No, I’m not gonna use the word ‘catastrophic’ in this post. Don’t worry.
I think he should hang out with THIS guy. Right K. H.? More on the story here…
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holly mother of…
We took my plumpified purrin’ pal to the vet (bump on her lip, all is well) and he called her “sturdy”.
me thinx she’s squeezn him a bit tight. his eyes are bugging.
Jesus…it’s Jabba The Cat.
HappyLOLDay : Sturdy! Hee! and the “pittens” story is wonderful. But here comes a commentroversy storm – when everybody wakes up in their respective times zones… I’m outta here! (Poor fat lasagna-loving kitty… but he’s getting lots of love from his owner.)
Oh, and the real life Garfield with the cable TV commercial is just pitch purrfect!
I do not think this is cute, it’s sickening. Poor cat.
Something people should know about overweight cats:
http://www.pethealthfocus.net/articles/topic/show?id=917805%3ATopic%3A1923
How about a wafer thin mint.
Hon Glad, you just made me laugh for a good 5 minutes straight.
this one has kamikaze beat… BY A TON
http://igot2shoes.blogspot.com/2008/04/wcb-150-playtime.html
This is sick. Who lets their cat get that big? They obviously don’t care about their pets health and wellbeing. I’m sorry, but he didn’t get that fat eating friskies. This is borderline animal cruelty. This is NOT cute.
*News flash* Keep small children and animals inside. A large animal has been seen roaming the neighborhood. Officials are still trying to locate the animal. Strangely enough any trap that they’ve set baited with food just completely disappears, food and all.
i’m with Poohbear, while the mario batali of cats sparks a commentroversy, i’ll wait for the next post.
:: quietly tiptoes out of the room ::
The fundamental problem with this outrage over a single overweight cat is that it’s just that – one overweight cat. How does this compare the the thousands of animals that are poached or eaten? This cat chooses to overeat, and while the owner may not be taking proper care of the cat, it’s certainly not ‘abuse.’ Putting people who allow their cats to eat to much in the same categories as people who don’t feed or physically assault their animals is a slap in the face to the MANY cat lovers out there who have cats that love to eat, and are overweight. Cat’s have been fat forever, it’s a common stereotype for a reason, and this cat could be very happy and live a long and good life despite his health problems. It’s certainly better than a life of living off the streets as many homeless cats do.
Pick a cause that matters and quit insulting people who genuinely care about their animals. Also, my lovely fatty, Professor Cupcake, is offended by your characterization. She want’s you to know that she’s “big and beautiful.”
Jabba the cat says:
“Bring me Barolo and a cookie.”
He DOES look like Garfield. (Yes, the animated one.) Look at those bug eyes!
Thats sooo not right Sooo should not be that fat surely…def not cute!
Shouldn’t this be in the cute or sad CATegory???
He is a real life Garfiels that’s for sure…
Just like with people, being overweight can have many causes, some involve physiological issues and have nothing to do with being overfed.
“Ewe’s not fat. Ewe’s flooffy!”
Pasickie!
P.S. LMAO @ HonGlad!! It’s wafer thin!
I agree with Chloe, Ashley and Vic. Breaks my heart!!! Would you want that to be how heavy your loved was (proportionally, of course)? Wouldn’t you worry terribly about their health? Wouldn’t a doctor put them on a diet etc. Come on… it is just sad and the owner needs a good rattling!
This cat is only three and at this size he won’t live a long life. And towards the end he won’t have a very good quality of life either. Sad, not cute.
I used to be a very heavy human, proportionately over the norm like the cat in the picture is over the norm. Now I am at normal weight. The thing I remember most is how uncomfortable it was. I couldn’t get a book from a lower shelf or a bottle out of a lower cabinet. Going up or down the stairs meant such excruciating knee pain that I practically became housebound. But at least I understood the link between my size and the pain and restrictions on movement.
That poor cat doesn’t understand. Surely it can’t be comfortable carrying all that bulk, and that’s an understatement. The owner is responsible, since the owner can understand the factors that cause the situation and put some controls in place, or get help if she can’t figure it out or go through with it (depriving her poor kitty of nom-noms!) on her own. A cat that’s spent its life under the loving, watchful care of a human should not get to this condition, and if it does, there’s no question that the human owner is responsible. That cat did not forage for food in the streets.
I’m sorry if I crossed the line into nuffingham territory with this post, but I can’t understand how her owner can possibly think this is all so amusing. It’s not amusing for the cat. Instead of public relations photos (why was this publicized, anyway?), she should be waiting at her vet’s office, asking for some critical intervention.
I read cuteoverload to get a dose of happy cuddly cuteness. Cats are all cute, but this just makes me angry. No abused pets, please.
Pure animal abuse.
Quote from Steven: “This cat chooses to overeat, and while the owner may not be taking proper care of the cat, it’s certainly not ‘abuse.’”
What do you mean by saying this cat CHOOSES to overeat, as if animals consciously choose for being overweight. This Laura Santarelli should make sure this poor cat cannot even find so much food, the decision that this cat probably can’t even walk properly is totally hers.
Fat cats are cute, but this obviously is too much.
Preach it Mrs. Catlabash & Amy!!!
I think that’s just sad. Call it what you may, overfeeding your cat is not cool.
This hurts me and makes me sad.
Thanks, kk3, but frankly, tsk, just after your comment, makes the point much better than me, in just a few words. Overfeeding your cat is not cool.
I just got upset because I know from experience that it must be very uncomfortable to carry so much bulk on a frame that was designed to carry much less. When your cat is too fat to lightly jump up on your bed and walk across your face at 4:00 AM to remind you that it’s time to play, you have to face reality, stop calling it “floofy” and help her.
That’s not cute, that’s animal abuse. People who do that to their pets shouldn’t be allowed to own them.
either his eyes are about to pop out, or it’s a bad photo-shop job
[cue Shel Silverstein]
“Someone ate the baby…”
Sorry but I have to agree. Not cute, animal abuse. The cat is only three years old? That is BS that woman cannot get him to slim down.. He’s not a person, he isn’t going into the refrigerator and pulling out food.. She’s giving it to him! Or leaving food all over her house for him to get into, which is still her fault. I can’t see that cat living a very long life, and I am sure it is not fulfilling at all. Awful, it makes me sad. Someone should report her to her local animal cops.
Steven, you’re a moron. Overfeeding an animal is just as bad as starving them, IMO. No way is that cat leading a full and happy life. Yes, you know what, I have a SLIGHTLY fat cat, he has a little fat pouch, BUT he still is able to run, and play and he’s been the same weight for the last four years.. So.. fat cats, yes, they are part of life, but this is obesity. What would you say if someone had a four year old kid that was so obese they could only crawl? You would consider something wrong with that, right? Why is it okay for a cat to be grossly overweight? Ridiculous.
There is nothing cute about that picture.
The cat chooses to overeat? The cat eats what it’s given. It can’t know of the health effects it’s eating is going to cause, but it’s owner can, and it’s their responsibility to look after the welfare of their pet. Yes it is abuse, it affects the health and welfare of the animal they claim to love, how is that not abuse? So what if it’s not as bad as other things? Dumb argument.
“…owner Laura Santarelli finds it impossible to get him to slim down”
Oh no, he just keeps eating, what can we possibly do about it, hmmm, tough one. Not! How ’bout stop feeding him? The food’s not coming from nowhere.
Steven: This cat does not “choose” to overeat. A cat eats because it’s given food and it can’t tell the difference between low-cal food and fattening food. A cat does not get this big munching on cat-food, either. My three-year-old cat is never declined a kitty-treat, a top-off of her kibble dish, and a spoonful of cream once in a while, yet she’s still cat-sized, if a tiny bit on the chubby side.
Saying that a lot of other animals get poached and eaten is bringing a whole different issue into the mix. We ARE picking one cause here.
The issue is the owner who clearly does NOT care about her cat, as any normal owner would be concerned about their pet gaining weight, never mind encouraging it to become 7-year-old-child-sized by stuffing it with Italian cuisine. Cats are meant to eat cat-food for a reason.
Um…(tiptoes in)…
Maybe part Norwegian forest cat? You know…the kind that’s bred to be HUGE?
…(tiptoes out)
I used to Nuff about the fat cats, too.
And now I understand, because I have one.
Poor Phoebe has been on prescription diets for over 2 years. We tried the “Catkins” diet. We tried the Science Diet w/d diet. I tried giving her greenbeans for low-calorie bulk. She eats WAY less than the other two cats, but she dwarfs them.
It’s just the way she is. I have her on a small amount of “light” cat food and she’s still gaining.
I don’t free-feed, either. Our 3 get supervised mealtimes.
I’m terribly concerned for her health, and I wish I could reverse it, but it isn’t as though I don’t try. And it isn’t as if she’s allowed to stuff her beautiful kitty face.
