A cat who had put on so much weight he wasn’t able to groom himself properly was found with a huge lump of matted fur on his back.
Lucky was taken in by the RSPCA after an officer was called by neighbours who were concerned for his welfare due to his weight and a large lump they’d spotted on his back.
RSPCA inspector Kate Levesley went to the address in Brownhills, Walsall on Thursday 25 June.
She said: “Neighbours were concerned about Lucky after popping in to take care of him while his owner was away from home and unable to care for him. It seems as though he was being fed but not getting enough exercise and unfortunately has become very overweight.
“Lucky had a massive matt on his back probably because he couldn’t groom properly and was unable to wash due to his weight.”
Kate took Lucky to Hillfield Animal Home, run by RSPCA Burton upon Trent & District Branch to be taken care of. She shaved the matted fur off of poor Lucky’s back and made him more comfortable. He weighed in at 7kg which is around 3kg heavier than a healthy, adult make cat should.
Lucky has now been put on a special diet to help him shed some weight before being rehomed at a later date.
Cyan Hulland from the animal home said: “He is very shy and doesn’t move around a lot but he is a very sweet boy. Hopefully, when he trusts us better and loses a bit of weight, he will be more active and show his personality.”
RSPCA pet welfare expert Dr Samantha Gaines said: “Pet obesity is a serious welfare issue affecting a large proportion of our pets today. Recent studies have suggested that around half of all pet dogs are overweight and this can cause serious health and welfare issues for them such as heart disease and diabetes.
“Obesity can afftect all types of pets and the main cause is from eating too much or not exercising enough. As a rough guide for dogs and cats – you should be able to see and feel the outline of their ribs without excess fat covering them.
Other tips are that you should be able to see and feel their waist and it should be clearly visible when viewed from above. Anyone who is concerned about their pet’s weight should speak to their vet for advice.”
If you’re concerned about your pet’s weight, please speak to your vet for advice. If you’d like to adopt a cat from the RSPCA please visit www.rspca.org.uk/findapet for more information.
