Former fat cat takes the cake

A FAT feline who was so large he could not even fit through his cat flap was yesterday named joint winner of Pet Slimmer of the Year.

Mischief, a black and white moggy from Stevenage, lost 38% of his bodyweight over 40 weeks to be handed the title at an event in central London.

Owner Sharon Harding, 35, said she did not realise how unhealthy the six-year-old had been until she took him to see a vet who was horrified at his size.

Sharon, who lives with retired parents Richard and Beryl and four other cats said: “He was the only fat one. The other ones were normal. He must have been eating all the food.”

Mischief, now a slimline 6.3kgs (just under a stone), yesterday posed beside a pile of butter representing the five kilograms (11lbs) he had lost.

Sharon said: “Mischief couldn’t fit through the cat flap, he couldn’t jump onto the bed or even wash himself.

“We now have a tree-climbing cat.

“I couldn’t be happier or prouder.

“He still borders on the lazy, but now he moves more than he did.”

Yesterday’s other winner was Max, a three-year-old collie-Labrador who once weighed in at a gigantic 55kgs (8st 9lbs).

He lost 40% of his bodyweight in the space of 24 weeks. He slimmed down to a much more manageable 33kgs (5st 3lbs).

Owner Maggs Gray, who lives on a small farm in the village of Milnathort in Tayside, bought him from an animal shelter.

She said: “He was so fat. He needed an energetic owner and a new home.

“He was grossly overweight and he couldn’t even do much exercise. He would just waddle about.”

Yesterday, Max was a picture of health as he bounded about in St James’s Park during a photo call for the awards.

Maggs said: “He is naturally energetic. He just needed the opportunity to exercise. He was a slim dog in a fat body.”

The awards were presented by Julian Bennett, presenter of TV’s Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, with help from his mini dachshund, Lulu.

The prize, in its 12th year, was sponsored by Hill’s Pet Nutrition. The winners were given a year’s supply of pet food, £500 (€700) worth of pet accessories and £2,000 (€3000) in holiday vouchers.