So, as a former fat-kitty-nuff, I’m going to say, unless you know this particular cat and this particular owner, and understand their situation intimately, try to withhold judgment.
I thought my cat was fat!!The owners face looks so fimilar. The cat probaly sits in the chairs in the back!!
[Running in]
Hellbound Alleee: Not a chance! Not even a Mainecoone would be that big (unless it was a Verismo cat) . He is an everyday orange tabby (which are one of my favorites). However, he is not a b-i-g cat, he is a f-a-t cat. BIG difference.
[running out]
I agree with other who have commented – this is not cute, it’s cruel. I can ony hope this turns out to be Photoshopped.
Gillian, do the vets know the cause of this condition? Thyroid?
Kudos to Cauliflour, you made me laugh out loud. But, i do think that it’s cruel to let your cat get that big. I mean, think of how much it must get teased by the other cats…
when i was little my friend conchita had one of these at her birthday party. there were snickers and twix and tootsie rolls inside.
bring me a bukkit!
just don’t have the strength to even watch the fight.
*takes popcorn and diet coke and goes to another thread*
anyone who wants some snacks I’ll be with the cute bunny.
I agree with Gillian…I used to have a fat-cat (Tika) – she lived to be 15 years old…with NO health problems (per her vet that I took her to every 6 months)
…and to call Steven a moron is quite frankly, rude *snort*
I’d hate to be around you people when someone of a larger body size walks by. Good grief!
Gizmo has competition! He’s actually losing weight, though, from 26 pounds down to 24 since I’ve been caring for him. And Maine Coons are large to start with.
http://greenighs.vox.com/library/photo/6a00c225256a6d549d00e398e2b4320004.html
I agree that the cat is too big and probably needs to be evaluated by a vet… I’m an overweight human and it’s not fun.
Poor kitty.
not cute. the kitty is unhealthy. >_<
I’m not happy about this cat’s size either, but Brandi, let’s 86 the name-calling, eh? How about “Steven, I beg to differ”? Don’t complain about animal abuse if you’re gonna fling it yourself (people are animals too, yanno).
Meanwhile… @rabble: *snicker*
Speaking from personal experience…(waiting for kitty protective services to show up)…
I had a maine coon cat, Norman. Adopted him as a baby and watch him BALLOON as a young kitty. He was eating NO more than my other cat, who is normal size. He was never fed scraps, and I even tried diet cat food with no success. The cat was just large. What more was I supposed to do? Take him to the vet? Have kitty bariatric surgery? C’mon people. IT’S A CAT! Let them live their little lives and enjoy your time with them. Just like people, some aren’t meant to live forever.
2 stones is 28 pounds – that picture doesn’t look like 28 pounds – he looks like far more than that.
As the “sister” to a 19 pound cat who is terribly healthy and extremely healthy – this doesn’t bother me quite as much as some… and I’m a big girl too… eh – I can’t nuff.
Ok, this is WAY too much commentroversy lately…seriously, people, it is a picture of a person you have never met holding HER cat. It has been posted for our entertainment, because let’s face it, the cat is huge and fluffernutterly adorable! That being said, please, people, take the damn poles out your arses and just chill. While I agree the kitty should lose weight, I’m not going to sit here wasting precious momemtns of my life berating the cat’s caregiver, or complaining that the picture displays some form of animal cruelty cuz kitty like kibble. Do any of you honestly think she gives a flying crap what anonymous people on Cuteoverload think? I wouldn’t think so. So please, spare yourself an ulcer, people, and relax, huh?
Also…. wouldn’t it be “Vaffer theen”?
Mama Mia!
Papa Pia!
Kitteh ate Chef Boyardeeya!
Ermine Violin – Si, it vood.
I hate to be fussy about this, and the putty is purty, but having just gone through utter despair from losing my furson to diabetes, all i see is sadness in this.
oh noooo i never thought the day would come where i would nuff. *despair*
on the other hand, it’s nice to see the stick thin models of Milan have not ruined his self-image.
This looks as if he swallowed my three, with another one to spare. A friend of mine has two rather heavy cats, and if it were up to her husband, they’d be eating 24/7. In fact, until recently, she told me he left big bowls of food and water out overnight because he felt they’d get “hungry”. She put a stop to it. People shouldn’t be eating indiscriminately day and night, and neither should an animal be indulged that way. It’s exceptionally unhealthy. By 9 or 9:30pm, all the bowls in my kitchen are cleaned, and only water is left out for the cats. When I read that the animal in the photo is only 3 (if that’s true), I wondered how much longer he’d make it to 4 or 5. The expression “killing with kindness” has a basis in fact, and it’s illustrated here.
Wow – what if the cat was holding a popsicle?
Gail: Ewe used my favorite quote ever!
Steven: *pats on back* While I do worry a tad for this EXTREMELY big kitty, you made some valid points. There are worse things than being a fat kitty, like being a homeless kitty.
Metsie: I do believe I’ll join you in the bunny post. I’m afraid people’s insensitivity and tongue-lashing will be too much for me on this one. When nuffs are being this mean, it’s not even fun to throw pudding anymore.
I’m sure that, from kitty’s perspective, being on a diet probably feels more like “abuse” than being fat. I know diets feel like torture to me!
I’m not saying this kitty shouldn’t be on a diet, but I’m not ready to pass moral judgment on his owner either.
For some animals (and people too), eating the same amount as those that are normal weight still makes them fat. Making them live on unreasonably tiny rations when they have a metabolic disorder is also cruel in a way. Kitty doesn’t understand why he’s hungry all the time–he just knows it feels awful to be hungry and his owner isn’t feeding him.
This lady clearly adores the big kitty. He’s still far better off than a diseased and unloved stray.
Better get a bucket. I’m gonna throw up
I had two different batches of kitty’s from the same all white cat feral pack that ran around the neighborhood.
One is NS, who is a good 25-35% overweight, even though he is fed only Nutro grain, one those types made by them for weight control.
The other that came out of that batch was Mini-Me, who weighed in at 27 lbs. with _no_ fat and ate anything he could get his paws on (including my Scotch when I wasn’t looking or forgot to put a coaster on top of it
Then there is UC, who is not related at all except for being a feral kitteh that I took in from my first office, who woofs down her ‘Senior’ grain and copious amount of “treats” (wet Fancy Feast, but ONLY the gravy type.. she is quite snotty and picky). She is also quite thin.
The late great KeeKee had an unknown mineral/something absorption problem, and died from crystals forming in his bladder.
All of my cats are indoor/outdoor cats and get alot of activity.
The reason I mention KeeKee is because the vet told me that in-breeding, whether feral or domestic, is causing alot of cats to have dietary problems with absorption of their foods. Their digestive “eco-systems” (my best guess at how to label it, since I am a software developer and not a vet) are out of whack.
Add in that any cat held like this is going to look larger then life, and I would be hesitant to assign blame to the owners.
{gets off soapbox}
If you want to gripe about something being abused, watch Animal Cops – any of them… then you can talk about abuse.
My mom’s pug had issues with her thyroid, so that normal helpings of food were making her massively fat. You could feed the poor dog 10 kibbles a day and it wouldn’t lose any weight. It’s quite possible the cat has a similar issue. Plus, cats are very crafty when it comes to supplementing their diet with bugs and other small creatures, making it even harder to keep their diets on track. I caught my cat eating guinea pig food once! Also, cats aren’t like dogs where you can just take them on a few extra walks. Trying to get an unwilling cat to exercise? HAH!
I think you nuffers need to take some deep breaths and stop to think before having a thrombosis over stuff like this. Just because the cat is obese doesn’t mean the owner is abusing it. It’s equally likely the owner is trying to get the cat’s weight down. In fact, if you read the background article, it says “The three-year-old tabby is such a food fanatic that owner Laura Santarelli finds it impossible to get him to slim down.” That probably indicates that she HAS tried to get the cat on a diet.
This is atrocious – please remove this photo. I doubt CO would post a photo of a terribly thin animal. This is just the other extreme of abuse. Shameful.
Okay, as I step in again…be nice. Be respectful. Quit bashing the owner or insisting the post be removed. Make your point respectfully and without name calling and we shall listen and disagree, if we see fit, respectfully. Quit using the internet to get your hate out.
***
Pa-sickie! Asshats! Bleen (sorry, Teho).
TOOM
OK OK, Ive got a REALLYYYYYYYY big cat, but this guy makes my Miss Ivy-Belle look like she has an eating disorder!
When I see this photo, all I can think is this: What is the medical condition that caused this? It can’t be from just eating. Something has to be wrong. Poor kitty!
GUYS!!! *stomps on floor to command attention*
This is NOT a regular cat that has gotten morbidly obese!! It is a Maine Coon cat! They start out big. My stepdaughter has a Maine Coon, and he’s more like the family dog than the family dog!
