A monster moggy found dumped in a sports bag severely overweight has undergone an extraordinary transformation after being nurtured back to a healthier weight with a strict diet and exercise plan.
The two-year-old cat named Big Betha weighed almost two stone - nearly three times the average - when she was rescued after being dumped in a park in Birmingham in October last year.
With the average weight of a UK domestic cat being 4kg, Big Bertha was found to be almost triple the weight at almost 12kg and heavily matted.
She was so fat she could barely stand up and was unable to groom herself, leaving her fur overgrown and matted.
She was too big to live in a cat pod and could not even fit through a cat flap at the Birmingham Animal Centre where she was taken after being found in the city’s Calthorpe Park last October.
Birmingham Animal Centre cattery supervisor, Emma Finnimore said she had never come across such a big cat in her 22 years of working for the RSPCA.
“This is the largest cat I’ve seen in my 22 years at the RSPCA.”
A vet clipped Bertha’s fur, which itself was over half a pound, and a healthy regime with weekly weigh-ins has already helped her trim down to 1st 4lb.
“When she arrived she was 11.8kg", Emma said.
“A vet carefully clipped away her matting but she still weighed 11.5kg and was too large to live in a cat pod as she wouldn't have been able to use the cat flap. We had to adapt a cat run for her until she went to a foster home.”
Bertha, who was found in Calthorpe Park, was immediately put on a strict diet and exercise regime to ensure she lost sufficient body weight.
Emma Cureton, the new owner of Big Bertha, said: “The weight has gradually come off and she’s already lost an amazing 3.82kg - which is a third of her body weight. She’s still got a little way to go but she’ll get there and will soon be ready to find a new home.
“She was in such a sorry state when she arrived at the rescue centre with her matting pulling on her skin. We don’t know how she got so large as she is only a young cat. We think maybe someone had been constantly feeding her as she was so large she was left unable to groom herself.”
The RCSPA has reported of rise in abandoned pets, with a 25% rise in incidents.
Last year in October, 13,159 were recorded, up from 10,519 in the previous year.
The RSPCA hopes Big Bertha's story can be a lesson to pet owners of the complications obesity can bring such as joint problems, diabetes. and high blood pressure.
They are working hard to keep pets in loving homes and provide support to owners who may be struggling.
