Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Competition recognition for city former fat cat
A FORMERLY dangerously overweight moggy from Dundee has been named runner-up in a national pet slimming competition after losing 12% of his bodyweight in just six months.
Entei once tipped the scales at a whopping 1st 2lb, making him 44% over his ideal weight and putting him at high risk of serious health problems and a shortened life span.
But the fat-busting feline wowed judges from vet charity PDSA with his weight loss during Pet Fit Club 2016 and is now a much healthier 1st.
Entei had been spoiled by a previous owner before being adopted by Andy Edwards. Andy, 48, said: “When I first got him, the vets were very concerned that he was too fat to survive an operation if he needed one. But now he’s lost some weight, he’s healthier and a lot stronger.
“We still have a little way to go to his ideal weight but we’re edging closer. He’s so much livelier, which is fantastic.
“We don’t let him outside because he is deaf, so exercising is a struggle. We’ve been putting small amounts of food in different places about the house to encourage him to move around.”
Each year, PDSA helps the UK’s podgiest pets embark on a strict six-month diet and exercise programme, specially tailored and overseen by the charity’s vets and nurses. Pet Fit Club helps get them back into shape and creates awareness of the serious issue of obesity, which affects millions of household pets.
Entei’s weight loss has been supervised by PDSA vet Fiona McLeod from Dundee PDSA Pet Hospital.
She said: “Entei has done amazingly well on Pet Fit Club. Andy has been very dedicated and worked extremely hard to help change Entei’s lifestyle for the better.
“They have stuck to the diet and they’re now seeing the rewards for all of their hard work.”