OK, so maybe the cat is a bit overweight, but not to the point that everyone on here seems to think.
Meg, you are still the grand-master MacGyver of commentroversy.
That fucking woman should go to prison or some thing.. She is killing the poor cat :C
As others have said, this cat is not cute. The owner is negligent, perhaps even abusive.
I thought the same thing when I first read it (oh no, the cat is being abused!), but then realized something-
What are the chances that having this story out and everyone in her town knowing the cat that the local authorities would not be involved if there was some wrongdoing involved?
Knowing other fat-cats, I can say, sometimes its just the way they are. My friends cat was 17 when he died- at 42 lbs. He was larger than their dog, but that was just the way he was, no matter what they tried. So I am resting assured that Mr. Garfield is perfectly well cared for, and think the photo is pretty darned cute
Just not right people, just not right.
I’ve seen many pics of HUGE kitties and yes they do exist. But wow!! This one is big. Just keep the love coming!
Oh please. Who cares if it lives long? It’s just a cat. Go worry about something important, like abused kids, climate change, or why the price of chocolate keeps going up.
Two words: Maine Coon!
Steven you are seriously in denial about the health and well being of your cat. It IS the owners fault if your pet is fat because he/she depends on you to feed them…they don’t choose to eat a certain amount they just eat what you put down. Wake up and take responsibility for the health of your pet! That cat in the pic is abused…it will die an early death and not live well before then.
Back in the day when i had a cat we left dry food and water out for her in smallish bowls. it usually took her 2-3 days to get through it all. she was a pretty lean cat. (so basically, it seems like it depends on the cat…right…) i would not say we “abused” her by “making her overeat” by having the bowls out.
and also, i’ve never posted here, but i think i reiterate a lot of people when i say that meg obviously cannot please everyone, so if it bothers you that much just skip it and get over it.
Sorry, but that is absolutely ****in hilarious.
I’d ask for pudding but I’m afraid that he’d eat it.
Seriously though, it’s not going to be that cute when he develops diabetes type 2.
not all fat cats are unhealthy. i have a 22 pounder who eats nothing but the recommended amount of weight management cat food. no treats and he’s an indoor cat so he doesn’t get anything outside. he plays with our puppy who is half his size for hours on end and our vet says other than looking funny he is perfectly healthy. so chill people…
chubby cats are cute. cats this fat are sad and depressing.
overfeeding your cat to this extreme is as cruel as starving your cat, maybe worse.
this photo should be used for fat cat prevention. poor baby!
As the former owner of a fat cat, let me tell you that it’s not so cut and dried. Having always been used to cats who eat when they’re hungry and leave food in the bowl, his weight gain snuck up on us. He was naturally a big-boned cat, too. At 26 lbs, he was put on strict portion control of weight-management food. We played with him to get him moving. We had to take up the dry dog food because he would eat that during the day. we did all we could, as we were concerned about him developing diabetes but he was still overweight when he died. He was a feral kitten and I really think that there was some brain damage there–he had seizures from malnutrition when we first got him. His “I’m full” switch was obviously broken.
Anyway, what I’m saying is don’t be so quick to judge. We did all we could for our guy but he was still fat. Sadly, he died from congestive heart failure at six. Vet said that it was genetic and had a lot to do with his background as a feral kitten. Poor guy also had allergies. Never did develop diabetes, though.
cute and funny for like two seconds but yeah, animal abuse.
Abusive nuffs are being…. abusive… They should not be allowed around animals!
All that poor guy needs is a hat and they would stone cat(and owner) to death with stones of righteousness. But just as long as they get to be ‘right’ without bothering to think, it’s all good I’m sure.
Dang, that’s a lot of cat! I actually enjoyed link to the “Real Life Garfield” video on YouTube. I don’t know what it is about cats sitting up like that that cracks me up, but it gets me every time! Rather than Garfield, he looked more like Al Bundy sitting there on the couch w/ one paw near his crotch like that!
OMG –
is this for real? I mean, really? Not a PhotoShop job?
I thought I had a fat cat, but, whoa, Cousteau’s been out*.* by this, huh, feline Gargantua.
(Yes, spot the scuba diving couple by how they named their first cat.)
Oh, and pa-sickie.
AC
I lol’d. It’s a hilarious and reDONKulous photo, what can I say. Specially with the bug-eyes!
I don’t know what that cat’s quality of life is or what the owner is or isn’t doing for it, but because I don’t know, I’m not going to judge.
The winningest comments so far: wafer-thin mint and bukkit.
Definitely not cute. Sick and sad. Why isn’t this considered animal cruelty?
I’m not gonna say a single thing other than 98% of the time, cats experience *hyper*thyroidism, resulting in a speedy metabolism and lost weight despite eating like crazy. Dogs (and humans) experience *hypo*thryoidism 98% of the time, experiencing lethargy and weight gain from normal amounts of food.
So while it is possible that Big Man has hypothyroidism, it’s unlikely.
I’m so offended! This pic has frightened my children, crashed the entire internets, it contains a pink human and shows cat privates. I’m leaving! But before I go:
A pa-sickie on all your houses!
This is scary. This poor cat seems to be morbidly obese. I hope it gets the medical care it needs to be healthy.
“I CAN HAZ MOAR FUDS??”
Is it so wrong that I cannot stop lol’ing at this cat?
Particularly his facial expression.
Also, on come the Nuffs. I’m predictin’.
I think kitty wants a pa-sickie. Make that a couple dozen pa-sickies.
oops, they’re already here. just read the comments.
I remember when I was 150 pounds overweight and told everyone I was happy like that and it’s “just the way I am.” Then diabetes nearly killed me. Surprisingly I found a way to lose the weight. This cat breaks my heart. Sorry, sweetie.
i want to find this funny but i can’t. i wouldn’t laugh at a starved animal and i can’t laugh at this.
photoshop. not real.
Ya know, after reading some of these comments, if I were this cat’s human, I’d be pretty depressed and suicidal at what some individuals are screaming.
Of course, those same individuals probably don’t give a damn. After all, what are the feelings of a single human being in light of the potential for them to get on their soap box and cast judgement on a situation based entirely on a single photograph and a news article providing only the barest bones of the situation?
Kitteh is cute. Human is likely still struggling and trying to help kitteh lose the weight. Kitteh has probably gone to see vet more than human has seen doctor.
Less hate. Less snap judgement. More empathy.
LOL, at Bev!
It seems pretty clear that this photo is either a photoshop or a medical condition. I mean, come on, people! The cat’s girth aside, he’s about twice as long as a normal cat. Unless his mom is really short.
(My suspicion is that there is some walrus in his distant ancestry…)
Come on, people, this one is just too easy. You knew just looking at the picture that it would spawn a completely predictable commentroversy. Don’t take the bait! Smile, be happy, don’t insult each other, live and let live.
And oh yeah – pa-sickie!!!
Bev — bastardized Shakespearean quotations FTW!
I feel very sorry for that cat. he doesn’t know that he’s unhealthy, and he doesn’t have the ability to fix himself. His owner really needs to help him out, otherwise, he’ll have a very short life. I hope that owner tries a little harder to help slim down her kitty.
that’s a disgrace to let your cat get like that. it’s just not healthy.
I used to “photoshop” (the verb) for a living. I downloaded the photo and zoomed way the hell in. The pic is so low res that it’s hard to say if it’s faked. There are no shadows under the paw on the left, but then, the light is diffused. If it’s ’shopped, someone took the time to put in catfloof over the dark pants. (A new Photoshop filter, perhaps? I’ve been out of production for a while: “Yeah, just clone the marmie in and run the catfloof filter. Proof it and it’s a go.”)
So, could be ’shopped, could be a short person and a big cat, could be an average sized person and a whopping cat. Could be the cat’ll live for another 10 years, could be another 10 minutes.
I said I was leaving, didn’t I? Sorry.
As much as I wonder about SumoKitty’s health, I still find him cute. ARGH, conflicted. sad…cute….sad….cute….
Okay, cute.
[nuff] It’s a shame that Ozario is so large – perhaps it’s time to visit the vet and see what steps can be taken to help him lose a little poundage, of only for health reasons. Gastric bypass?
However, I am frankly appalled by the number of people who claim to love cats who are happy to refer to this chap as “fat”? Jeebus, people – don’t you have any feelings? Would you like it if people called you fat, ugly, flat-chested, whatever, within your hearing? The correct word to use here is “substantial”.
Thank you.[/nuff]
It’s not Photoshopped, necessarily. It’s a MAINE COON cat! They start out bigger than most full-grown kittens. Once you realize that the cat would be the size of a medium-size cocker spaniel even without the extra tonnage, it’s not as bad as it seems.
Say it with me now:
MAINE COON! MAINE COON! MAINE COON! MAINE COON! MAINE COON! MAINE COON!
