A ten-year-old cat who was so overweight that she couldn’t groom herself or get through a cat flap, has shed the pounds and is now looking for a new home.
Motsy came into the RSPCA’s Newport Animal Centre last October after her owner sadly passed away. On arrival she weighed 10.1kg – more than twice the weight of an average adult cat and roughly the same as a small dog like a West Highland Terrier.
Motsy’s size meant she was unable to get in and out of the cat flap in her pod at the animal centre, so staff decided that being in a foster home would help her to lose weight and get more exercise.
Fosterer Danni Wilson, who has been looking after Motsy at her home in Newport since November, said: “At first she was very nervous and had a particular fear of hands, so I started off by initially stroking her with my head.
“In the following weeks and months her personality really started to shine through and now she follows me around and likes to play and have a fuss, although everything is very much on her own terms. We think she became overweight as a result of helping herself to her previous owner’s food and never going outside to get exercise, although she’s slowly started to show an interest in my garden and likes to sit by the back door and enjoy the sun.
“The weight has gradually begun to come off; she’s already lost an amazing two kilograms (4.4 pounds) and she can now just about reach the base of her tail. But she’s still very heavy and will need to continue to shed some pounds to get down to a healthier size.”
Kath Logan, deputy manager at Newport Animal Centre, said: “We think Motsy is the heaviest cat we’ve ever rehomed. She’s a beautiful girl who has come such a long way and we are all so proud of her. She’s now feeling much more comfortable in her own skin, but she still struggles to groom herself properly, so she will appreciate an owner that is able to give her a helping hand with this for the foreseeable future.
“It’s also very important that she continues with a sensible feeding regime to enable her to carry on losing weight, and this is something we will discuss with potential owners.”
Staff feel Motsy would be best suited to an adult home with no other pets with a secure garden or a catio for her to spend time outside.
Being overweight can lead to serious health issues for pets, including joint problems, high blood pressure, diabetes and problems with the liver, skin and heat tolerance.
Top tips for keeping your pet at a healthy weight
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If you think your pet might be overweight, always consult your vet in the first instance.
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As a guide – you should be able to see and feel the outline of your pet’s ribs without excess fat covering.
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You should be able to see and feel your pet’s waist and it should be clearly visible when viewed from above.
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Your pet’s belly should be tucked up when viewed from the side.
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Get your pet weighed at the vets regularly if you are concerned.
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If your pet is used to treats, give them as part of their daily ration of low calorie foods. It is advisable to agree a daily ration of food, weigh it out at the beginning of the day and stick to it.
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If you want to give your pet treats, for example if you are training them, you should incorporate this into their daily food allowance and reduce accordingly.
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You could use playful interaction with your pet or a special toy as a reward instead.
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Always make sure your pet is getting plenty of exercise.
To help the RSPCA continue rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming animals in desperate need of care please visit our website or call our donation line on 0300 123 8181.
