A massively-obese cat weighing the same as the average five-year-old boy has been rescued from his owner with the local animal shelter saying he's the "largest anyone has ever seen".
Patches weighs an alarming 40.3lbs which ranks him among the heaviest cats ever recorded.
According to Richmond Animal Care and Control, an animal rescue centre in Richmond, Virginia, US, Patches has been put on a strict diet to bring down his gigantic weight.
After a post on Facebook about the obese cat went viral, a new owner was found for him.
The post read: "Did you wake up today and say, “let’s adopt the largest cat anyone has ever seen”? If so, we have the cat for you."
They called on any hopeful owner for this heavyweight feline to send in details of their "commitment to help Patches get to a safe and healthy weight."
It is thought the cat had piled on the excessive weight after being overfed treats and unhealthy food.
Patches has "been regulated to a very special diet, is on an exercise plan and is very sweet." Also been neutered, tested and chipped so was ready to go.
The shelter added: "Until then, we will marvel at his gloriously gluttoness body!"
They also shared numerous pictures showing just how fat the cat is, even measuring his backside which came up to a massive 10.5 inches across.
When he came to be adopted, two people were needed to lift him.
Through his brief spell in the viral spotlight, Patches gathered a hoard of adoring fans.
One woman commented: "He’s adorable. His patches look like a panda bear."
Another was more concerned about the health of the massive cat saying: "Omg, tell me he is not diabetic. Tell me he can get in and out of the litter box without getting stuck. Poor kitty"
The shelter replied reassuring her by saying: "His bloodwork is perfect"
Patches weighs only six pounds less than the fattest cat ever recorded, an Australian cat called Himmy.
Cats getting to such extraordinary weights isn't just down to bad care, owners will tell you.
The owners of an overweight cat have hit back at online trolls claiming the enormous kitty is "on a diet" after many shared their concerns at her large physique.
Liznya, the Russian domestic cat, came under fire after sharing her weight loss journey on Instagram with videos and pictures showing how her tummy drags across the ground as she walks and stands.
Posting under the username @fedupcat since she joined the platform in early 2020, some of her 8,800 followers have commented branding her "obese" and accusing her owners of "animal abuse".
But Liznya's owners have insisted she is not overfed, explaining that she gained weight following a pregnancy and despite controlling her diet, has continued to put on weight.
Answering questions on Liznya's page, they said: "There are some misunderstandings. We have never tried to overfeed Liznya.
"Some people wrote we do it on purpose. How do you imagine that? She even refuses to eat any other food than her diet food.
"It is true that our cat was pregnant and spayed after it, but we do not claim this is the exact reason for her to become obese.
"We wrote that she began to gain weight quickly since her pregnancy and even quicker after it."