MAINE COON! MAINE COON! MAINE COON! MAINE COON! MAINE COON! MAINE COON!
MAINE COON! MAINE COON! MAINE COON! MAINE COON! MAINE COON! MAINE COON!
This is inhumane, definitely not cute. If that cat’s not diabetic yet, he will be. As others have mentioned, his life span will be significantly shortened. People don’t seem to understand that “fat” for animals has a different meaning and level of urgency than it does for humans. Fifteen or twenty pounds for a human isn’t a huge deal but for an animal it is, actually, catastrophic. Their little bodies weren’t meant to hold that much excess weight. Their joints can’t handle it, nor can their internal organs. This cat definitely needs immediate veterinary intervention and a serious weight loss program. (And FYI, I am a veterinary professional so I do know what I’m talking about.)
The cat probably has some physical or psychological issues that causes him to gorge on food.
I have two perfectly healthy cats that eat only when they’re hungry and are a proper weight. I leave food out at all times because one of my cats is a rescued stray, bordering on being too skinny, and still likes to eat only when she feels safe.
My roommate has a brain-damaged cat that comfort eats and seems to have no satiety trigger in his brain. Prior to brain damage, he was an athletic, lanky cat. Post brain-damage, he’s huge, probably 20 pounds, and will gorge himself all day on anything that smells like food. He eats his food, the dog’s food, and then my cats’ food. I’ve taken to moving my cats’ bowls to deceive him.
I’m just saying that before we all get up in arms and scream animal abuse at the owner, it helps to know the entire story first. If he’s an outdoor cat, he’s probably roaming the neighborhood for food.
Oh, for crying out loud! I live in a rural area and have 20 indoor/outdoor cats. They all have access to the same kibble which is available in 2 hopper-style feeders at all times. Seventeen of my cats are normal sized, one is skinny, and two are really fat. So, um excuse me, but cats DO choose to overeat! Get over it already!
I can’t believe there are so many people upset about this. Over the last 25 years I’ve taken in many starving strays. It’s fairly common for people to just dump litters of unwanted kittens, thinking that they’ll be able to fend for themselves. I’ve rescued starving half-grown cats from parking lots, wandering along the side the road, in abandoned barns, and even an entire litter living in the air compressor behind a local party store.
There is a HUGE difference between overindulging a well-loved and pampered house pet, and dumping, starving, ar any one of a number of horrible things truly stupid people do to animals (ever watch Animal Precint?) So get off your high horses, chill out, relax, and try to put life into perspective.
Just for the record, I LOVE fat kitties!!!
theres noo way in heck that that is a maine coon cat. it lacks EVERY distinguishing feature of the maine coon.
this is a maine coon cat
http://www.rivercatsmainecoons.com/db2/00156/rivercatsmainecoons.com/_uimages/Euphratesnoinitials.jpg
that cat is just obese
Bev!!! “catfloof filter” < <-- LMAO
Well, it looks a lot like Doodles, who is a Maine Coon. I suppose I stand corrected — I withdraw my pout!
If you ask me it looks like that picture is so photoshopped just look at it closely you can tell…..it’s not real.
My cat has to be kept to a strict feeding schedule because if I fed him whenever he wanted he would eat and eat and eat. What he gets keeps him at the same weight, to the ounce – even if he does start begging two hours before meal times! He does have the little belly fat pad, but my vet says that’s normal for neutered males, not a sign of overweight.
For those saying they are feeding a cat the “recommended” amount and they aren’t slimming down – please be aware that the package recommendations are WAY too high. Even on the good brands. The Iams package claims I should feed my cat twice what I do, but my vet tells me he’s getting exactly what he should be.
And that’s only about 1/2 cup of dry food a day even for a 15 pound cat.
And my vet loves my cat. He actually gave him a belly-snorgle on the exam table last time we were in there!!
Yes, some breeds are big. Ragdolls run 15-20 lbs., and Maine Coons get even bigger. But this pic? That’s not just big-breed and fluffy. And the article implies the owner is irresponsibly feeding him Italian humanfood.
Not cute. Really, really not cute. It just makes me incredibly sad. Wow. Really quite sad.
I think my cat is at least half Maine Coon (he might be full Maine Coon–he was born in a foster home after his pregnant momma was taken to a shelter). When I adopted him, he was 12 weeks old. Everyone who saw him assumed he was a year old and fully grown at the time! He’s now around 20 lbs and very large but not fat. Other people’s cats look like toys to me in contrast to my big boy. Any of you Maine Coon experts want to tell me if you think he’s half or full MC? Here are pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/25616879@N05/sets/72157604600906239/
Anyway, Maine Coons are big cats. I have no idea if this fat orange kitty is a Maine Coon, but he certainly seems long enough to be at least part MC. But that still wouldn’t be why he’s so fat. I vote for metabolic disorder, myself.
Thank you up there Poohbear, I love the PITTENS! Dogs are so amazing.
About this sturdy cat here I knew a girl in school with a massive guy, tall, so to speak like this one too. Just huge! My kitties are all rescues, all fed pretty much the same thing and three of them just became sturdy ones and one guy stays slim but eats the most. I think kitties have metabolism issues like we do, and one of my babies is just long, tall kitty too. Not this big but huge. He may be eating too much but he is also bigger than normal I think’:)
One, I’m not too sure of the validity of Ananova for a news source. Anyone know?
Two, eh. It’s a cat, it’s overweight. It’s the uber-cat. It’s kind of funny because it’s big, and so flufftastic, but I see how it’s also very sad. But the owner seems to genuinely love the cat, from the article I read and from the photo. Sometimes, large is large and at least the owner didn’t leave the cat to a shelter.
I’m not from italy, so I don’t know the comparisons between how people in other countries treat their animals…but I know in the US it’s not the norm to feed cats (aside from Winston) everything on God’s green earth, so this cat maybe shouldn’t have been eating people food? I don’t know, I don’t have a cat.
The commentroversy is kind of funny though, because I totally understand the concern but I don’t think the owner is going to come onto CO and go “thank goodness all of you said something, maybe my cat shouldn’t weigh 60 pounds after all, you’ve all changed my life forever.” you know? I just don’t see the point of nuffing with one photo and some quotes attached.
Poor kitty. I have a dog who was overweight and became diabetic. We put him on weight control food, no human food and increased his activity, he lost weight, now no diabetes. He has the energy of a puppy now at 13 yrs old. Kitty has to feel very bad being so overweight. Bring him to me, I’ll help him lose it.
Who are you people who believe that animals have no free will? They choose, just like humans, whether they want to take another bite or if their belly is full. Sure, they don’t control WHAT is being put out for them, but they are still in control of themselves. Stop acting like animals are helpless creatures. They would survive without you, albeit not a posh living.
Hehe.. Fat cat is … morbidly obese… kinda sad for Mr. Kitty but he choose to eat that extra kitty treat instead of run after that mouse.. oh wells..
This makes me sad about the cat. I’m even more sad that the owner seems to be proud of him. This poor cat must have real health problem.
Omigosh! That cat’s THE SIZE OF MY KID!
“my lovely fatty, Professor Cupcake” LOL
kitteh ate the Christmas goose! teh whole thing!
Holy Crap! Thatsa onea bigga
cato.
Being Italian myself, I know, to feed is to show love. That woman LOVES her cat. She is not hurting it or trying to kill it. Yes, it’s overweight, but it’s her pet and she is proud of it. Let it alone!
the internet is about people sharing things and when that happens people tend to share too much of their opinions as well, i see that there is a controversy about overweight animals and all that stuff but has this occurred to anyone who complains on the internet?? IF YOU DON’T LIKE WHAT YOU ARE SEEING INSTEAD OF COMPLAINING AND VOICING YOUR OH SO IMPORTANT OPINION, CLOSE THE WEB BROWSER AND MOVE ON WITH YOUR DAY!!! i’m sorry but the whole world DOES NOT care whether or not you voice your opinion about a particular internet post…. that;s all I am gonna say on this one
My cat Harpo (1983-1992) was a fat kitteh. Sweet, wonderful in every way, but an eater, and we didn’t feed him quality cat food. He topped out at about 22 lbs on a typical tom frame.
When he was about seven we lost him for a couple of weeks when he escaped my arms while we took him to the vet (it was quite a miracle we found him), but he probably picked up some illness and lost some of his weight before he died at the age of 9. I learned my lesson about feeding cats quality food and at least getting them to “maintain” a healthy body shape.
I think this might be a “real” photo but my instinct is the woman in the pic is quite small (maybe even not an adult…the story connected to it is ambiguous). It’s a LONG cat if it covers that much of her body vertically, and while the cat is certainly obese, I don’t think it’s quite as monstrous as it appears in this pic.
I definitely understand why people would react negatively to this — and yes, we should not overfeed our cats (or ourselves), but I also agree that we don’t know the whole story here, and we shouldn’t start making drastic accusations.
