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Free feeding animals is one of my pet peeves. Yes, most people work out of the home and must supply food for their beloved animals while they are gone. So they fill a dish with dry kibble, overflowing because they don’t want their baby to go hungry, right?! WRONG! If you must leave dry food out, limit the amount. Animals do not have the mental fortitude to know when to stop gorging. Their natural instincts can take over and they must eat all the food before another takes it! And they don’t know when enough is enough. And that is how you get a 31 pound cat.
Photo: https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/
A 31 pound cat who is considered morbidly obese. And surrendered to a shelter because he is now too much to care for.
That is what happened to sweet Shadow in Ontario, Canada. The 6 year old grey feline has grown to such a massive size, his owners were forced to give him up. They had to face the fact that they could no longer care for him. 
Because now, at his weight, the everyday activities of a healthy house cat elude him.
Shadow doesn’t want to play.
Screenshot: https://www.youtube.com/CHCHNews
He doesn’t like to get any exercise by running because he physically can’t do it.
Screenshot: https://www.youtube.com/CHCHNews
And yes, we can all be mad and name call and point out everything done wrong. But that’s not what’s going to help Shadow. They did the ONE THING that WILL help him and that’s giving him a chance. A chance to find a home that can provide the care and attention that he will need to face his next challenge. 
Because for a 31 pound cat, losing the weight is going to take a long time with a dedicated caregiver.
Screenshot: https://www.youtube.com/CHCHNews
He may be almost 3 times the size of a normal, healthy feline, but that weight is going to come off very slowly. You know how that last 10 pounds for humans is the hardest part to lose when dieting? That’s basically what ANY weight loss for a cat is like. And for Shadow, he IS medically considered morbidly obese.
Photo: https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/
The staff at the Lincoln County Humane Society and Kevin Strooband have willingly accepted the mission to find him the perfect humans. Shadow is the largest cat that Strooband has ever worked with. He was initially concerned with how to even pick up the over-stuffed feline.
Screenshot: https://www.youtube.com/CHCHNews
Shadow can’t be held for long because the pressure on his stomach hurts him. I can’t imagine how scary it is for a cat who can’t twist and turn to fall on their feet if dropped. And fat wouldn’t just “cushion” the fall.
Yet, even with his girth, he apparently escaped unseen from his room at the shelter one day! #ninjacat
Screenshot: https://www.youtube.com/CHCHNews
They have now received more than 30 applications from adopters for the full figured feline.
But they will need to ensure that his new human servant will stick to a strict diet and exercise routine to lose the weight.
It is possible to do though. If you remember Bronson, he was a 33 pound cat adopted on 4/24/18 at 33lbs (15kg). His humans, and more than 264 THOUSANDS followers on Instagram have followed his journey to a slimmer weigh-in on 10/24/20 of 18.72lbs (8.5kg)!
Photo: Facebook@IAmBronsonCat
So whoever ends up getting to love all this fluff and fur will have a massive undertaking ahead of them. But Shadow seems to be full of sweetness and I’m betting will make sure every ounce that he loses, is replaced with love and devotion.
Photo: CH News reporter Kelly Bothelo with Shadow
REMEMBER: RESCUED IS THE BEST BREED AND ADOPT, DON’T SHOP!
Related Story: Bronson, the 33-Pound Polydactyl Cat, Finds Purrfect Adopters To Help Document His Weight Loss!
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