[Vision2020] Caturday (January 19, 2013)

Sat Jan 19 06:06:20 PST 2013

Courtesy of Mail Online (London, England) at:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2263604/Tiny-obese-kitty-loses-HALF-body-weight-finds-new-home.html?printingPage=true

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Now that's something to purr about! Tiny the (very) fat cat loses HALF his body weight and finds a new home

Tiny started out at 30.2lbs - about three times the size of average cat
He was put on strict calorie-controlled diet
Lost half his body weight, now clocking in at 16lbs
Adopted by foster parent Nancy Garon
Tiny the formerly obese cat has a lot to purr about these days.

Not only has he lost half his body weight, the orphaned feline has found a new home.

The pudgy pet was dumped outside the Fredericton SPCA in New Brunswick, Canada, just over a year ago weighing a whopping 30lbs.

But, after sticking to a strict diet, the ironically-named feline is now fit and healthy and has been officially adopted by foster parent, Nancy Garon.

Garon even threw an adoption party for Tiny on Saturday, dressing the noticeably more slender cat in a sparkly bow tie.

'It was a nice way to celebrate all the work, dedication and time that went into Tiny,' LeeAnn Haggerty, the director of education at the shelter.

'She's really bonded with him and it's nice for everyone to know that he'll be doing well in Nancy's care.'

The animal has a penchant or bow ties, which are made by some of the many volunteers who have tracked his weight loss progress on Facebook.

Donations and sales of Tiny's Ties have already raised $10,000 for the Fredericton SPCA, Today reported.

Tiny now ways 16 pounds and the weight loss has transformed his life.

'As soon as he lost the first six pounds you could start to see the changes,' Haggerty said. 

To not be able to groom yourself must've been pretty frustrating. When he walked, he used to take a few steps, but now he runs all over the place. He is a very playful cat.'

In August, the cat had lost more than 10 pounds, weighing in at 19.1lbs. Haggerty said back then that it had taken a lot of hard work to bring Tiny's weight down to that point.

'When he came to the shelter, we knew this weight was a medical emergency, really that obesity in pets can be fatal; his weight was quite a concern,' she told CBS News.

Tiny, who at that point was about three times the size of an average house cat, was taken to Dr Nicole Jewett at Valley Veterinary Hospital, who created a special calorie-controlled weight-loss plan for him at a foster home.

The drastic weight loss has been accompanied by a significant improvement in Tiny’s appearance and well-being, according to his veterinarian.

When the pet first arrived at the center, his coat and eyes were dull, and he could only make a few steps at a time before he would have to lie down. 

Thanks to his new svelte physique, however, Tiny has become more playful and active.  

'He runs, he plays — it's amazing,' Haggerty said.

Another fringe benefit that came as a result of Tiny's impressive slim-down is popularity.

Fans send in fabric to the SPCA, which they use to make the signature Tiny ties and sell them on the site Etsy.com to raise medical funds for animals.

According to Haggerty, about 40-60 per cent of North American pets are overweight, and in cats, it can lead to diabetes, arthritis, organ issues and even death.

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Fat cat: When Tiny arrived at the Fredericton SPCA, he weighed in at 30.2lbs, or about three times the size of an average house cat 

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New life: Tiny, pictured, the formerly obese cat has found a new home after losing half his body weight

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Festive feline: Tiny, pictured, over the holidays is far more active now he's dropped the weight

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Seeya round town, Moscow, because . . .

"Moscow Cares"
http://www.MoscowCares.com

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

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