The cat IS cute. But that doesn’t change the fact that it’s guardian is doing it a great disservice by letting the poor thing get like that. If (like the story says) it truly got that way eating pasta and traditional Italian foods, it is not just because it loves to eat, it is struggling to get enough protein in it’s diet by gorging itself on non-preotein rich foods. Cats are carnivores! It is one thing to let a kitty have a tiny taste of some delish hooman treat, another to let it eat that as it’s sole diet.
A friend of mine had an overweight cat. Whatever my friend tried to do–reduce food, lock the garbage outside, lock the cat in, nothing ever worked. The cat had both an appetite and brains to outsmart every human he came across! He would visit the neighbours and cry for food. In turn the neighbours fed the poor cat thinking the owner wasn’t home or kitty was locked out. The cat would also go into the garbage cans in the neighbourhood and would knock down the kitchen garbage to find something to eat. My friend lived next to a main street which had restaurants lined up, so you can imagine how much food he found along his mealtime route. The cat was a hopeless case.
Give it up everybody. This is not abuse. This cat has outsmarted the humans and it’s a wonder we have a food shortage going on.
Here’s more photos of Orazi: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=558714&in_page_id=1770
this is child abuse. rather, pet abuse. please slap a “cute or sad” tag on this. i vote for “sad.” i feel so so so sorry for that cat.
Does “moggie” mean “kitty” in Brit-speak?
The owner is depriving that cat of any semblance of a “normal” cat life. At that size, the cat can’t do any of the things cats love doing–chasing cat toys, pouncing and climbing on stuff, or even just cleaning itself properly. I just feel sorry for people who don’t realize they’re hurting their pets by not making sure they’re healthy. And an obese cat like that ain’t healthy. Just ask any vet. The bottom line is you can’t treat your animal like a kid. Cats can’t tell you when they feel sick. And even if you DID see your pet as a child, wouldn’t you think this was just a tad bit unhealthy?
This is not cute. For the first time I am sad I came to visit here. This cat will not live very long, all due to an uncaring owner.
This poor cat is a serious candidate for diabetes and an early death.
Not cute or funny.
(Just incase this hasnt been said)
I CAN HAZ CHHEZEBURGER?!
People HONESTLY believe that, based on the line:
“guzzling all the food treats that his native Italy can provide.”
It automatically equals the human feeding them pasta?
Honestly?
SERIOUSLY???????????
Well, apparently in some people’s minds, where they live is the only nation that produces/provides PET FOOD, every other country can only provide people food.
Wise up. The garbage food for pets that you see on your own grocery shelves is avaliable in other countries. They have grocery stores too. I’m pretty sure most pet food manufacturers import pet food to Italy as well.
Oh, and this:
“The three-year-old tabby is such a food fanatic that owner Laura Santarelli finds it impossible to get him to slim down.”
Says to me that she has tried more than once and likely continues to try.
Stop freaking judging so harshly without truly knowing the entire freaking story.
I’m honestly frightened now that some people seem to think this poor woman is feeding her cat spagetti with meatballs and not doing a damn thing about the weight.
I really hate to see photos of animals that are grossly overweight. There’s nothing cute or funny or charming about it. In many cases these are animals that are not being cared for properly. Please think twice in the future before posthing things like this.
On further reflection I’d like to suggest that you take this photo off the site.
Celia, I’d like to suggest that you remove that stick from your…
Wait! I just posted above that we had to be nice to each other. I take it back!
Sigh. Done with these comments, on to the next cutie.
TOOM
@dailyhamster: Yes.
@Sissy: Thanks for that link. From the third pic I can see that he is a cutie (the first two pics he doesn’t look too happy – kinda like my big orange McGrumperson).
hm – ’someone’ is looking for commentroversy by posting this
This is certainly not okay. That cat is huge! His eye is as big as my toe. Fat cats are not cute, they are sad and not well taken care of.
My cat is 12 years old and she is slim and trim. I only feed her dry cat food and never gave her human food so that she never craves it or begs for it. I give her a can of moist cat food once a week and if it was up to her she would only eat that but no way. I dont give in to her demands.
Animals dont know any better. They dont know whats bad for their health. Their human care takers are the ones that know better and have to set the rules. My 12 year old cat, runs, leaps, practically flies up the stairs and doesnt snore because shes fit.
if cats choose to overeat it’s their human’s duty to make sure they don’t! fat cats are lethargic and they get depressed just like their fat human counterparts. so a bit of empathy for the kitteh would be a good start.
Not nearly as upsetting as the price gauging fat cats at Exxon. $98 to fill up a tank!
Sissy, thank you for posting that article! So we see that even though that cat is huge, vets aren’t sure why it is so large. That means either the cat hasn’t been to a vet, where the vet would have surely discussed feeding habits, or the daily mail is talking to vets.
The people who are all crying animal cruelty are idiots. How many cat owners do you kow, force feed their cats to make them fat… None. Its the cats fault for being lazy, and eating too much. I mean, if you look at the pic, it doesn’t look like the cat is stuck inside. He can clearly go outside. I realize it is just a cat, but this is NOT animal cruelty, that cat is far for the same reasons humans get fat. I doubt it is the owners fault. Even IF the owner is over feeding the cat, I find most cats only eat when they are hungry anyway.
I commented higher above, but I have to post again… I have a cat that struggles with his weight, and we have put him on prescribed diet food, and IT DID NOT WORK. Do you judgmental people understand that? I’ll say it again, slowly: IT…DID…NOT…WORK. It took my husband and I 1.5 years to figure out that not only was the damn food NOT working, but it was making his skin dry. So we tried other foods, and FINALLY found one that managed to work for him, and thankfully he has lost 3 pounds, and is now down to a svelt 21 pounds of solid (but still kind of pudgy in a good way) kitty muscle. Please, PLEASE stop judging this woman. The article even states that she has TRIED, but has not been successful, as I did for 1.5 years. When I first put my guy on the diet food, the boy would NOT eat for DAYS. The vet assured me over and over that a healthy animal will not starve him or herself, because trust me, I called many, many times. Who’s to say that every time she tries, the boy stops eating and she gets scared so give him once again what she knows he will eat. I know I was sure tempted to do that, tons of times in that week, because I was scared that my guy was NOT EATING. Just please stop flinging around the phrase “animal abuse,” because we cannot be sure it pertains to this situation. And to those trying to “suggest” to Meg what she should and should not post, get over yourselves. Her site, her choice. Don’t like it, don’t come here. PEACE!
Oh, and just to clarify, my husband and I NEVER EVER overfed our guy, nor did we give him people food, or an unreasonable amount of treats. He got heavy because we got our second guy, and he would nosh on his kitten food whenever our backs were turned, and even after trying all kinds of different measures to make sure it didn’t happen, he remained overweight. So again, stop judging people!
My family jokes about our cat looking like this. We prettu much call him a pumpkin because he has this round little body and short skinny legs. No, really, he’s not that bad; but it still makes me laugh.
Oh dear, this poor fellow makes ‘blob’ look svelte.
He looks like a giant hairy grub.
I’m not entirely sure how it’s somehow more appropriate to assume the owner is doing everything right for this animal despite its size than it is to assume that something must be wrong and question the competency of the owner. No one person on this forum has any more information about this particular cat than the other, and opinion either way is based on conjecture. I am well aware of the existence of metabolic disorders but the fact that they exist does not mean that every obese animal has one. It is just as likely that this is indeed a case of owner incompetence. I don’t know either way, neither does anyone else. I understand people who are simply irritated to hear rash judgment, but those who are screaming so vehemently that this cat is 100% healthy and anyone who implies otherwise is mean and cruel are guilty of making snap judgments as well. Some people are wording it harshly, I agree, but I fail to understand how it’s so extra crunchy horrible to be concerned for the welfare of this animal and verbalize how uncomfortable and (or) unhealthy this weight must be. Maybe I am missing something.
OMG LMAO… You guys post this on purpose don’t you?
You got a weetle bit bored and wanted to count the outraged comments?
I think the kit is HUGE, but cute nonetheless.
This is animal abuse. This woman should not be smiling. The poor cat’s eyes are bugging out of its head. A healthy cat’s normal lifespan is 15-20 years…this cat is only 3!? He won’t make it to 4…sad
This is not cute. It’s disgusting. I would never let my cats get like that.
Bleeny, I think you have a very valid point. However, I think the controversy began when the word abuse hit the board. I mean, from the picture alone, I gather that, yes, the cat is obese, yes, the cat needs to lose weight, but that woman seems to love that cat, and the cat looks otherwise clean and groomed very well, other than his size… Abuse is just one of those escalator words, I guess…
Case in point. So, I guess I abused my cat when HE’D go eat out of the kitten’s dish when my back was turned, right? This is what I mean! ABUSE is not the proper term to use here!
