NEW YORK, January 31. /ITAR-TASS/. American veterinarians are trying to save an unusually obese cat called Meatball. The animal can hardly walk. The 16-kilogram cat was given to a shelter for homeless animals in Arizona, local media reported.
Doctors have not yet found the cause of the cat’s obesity, whether he ate too much human food instead of pet food or has some hormonal disruptions. Meatball lived with different families, but people gave him up because of his weight. The cat became so heavy it was hard to find a cage for him at the shelter. He is kept separately from other animals, and sleeps right on the floor in one of the administrative rooms.
Meatball is not allowed to leave the shelter. Veterinarians think the cat should lose some weight first. They are looking for a specialized animal clinic to treat him. Meatball has already been put on a healthy diet because if he does not lose weight he might encounter serious health problems.