The giant Russian feline weighed an astonishing 17kg and was too big to walk
A Russian cat said to be the world’s fattest has died just weeks after being put on a strict diet in a rehabilitation center. The weight loss efforts of the feline, named ‘Kroshik’, were followed by fans from all around the world.
The giant cat was rescued from the basement of a hospital in the eastern Russian city of Perm in early September. It was taken to a local veterinary care center, where it was placed on a strict low-fat diet. The cat, which was set to turn 14 years old, had been reportedly overfed by hospital staff to such an extent that it couldn’t walk.
Kroshik, which translates as ‘Crumbs’, made headlines around the world as it embarked on a strict diet, having tipping the scales at a staggering 17kg.
The weight loss program was aimed at helping Kroshik lose excess fluid and increase physical activity, vets told the local media. Despite efforts from vets and shedding some 3kg, the cat passed away on Sunday.
“The most terrible night in my life. The night when Kroshik died,” veterinary shelter head Galya More wrote on social media. “If someone had told me a couple of days ago that Kroshik would die, I would never have believed it. I still don’t fully believe it, the thought seems so… unthinkable.”
Kroshik’s case appears to be unprecedented in Russia, and prompted vets to consult with foreign colleagues who have experience in the rehabilitation of overweight animals. According to vets, the cat began to choke on Friday, causing alarm.
“Until that moment, the vets had never noticed signs of shortness of breath in him. We acted immediately – in half an hour Kroshik was already in the oxygen chamber.”
However, the feline’s condition began to deteriorate rapidly and even resuscitation efforts could not help. Vets said the cat had “multiple growths in the spleen and metastases in other internal organs,” although the exact cause of death has yet to be determined.