If you’re so filled with hate and prejudice that you react to an obese kitteh and his owner with revulsion and disgust, you have a few screws loose. It is always a disorder or health issue that causes obesity, so stop with the hate. Fat cats can be cute, despite their obvious health issues.
And trust me, EVERYONE here knows the dangers of obesity. We don’t need a lesson from y’all nuffs.
Dnd one more thing: my little kitty, Mew Mew, is so round we call her “Puddleduck” because it looks like she is waddling when she walks. But, the vet has told me that nothing is wrong with her and that is her body shape. Like humans, animals also have a particular body shape. So there!
Oops. “And one more…” Sorry for the typo.
On the link Sissy provided, you can see a photo of the kitteh in a “standard” position, not lifted uncomfortably like he is in this picture. It’s clear that while he’s a BIG kitteh, he can get around and his size is due both to his obesity and his general big size (length/height).
Obviously, I would be concerned if this were my kitteh and would do my best to slim him down, but I agree that cries of “abuse” are a bit extreme given the REAL cases of animal abuse that we can all agree are DEFINITELY abusive. I’d humbly request that we use our words with a bit more care; this might be irresponsible and naive, but “abuse?”
This has to be a hoax. Photoshopped?? Really… ridiculous.
Can we say that the angle that Signor Gattolargo has been photographed at is not his best? If someone took your picture with the lens at the same level as your tummy, would you look really skinny? I must say that I certainly wouldn’t!
Commentroversies are like wrecks. CAN..NOT..LOOK..AWAY..
Signor Gattolargo! I LOVE THAT! Berkie, you done made my day with one!
Good post Rosie A.. hopefully some of the nuffs read it… however based on the nuffing posts following it I think many are more interested in voicing their disapprouval and being ‘right’..
I don’t think anyone’s mentioned this yet, but can you imagine the amount of snorgling you could do on a belleh that size?!?!! O_o
I vote that he’s cute.
And he’s not fat, he’s
husky.
And has big bones.
Max: It is not a cat’s fault if it is lazy. It is a guardian’s responsibilty to stimulate their pet with play.
Totally, brinnann. Actually, I find it a lot easier to look away from a wreck than I do for a commentroversy. (Because, really, if there’s a dead/bloody/etc person in the road, why would I want to see that? But I can’t resist coming back to look at more dumb comments that I disagree with and make me annoyed. Argh.)
marissposa, you’re totally right
That’s not cute, it’s disgusting.
brinnann, I would dive in head first and not come out of that belleh for DAYS!
“A pa-sickie on all your houses” = Best Comment Ever.
not cute. not at all.
Big kitteh Orazio is in YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W914QisLN60
excoose moi – ima veteran two and i say fed eem more pasickies and pasketti! good for the ticker. i noes what i talks bout.
to all of u out there saying the cat’s fat is NOT the fault of the owner… i tip my hat to u! ( if i had a hat that is)
As soon as I saw this picture, I knew there would be ’nuffers.
Look, guys, maybe this isn’t abuse. My baby delilah is free-fed, and she’s no where near as huge as this one. Perhaps, its a genetic defect with the cat, y’think? Or perhaps something otherwise wrong.
Tell me something, is someone who LETS a human overeat abusing them? If a human is hungry, they’re going to eat. It’s the same with a cat. And if they don’t get regular cat-food, they’re probably gonna look for something else to munch on.
Can’t you all just sit back, and skip over the pictures you don’t like, without ruining the experience for the rest of us?
that cat doesn’t look healthy he is not a maine coon he hasn’t got the same coloring or markings. and watching the youtube post it looks like he has a difficult time walking. poor kitty
I have Photoshop too. A similar picture made the rounds a couple of years ago.
I have an overweight cat (20 pounds). I DO NOT overfeed him. He actually eats the same than the other two cats I have, both of “normal” weight. Is he on food to help him reduce? Yes. Does he like it? No. What I AM guilty of, and many other pet owners are guilty of, is the kinds of foods that we feed our pets. Most of us just grab stuff off the shelf at the local market and pour it in a bowl. Unless a cat has been conditioned to eating top-of-the-line or more healthy food, the stuff you buy in the grocery store is going to be more like “kitty junk food” for them. Then, it makes it difficult for them to eat food that is better for them. I’m having this problem currently. This woman in Italy may be guilty of feeding her cat human food, so trying to get the cat to eat less, eat better, is really going to be difficult.
Thank you to all of you common-sense people here! Too many to mention and so many funny comments!!
@ThePhantomOfTheNet: LMAO @ the scotch-drinking kitty!
@bev: love your “A pa-sickie on all your houses”!!!! Bumpersticker potential, I’m thinking!!
I have an overweight cat (20 pounds). I DO NOT overfeed him. He actually eats the same than the other two cats I have, both of “normal” weight. Is he on food to help him reduce? Yes. Does he like it? No. What I AM guilty of, and many other pet owners are guilty of, is the kinds of foods that we feed our pets. Most of us just grab stuff off the shelf at the local market and pour it in a bowl. Unless a cat has been conditioned to eating top-of-the-line or more healthy food, the stuff you buy in the grocery store is going to be more like “kitty junk food” for them. Then, it makes it difficult for them to eat food that is better for them. I’m having this problem currently. This woman in Italy may be guilty of feeding her cat human food, so trying to get the cat to eat less, eat better, is really going to be difficult.
First time commenting and I’m not one for controversies (or jamming my own stupid head in them) so I’m NOT going to relate stories of the overweight, ABUSED (physically, as in plucking it whiskers out and beating it) kitty who I’ve had help from the vet to slim down after I received her (from the local SPCA) and discover’d she was so overweight from over-feeding it was affecting her health severely for her 1 year-old state.
NO. I am not going to mention that, her story or ANYTHING about abuse or how sad I beleive this situation I actually know VERY LITTLE about… but I will say, I DO beleive this is pet owener negligence. Not quite abuse, no, but not quite what a loving pet owner/companion should happily (I say this because well, you must be pleased if you feel like broadcasting it all over) allow to occur.
I do not know what this cat looks like at other angles, I do not know the owner nor the pet’s medical status…
BUT, from MERELY the photo, I’m sadden’d because NO, it’s NOT the felines choice to become so overweight IF it is not a pre-exisiting genetic problem or other outta-their-hands problem… we keep their bags of food and treats stocked away from them usually and DON’T just allow thim to peruse the kitchen like a grown adult.
Last time I checked, kitty’s DID NOT HAVE THUMBS. Not workin’ ones anyway. So if you think this cat is actively CHOOSING to crack open the fridge, pop the tupperware and scarf down some leftover pasta, yer kinda’ eff’d in the head. Or you own the world’s first super-kitty. (I know I’VE hardly master’d tupperware, let alone ma’ cats). And even an outdoor cat would be gettin SOME serious huntin-exercise if they were SO HUNGRY that they NEEDED to hunt down something else to munch on (remember kids, it takes A LOT of mice and birdies to actually FEED a cat for one meal).
Face it, we owners control MOST of our feline-friends’ lives… therefore whether it’s ABUSE or simply what I would call negligence (not a lot better in my mind)… I still say offically: I think this is kinda’ unpleasent and I pity both the pet AND the owner (because I doubt she’ll have her chubby baby very long at that weight)…
So I’ll stop here, scroll down and look at something that IS cute.
Ciao, dollbutts.
PS: I am not saying overweight cats DON’T happen. Because my babe, though she’s FAR slimmer than before, eats normally now and is still (and likely always will be) a smidge pudgy. And we love her for it.
But a cat that huge… unless it’s something the kitty and the owner can’t control, in my uneducated eyes, I still think that THIS could be helped.
Follow your dreams, you can reach your goals. I’m living proof. Beefcake. BEEFCAKE!!
Hmmmm..y’know it occurs to me.. when you post a picture that you know is going the draw the ire of the nuffers, which draws the ire of the anti-nuffers, which results in a lot of back-and-forth comments, an ad-revenue-dependent site just might get a lot of page views. Just sayin’. Juuuuuust sayin’.. :3
That said – great cat! Where’s the vid already?
thats the cutest little-well,big-thing ive ever seen!!!!!
Aw shucks y’all. (Digs toe in dirt.)
Unfortunately, I’m out of obscure references for the day. I need to refresh my supply of witty repartee and come back tomorrow.
Great post, Lisa!
I believe she is right on track. Having a fat cat is not abuse, that is silly. Most people just aren’t aware of the VERY VERY SERIOUS health complications that OFTEN occur due to long-standing obesity. I work in a vet clinic, so unfortunately I see it all too often.
I would be hesitant to even call it negligence since that really implies that people know it’s bad and don’t do anything, but if most people are completely unaware, it is just very sad and unfortunate.
