One of the world’s heaviest cats has ended up in a shelter after its owners moved away and refused to take their pet with them.
A New York’s Manhattan Animal Care Center took 41-pound Barsik in and explained that he is the heaviest cat to ever make it in their shelter.
As the center admitted, the cat is suffering from multiple health issues due to his excessive weight. Before he could be put up for adoption, Barsik has to undergo a strict diet and shed enough weight to get healthier.
“We pulled Barsik 59244 and his adorable housemate Sukie 59243,” Anjellicle Cats Rescue announced on April 8.
“This super-sized and super-sweet duo were left at ACC on April 5 because their family was moving and couldn’t take them with.
“We will be getting Barsik checked out by a vet this week and then he’ll begin his safe weight loss journey under supervision. And Sukie will be available for adoption soon! Please click on the following links to honor your pledges or contribute towards their care. Thank you for your continued support.”
While the cat has to remain under strict supervision, volunteer fosterer Angelique Iuzzolino decided to take over his care.
“He was very scared when he first arrived and tried to hide, which was quite a feat for a 41-pound cat to squeeze between our bed and nightstand,” she said in an interview with Daily Mail.
“He quickly realized we weren’t going to harm him and now lets us pet him and will come across the room when we offer attention to him. He’s eating and using the litter box, the two best signs you can get from a newly arrived foster cat.”
While losing weight presents a tricky challenge, Ms. Iuzzolino is convinced that Barsik will be able to achieve a healthy weight.
“While I do have a basic understanding of a weight loss plan for cats, which is ultimately the same as for humans (eat less, move more) you have to be very careful that cats don’t lose weight too quickly or they can develop a condition called hepatic lipidosis, or ‘fatty liver disease,’” she explained. “So it’s not just a matter of cutting their food portions.”
“Due to his size, he will need to be under the very strict care of a veterinarian to determine the number of calories he’ll need to lose weight but also still get enough nourishment for his systems to function properly,” Angelique added.
“Right now, he is allowed to eat as much as he wants to avoid any drastic loss, and he will be seeing our vet in a few days to get his baseline testing done and put a plan in place.”
While his future is uncertain, there are plenty of people waiting for Barsik to lose enough weight to be put up for adoption!
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