Overweight Russian Cat Was Unable to Walk at 38 Pounds when Rescued from a Hospital Basement
Feline obesity is a thing. In fact, it is the most common nutritional disease affecting cats. So, when a homeless cat was over-fed by well-meaning hospital staff, the Maine Coon tabby puffed up to 38 pounds, weighing as much as a 4-year-old human child!
Crumbs, the overweight cat, weighed more than twice the average adult female Maine Coon.
The abandoned cat in the Russian city of Perm had taken shelter at a hospital where the staff expressed love and affection by offering snacks. She was named “Kroshik,” Russian for “crumbs,” and unlike other stray cats, she sure wasn’t starving.
An adult Maine Coon should consume between 24 and 35 calories per 500 g of body weight to remain healthy and active. Unfortunately, Crumbs was excessively fed on a diet of cookies and soup to the point where she was weighing more than twice the average adult female Maine Coon (12 to 15 pounds).
While a chubby, overweight cat looks cute and fluffy, like humans, they are at risk for many health issues, including diabetes, hypertension, joint degradation, and arthritis. It also restricts their ability to move around.
Crumbs, too, was unable to walk when she was rescued by animal refuge workers and taken to the Matroskin shelter in the city. As per the shelter’s first Instagram post on Crumbs, dated 30 August 2024, vets at the shelter struggled to perform a successful ultrasound because the layer of fat beneath her skin was too thick.
Obese cats are more affectionate towards their owners once they start eating healthy and lose weight.
When pet owners start equating love to feeding, they can go overboard with treats and tidbits, especially with a nagging cat in tow. Overfeeding not only puts the cat at an increased health risk but may also negatively affect their relationship with the caretaker.
A study by Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine on 58 obese cats found that overweight cats displayed increased affection for their owners after eight weeks of diet and weight loss.
At the shelter, Crumbs is loved but not overfed. She is on a very restricted diet to help the stray lose 150 grams of body weight each week. As she slowly regains mobility, her caretakers will gradually introduce exercise into her routine. For now, she is put on an underwater treadmill for hydrotherapy.