Fat cats are indeed cute! But to say that they can lead a long and healthy life is simply untrue. They very likely won’t have immediate consequences, which is why it doesn’t register to pet owners, but if your animal is seriously overweight it WILL shorten their life-span, and WILL cause a significant amount of stress to the animal, though you may not be aware. If your animal is that overweight, please talk to your vet about a weight-loss program. Your pet will thank you in the long run.
Most likely, since this is in Italy, this cat is an outdoor cat.
First off: Did anyone notice that the cat’s eyes look funny and the lady’s hand is enormous?? This has to be photoshopped.
Second: I can’t believe so many people would declare obesity like this as abuse. Starvation and beating constitutes as abuse. Feeding your animal doesn’t. If anything, it is irresponsible of the owner to have an overweight cat – but this is not foie gras people!! (And if you don’t know what that is – look it up. But be prepared to be disgusted)
I have one overweight cat and one that is not. I know it sounds simple to just not feed the fat cat so much – but it isn’t that easy. He meows all night when there isn’t food, and we would be depriving the other cat of food who doesn’t have an over-eating problem.
So if you think this photo is just “sick” and “demented,” you might agree that the cat shouldn’t be fed till it loses weight. Oh wait – that’s neglect!
Some cats are big, some are not. Some like to eat a lot. This cat isn’t wandering around moping about how it can’t do skinny cat things. It’s a cat! Maybe it’s happier this way. You should ask it
When I had my kitty, he was a bit plump (13 pounds). I gave him occasional treats from my plate. But he only got the last bite. Otherwise he only got cat food.
I think the cat, in itself, is adorable.
We had a cat that would litterally run and eat itself into comfort when our dog scared it.
If the cat is happy, then don’t worry about it. I’m sure it’s fine.
THAT PHOTO IS FAKE!!
I KNOW those people!! that’s my sister in law and her husband on their honeymoon!
yup he’s the fattest cat in Italy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W914QisLN60
My dad’s cats are fat. One of them looks like an oversized bowling ball with legs, and she waddles horribly when she walks. She is obese. If I posted a picture of that cat here, the nuff crowd would be crying “Animal abuse!” just like they are with this cat.
But you know what? Dad rescued that cat in the bitter cold of a Minnesota winter, and her half-dead kittens too. He saved them all when they were feral, starving, and freezing, abandoned by whatever waste of skin dumped them, and he invested MONTHS of patience to tame that wild, terrified mama cat to accept the gentle touch of a human hand. Under his care she’s had YEARS of love and kindness of a magnitude that she had never known up to then, in what would–without him–have been a short life of deprivation and suffering.
Now he’s dying of a brain tumor, and that spoiled-rotten, much-loved cat will outlive him, and so will her full-grown enormous kittens, and I would like to SPIT on every goddamn one of you who sits in sanctimonious judgment of people you don’t even know. How dare you judge the depth of someone’s love and care for an animal from one picture on a web site.
Dad’s cats are fat, and they are bathed in love every minute they are privileged to spend with him.
just want to add myself to the list of those with an overweight cat who does not overeat and is otherwise healthy. petra is around 16 pounds; we got her less than a year ago, when she was 8, and had been living with another cat, who was a normal weight. she doesn’t get treats or people food (she doesn’t even like them), and gets a small amount of food in the morning and a small amount in the evening. sometimes she doesn’t eat all of it. she is a couch potato and will not play for more than a couple of minutes. the vet says she is healthy and that we are doing everything we can.
i am definitely one of those people who thinks overfeeding a pet is sad and wrong, but, as has been said here many times before, you just can’t assume what the circumstances are when you see an overweight pet!
whatever the circumstances, this kitty is a cutey! i would love to give him a big hug.
I feel that this is animal abuse.
This baby is so Violet Beauregarde after she eats the three-course-meal thingie in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, 1971 version.
Okay, earlier I gave you guys a link to pics of my kitty to ask if anyone thought he was full Maine Coon: http://www.flickr.com/photos/25616879@N05/sets/72157604600906239/
Based on this photo http://www.flickr.com/photos/25616879@N05/2423480274/in/set-72157604600906239/ I got a couple of private notes from people saying I am deluding myself if I think my cat is not fat. Here is proof that he is not (and proof that the camera, and belly fur, add 10 pounds!):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25616879@N05/2439392925/
Animal abuse would be is she was force feeding the cat. Are her other 5 kitties fatties? Do they deserve a story of their own? From what I can see, it doesn’t seem like it. Goodness, some people always have to show up and ruin the fun. If this cat lives 6 years instead if 16, well it seems happy enough to me. And if it CHOOSES to overeat, isn’t that his CHOICE? Seriously, do you people b**ch out all the fat people who make up the bulk of Wal-Mart’s customers like this? Chill!
Jaye am very sorry about your dad. I lost my animal-loving father 2 years ago and miss him terribly every single day. Enjoy every moment you have with your dad. It sounds like he’s an incredibly kind and empathetic soul and the world could use many, many more like him. God bless….
@Jaye: Your dad sounds like a wonderful person and I loved what you said. Thanks!
Furthermore, how many of you complaining sat down to a meat dinner this evening? And you have the gall to come here and whine about a cat who enjoys food a little too much. It’s called hypocrisy and you just spewed it all over the rest of us.
Dailyhamster, I agree with you. I have a Maine coon mix cat. She is about 18 lbs but about 5 lbs must be her fur. She eats more than my other two kitties, but she is not obese. The poor cat above is beyond fat. It is a tabby who should not be 40 lbs. My kids and I saw this photo and I am seriously upset about it. Unless this cat can get into the kitchen and cook its own pasta, ha ha, obviously his owner is to blame. That poor cat’s heart is going to explode. It makes me very sad and sick at the same time!!
My cat was on a diet, but then figured out how to unlock and open the cupboard to eat the other cat’s kitten food. Some cats just love to eat. He is thinner now, but he still somehow is always there when the ice cream comes out
@Jaye – Through misty eyes, I concur with Gail. Thank you for sharing your comments and I’m so sorry about your dad. May the furry bowling balls return all the love he has given them and then some.
My orange kitty’s fat… but not THAT fat. That’s kind of scary, not really cute.
@Jaye: *HUGS*
This has GOTTA be photoshopped. Like all the other “gargantuan cat” photos. And everyone who is concerned about obesity in cats is RIGHT.
I’m with Chloe on this. This is not cute or funny, and is really animal abuse to let your pet get that big when it’s clearly not healthy for the cat. Poor kitty, I feel really bad that it’s this big. Poor thing must feel miserable. : (
To answer your question Kitteh, yes, if you let your child get obese, this is considered a form of child abuse (it’s actually been in the news lately).
And I’m sorry, but this is not a fair comparison to this poor kitty because we humans have the ability to stuff our own piehole, choosing to do so with whatever we choose. Animals rely on us to do their choosing and how much food we give them. Give them too much, and yes, they will eat it!
So I’m sorry, but this is something that some of you don’t really seem to get. Poor kitty, and no, I didn’t sit down tonight and eat a big meat dinner because I don’t eat meat.
Kari, this is NOT a Maine Coone. I have one and it does not have the same characteristics. Poor thing is just mistaken for one because it’s entirely too overweight. It’s an orange Tabby, I believe.
And I agree – CO wouldn’t post a severely underweight cat without those of you claiming cute saying something about it. I just can’t see you sitting there telling all of us who feel this is abusive, “awww, it’s so skinny, isn’t that cute?” yeah, right. There is no difference. Severely underweight and severely overweight = Abuse, health issues and miserable life for kitty.
Good grief. Leave Catzilla and owner alone. It’s a well loved pet, obvi! Get on with your lives, eh? Zoiks. Personally, I thinks it’s cruel to dress dogs in silly outfits but I don’t complain. Publically. What a sad little world we live in. I apologize, Catzilla, go, and graze in peace, and may the catnip be with you!
lol the lady’s gonna give herself a hernia lifting that behemoth.
this is horrible!!
Haven’t read all the comments, so maybe someone mentioned it, but it’s not necessarily “abuse”. I know a cat who is nearly as fat, but doesn’t actually eat that much. She also happens to have kitty diabetes and gets twice daily insulin shots. My friend has been trying to work out how to get her to lose weight, but nothing seems to be working. She (the cat, not my friend) only eats a small bowl of food a day and pukes up half of it. The vets are at a loss as well. I suspect the diabetes, but it’s a mystery. Could be the same for this big boy.
I haven’t read all the posts either because I can reconstruct them from past commentroversies: This is KREWL, this is ABYOOOOOS, etc etc.
I love heem. He’s a hunka hunka burning love CAT. This is a SERIOUS cat.
I hope that Orazio’s house has sturdy floors, and I hope for him many lazy afternoons in the sun, with 4 ooomans scritching heem (I think it would only take 4 for his girth. I may be wrong, it may take 6).
