If you’ve ever joked that “I wish I could be a cat, because then I can eat everything I want, and the fatter I get, the cuter people will think I am. Oh well, maybe in my next life.” It’s no secret that people love overweight cats, chubby boys, and complete units of cuteness.
However, it must also be said that being overweight is not good for any animal and being overweight puts a lot of strain on their health, just like it does for humans. Today, within the spirit of round boys, we are going to share with you the story of Wilford.
Meet Wilford, the Round Boy Who Will Steal Your Heart
Wilford is a big-pound cat with a huge personality. Too bad his caretakers couldn’t take care of him anymore and had to abandon him at the shelter. When he arrived he weighed 30 kilos, his hair was spread everywhere, and he was dirty, scared and very stressed. Any change is very difficult for a cat, but living in a cat and dog shelter without a home and carers must have been almost as difficult for him.
Luckily Jen and Ian from Pokey Pot Pie were willing to foster him and they took Wilford with them. Jen and Ian are experienced at fostering cats, they have been doing this for years and they have a 95% success rate in terms of finding homes for foster cats. And if you wonder what happened to the other 5% – don’t worry, they found a home too. They just stayed there to stay with Jen and Ian.
But speaking of Wilford again, as soon as he arrived at Pokey Pot Pie he became very cumbersome. Even though he is a big boy who loves to eat – he refused to eat for the first week there. It is common for cats to not eat during times of stress, and while you might think this is a great element for Wilford – think again. Losing weight too fast and being under regular stress is very bad for his health.
Jane and Ian had to take him to the doctor several times in the first few weeks so the vet could tell them how to make Wilford less stressed and more interested in food. They tried anti-nausea medication and appetite stimulants, and they tried 15 different types of cat food until they finally managed to get him to eat something. Along with the vet visits they did all the blood tests on Wilford or even X-rays to find out if there was anything else wrong with him other than just plain obesity.
It turned out that Wilford also had bronchial asthma and at the time he had a mild case of an upper respiratory infection. They gave him medication for the infection and Wilford needs to have an inhaler twice a day for his asthma. His movements are also very limited due to his extra weight and he can’t clean himself completely, so they bathe him several times a week to keep him clean. He also had to have some hair cut off as he was very dishevelled and hard to brush.
Wilford has been doing much better lately. He is eating diet food, he is losing weight (now 28 kg) he is very calm and comfortable with the house and other cats and he is also showing his playful side. He loves playing with feather toys and uses the stairs when it is time to eat.
Jane and Ian are trying to find him a forever home and are interviewing qualified caregivers for Wilford, however, the process is not easy. Wilford needs a lot of care and a lot of attention. He needs his medications every day, he needs to exercise, and he needs to continue to lose weight slowly, otherwise, it will be bad for his liver. We’re hoping Wilford finds his permanent home soon, and in the meantime, you’ll be able to follow his adventures on Instagram.