman’s initial reaction was to swear. According to veterinarians, the typical weight of a house cat ranges from 10lbs depending on the breed. In contrast, the average weight of a four-year-old child is 37lbs. After diagnostic tests were performed on Patches, the rescuers discovered that the cat was entirely healthy. Despite his size, he couldn’t be kept in a cage and instead had to inhabit one of the rescue team’s offices. The rescuers speculate that Patches may have been consuming human food rather than cat food, although the woman claims he is picky.
Kay Ford, a passionate cat enthusiast, has taken over the ownership of Patches. The kitty, weighing as much as an average four-year-old, has already reduced two pounds due to its new dietary plan.
According to Christy Peters, the manager of Richmond Animal Care and Control, Patches is a surprisingly fussy eater despite his massive size. Patches was quickly adopted by Ms. Ford after winning her heart, and the two of them are now on a weight-loss journey together. Since then, the famous internet cat has already lost 38 pounds. In order to adopt Patches, Ms. Ford explained that she was retired and had plenty of time and resources to help him achieve his weight loss goals, and that they could inspire each other along the way. While Ms. Ford admits to gaining some weight during the pandemic, she hopes that she and Patches can work together to achieve their health goals.
In the picture, a tape measure is being used to measure the width of Patches, who appears to be around 11 inches wide. Diagnostic tests were conducted on Patches by rescuers who revealed that despite his size, he was completely healthy. However, he couldn’t fit in a cage and had to reside in one of the rescue team’s offices. According to Ms Peters, Patches has already started losing weight. The Guinness World Record for the ‘fattest cat’ was awarded to Himmy, a 10-year-old Australian cat who weighed a whopping 46.07lbs before passing away later that year in 1986. In 1998, Guinness World Records removed the title to discourage owners from overfeeding their cats.