All you nuffs, if you can’t say something nice don’t say anything at all. HARUMPH.
That is all.
Ok… dont you all know that weight control cat food is worse than anything else for your cat? A natural diet of homemade catfood is really the best (cuz we all have time for that, right?) ut the low cal cat food is atrocious. Its higher carb and probably worse than anything else. Just like some people the kitty problably has a screwy metabolism. Hes cute. Just like chubby babies are cute. Or not. PASICKE!!!
The chameleons uncorked the scheme, so pudgy puddy will be okay now.
Thank you for sharing your story, Jaye. It moved me and I hope it changed the heart of at least one of these “judge a book by its cover” posters.
You, your father, and all of his precious cats and kittens, are in my prayers.
Jeez! I don’t know why people let their cats get this way! It’s disgusting! Let your cats run around outside, people!
First, if you read the accompanying article, it sounds like she is feeding him all he wants, and it doesn’t seem like that’s working out very well. I hope he’s seen a vet.
Second, if you studied photography, you can see that the photo is taken with a lens that exaggerates the size of the foreground. He looks even larger than life as a result.
Third, I know this is touchy for some, but as others have said, save your outrage for the really bad stuff, like the current People magazine article about Dead Dog Beach on Puerto Rico, where the abandonment of dogs past puppyhood is almost a norm.
Just saying…
Mizzy, so they can get run over? Great idea! Why didn’t I think of that?
Thats the fault of stinking CARS brinnan
Poor cat!
Go mrs Catlabash
and @ Jaye, this is a totally different story.
And Dutchgirl shows us that, yes, it IS possible to strike out, not only three, but FOUR times!
How anyone believe that the sight of a cat in this condition is ‘cute’? IMO, it’s tragic.
This is sad, although the cat really is cute..but everyone who is saying “the cat chooses to eat that much, so it’s ok”…seriously, animals eat whatever you put in front of him…it’s sad that his owners let him get that big, and while I’m sure they love him lots, they’re really not taking care of him that well. Sometimes doing the right thing is hard – like not letting your cat eat anything and everything, but you do it because you love him and want him to be healthy. I doubt this cat is able to do lots of fun things that more slender, agile cats can do, and that really sucks for him.
Oh lord… That cat needs to be put out of its misery
I like to fatten kitties up to eat dems. MMMM
Just saw the youtube video! That is a hugh kitteh. Not photoshopped, REAL!
@Gail: Oh yes, that, and having ten other little white furballs running around and playing in my 600 sq foot apartment turned me from a cat-tolerator into a kitteh-luvah.
I wish I had a video of the first time I saw him do it. He dipped his paw in, raised it up and licked it, looked puzzled for a couple of seconds, and then (to my complete surprise) dipped his paw again and again before I pulled the tumbler out of his reach.
I guess it didn’t hurt him too much… he grew up to be Mini-Me, the 27 lb cat with no fat I spoke of in my comment. SIGH, I miss the little ‘runt’.
Here is a pic of him … that is my old 17″ widescreen laptop (for reference) he is sitting on, and as you can tell, he ‘overflows’ even it:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=554684&l=fede2&id=620707913
I like him!
How cruel. A stupid human has fed their pet into obesity. There is nothing cute about this … her pets should be taken away and she should be prosecuted.
I hope she doesn’t have kids. I fear for their lives.
Ms Danielle: Please pardon my bluntness but you are an idiot! You know nothing about this family and yet you criticize. I am sooo sick of people like you. Intolerant and judgmental. There are too many like you around.
It looks like neglect. Is
he eating leftovers at the
restaurant? If he had a
collar, maybe we could link-up and go for walks
together…We could take it
very easy at first…
Oh my, some people really need to take a deep breath and calm down. I have a chubby cat and I myself am chubby. Both of us (cat and me) struggle daily to maintain our weight. It is not easy. I have great empathy for other fat people and animals – even the very obese ones. Maybe it would be a better idea to offer support and empathy rather than insults. Now, with that out of the way …who wants pudding (fat free of course)
Pet obesity is not cute. Not one bit.
I think the best comment here was about people needing to be “right”.
Like people, some cats put on more weight on the same amount of food than others do.
The owner may or may not overfeed; the cat may or may not have a contributing condition.
I don’t think the pic should have been posted at CO – not because it _may_ portray abuse; but because the posting of something so “commentroversial” feels like an abuse of CO’s power. I feel manipulated (and I’m only halfway being sarcastic here).
Either this was posted to spark ‘comentroversy’, posted ‘in-spite-of’ the controversial nature, or was posted in ignorance of it. None of those options fill me with the cute-goodness I have come to expect from CO.
*sigh*
I know I really shouldn’t… but I just thought of the ultimate commentroversy: Human Babies ‘n Racks! Now wouldn’t that be cute??
I don’t have a comment to the state of the cat or the owner’s choices, I will leave that to the other guys.
I will have to say though that Bev’s comment, which I will repost because there are over 230 comments and it’s hard to find it again, made me laugh right out loud and wake up my flatmate.
“I’m so offended! This pic has frightened my children, crashed the entire internets, it contains a pink human and shows cat privates. I’m leaving! But before I go:
A pa-sickie on all your houses!” – Bev
Thank you for the humor in the madness.
Put that fat cat on a diet…please
you are killing it with kindness.
I totally understand what you’re saying, deltabob, but at the same time, Meg posts what she wants to post. Which isn’t to say that she doesn’t take into consideration the CO community, I bet she does…but that ultimately there’s a larger audience at play, and there are millions more people who lurk but never post, or who never look at the comments.
I think there’s a loyal, core audience here at CO but I think sometimes the audience feels like they are entitled to creative control because they’re always there. I’ve been here for a pretty long time…but I still don’t feel like I am entitled to creative control. Whereas, I dare say that a lot of people who scream “No more humans on CO!” and who say they’ll leave if there’s another human on CO want to leverage their loyalty for creative control, which is ironic because it destroys the loyalty being leveraged.
ok, i didn’t bother to read all of the commentroversy, but i know there was alot. to all of the people saying this supersized kitty is abused – what if this was your cat? what if there were tons of people you didn’t know screaming abuse at you? it could have a glandular/thyroid disorder, just like one of my friends has. so many people made fun of her that she ended up being so self conscious of it that she finally had gastric bypass surgery. this cat may not have anything at all wrong with it. if it’s a true abuse case, i highly doubt that someone would be showcasing it in a picture on the internet. a friend of mine in grade school had a cat that was nearly that large with no explanation why. its name was star, and they fed it normal amounts of dietary cat food and even kept the food upstairs and litter box downstairs to get it a decent amount of exercise. stop the bashing. i hope you don’t talk about chubby children like that.
‘ but because the posting of something so “commentroversial” feels like an abuse of CO’s power.’
The Mighty Cute Overlords wield power as they choose.
a friend of mine has cats and the only fat ones are orange. do you think they have a ‘fat’ gene that makes it easier for ‘em to gain weight and harder to lose? hmmmm……
One of my girls got chubby after she got fixed. I put her on diet cat food from the vet and measure out her portions for the day. She hasn’t lost her chub, but my vet warned me that she might not. He says she is healthy though. But she is not near this size, she just has a little belly. Not all factors for the cats weight are known. If the owner is just over feeding the cat yes, that is bad. However, do you know that? Everyone is an instant expert on other people (and animals) lives. Especially on this sight.
Fat cats rule!
Sigh… this thread is STILL going?
This thread is FAT! No, it is more then that… it is obese!!! It needs to be slimmed down! It needs to be put down! How can this thread enjoy itself when it is so fat? Has anybody even tried putting this thread on a diet? Didn’t think so!
Darn bandwidth fatso’s! A mushy pa-sickie stuck on all your foreheads!
I can’t wait to see the LOLcats using this picture.
At 3 yrs of age. 35 lbs.
DISGUSTING
I just had to put down my beloved Beau yesterday due to kidney failure as a result of feline diabetes. I used to think his chub was cute but now I realize that I was doing my cat a great deal of harm. I wish I could turn back the clock and take better care of his health. Now all I have are memories, soggy kleenexs and a face red from crying. Please, everyone, take care of your cats. Love them with hugs and not with food.
Headbutts and purringks and ankle rubbingks, Beaufolo. I’m sorry for your loss.
You know how overweight people have health problems? (Diabetes, incontinence, infertility, spinal problems, rickets, etc)
Overweight animals have just those same problems. That is absolutely disgusting. If you think that’s cute you need serious help.
The people that are commenting that this is animal abuse need to visit an animal shelter or humane society and see what real abused animals look like. This cat is well taken care of (it does not miss a lot of meals!) and very loved by it owners. I have a favorite cat; Tabitha follows me everywhere sleeps next to me every night (my wife is jealous); and she is rather plump, happy and well cared for.
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