Massive moggy Sootie weighs twice the ideal cat weight
A tubby kitty weighing a whopping 10kg (1st 8lb) has been put on a strict diet by Cats Protection to help her get down to a healthy weight.
Sootie is over two times the weight of an average cat
Twelve-year-old Sootie was taken in by the charity’s National Cat Adoption Centre in Sussex after her owner was no longer able to care for her.
Weighing more than twice the ideal 3.6kg (8lb) weight for a cat, Sootie is so large she can find it difficult to clean herself so has been placed on a special diet to help her get in shape.
Cat Care Assistant Emily Platt holding Sootie
Cats Protection is highlighting her story to hopefully encourage owners to think twice before over-indulging their pets with treats while spending more time at home.
Danielle Draper, manager of the centre, said: “Sootie is one of the largest cats we’ve had in care here and we were all quite shocked to see her.
“She finds it hard to clean herself and needs encouragement to exercise. We’ve placed her on a very strict diet so she loses weight in a controlled way.
A human hand for comparison with Sootie's large size
“Cats can be very persuasive and it can be hard not to give in to the pleading meows for a treat or two. But Sootie’s story is a really good example of when too many treats can cause a real problem.
“Because of her weight, Sootie will be at a higher risk of diabetes, arthritis and heart trouble, so it’s important we get it under control. Once she has slimmed down she will feel much better and can enjoy a more active lifestyle.”
5 top tips for keeping your feline fit and healthy
- Weigh out cat food on a daily basis, being careful not to overfill bowls. If giving cat treats, reduce the overall amount of food given at meal times
- Encourage your cat to exercise with toys such as fishing-rod toys or placing their daily ration of food inside a fun feeding ball to encourage activity
- Avoid giving your cat treats intended for humans, such as milk, cheese or chocolate. Many cats cannot digest cow’s milk products and chocolate contains a compound that can be toxic to cats
- Never starve overweight cats or put them on a crash diet. A gradual, steady decrease in body weight is ideal and it may take up to a year for a severely overweight cat to reach their ideal body condition
- If your cat is overweight, seek advice from your vet before embarking on any change of diet
For more information about keeping your cat healthy, visit our cat diet advice.
Sootie is slowly shifting the pounds to get to a healthy weight
During the developing coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, Cats Protection’s centres and branches are closed to the public. Like all cats in the charity’s care, Sootie will continue to be cared for until rehoming is resumed. For the latest information on how we’re responding to COVID-19, please visit our coronavirus page.
If you would like to help us care for cats like Sootie who will be with us for a bit longer than usual, you can find out how to support our work.