Kitty fatties roll into fitness program

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Animal Humane New Mexico has a huge cat problem on their hands, literally, after too many obese cats surrendered by owners are forcing the shelter to adapt a room fit for fat cats.

Photos: Cat Fat Camp>>

Animal Humane said they have eight cats that all came in obese. The shelter’s spokesperson Dawn Glass said each one was surrendered by their owners. The biggest one was dropped off just 10 days ago.

“Our biggest cat right now is Gibson," Glass said.  "When he came in he was 30 pounds."

Glass said that's the equivalent of a man weighing more than 300 pounds.

The shelter blames some of the former cat owners for the obesity problem.

Glass said one former owner told cat caretakers that their cat loved chomping on pizza topped with ranch dressing. Dawn said another former owner said their feline would only eat cat food mixed with mayonnaise.

But as soon as they enter the shelter they are automatically enrolled in the Feline Fit Club.

“It is Weight Watchers to the extreme in this room," Glass said.  "We have very monitored amounts of food that each cat is eating."

But what's a healthy diet without exercise?

Glass said special volunteers try to get the cats active as possible.

It is a lot easier for those reaching their goal weight. Big Bubba, who has already lost four pounds, is somewhat stimulated, but it is still a challenged to get him off of his seat.

Then there are others that were even less interested, choosing to nap the afternoon away.

However, on weigh-in day everyone participates. No matter how painful looking at the numbers might be.

“Just like when a human becomes morbidly obese, a cats health degenerates very quickly,” Glass said.

Trainers hope these cats are on the fast track to adoption.

Glass said anyone who wants to adopt the fat cats will get a special rate and some special diet cat food to take home.

Additional information is available on the Animal Humane New Mexico website.