New Mexico Fat Cat Weighs Whopping 40 Pounds!

Published April 23, 2012

Meow, Fat Cat from Facebook

Meow, fat cat, gained fame after tipping the scales at a whopping 40 pounds.

Weighing in at 40 pounds, there’s no denying that Meow is one fat cat.

After his 87-year-old owner could no longer take care of him, two-year-old Meow was turned over to an animal shelter in southeast New Mexico that, after seeing the massive Meow, called the animal shelter in the capital of Santa Fe for help, reports the Huffington Post.

Just how Meow was able to gain 40 pounds in a mere two years remains a mystery to workers at the Santa Fe Animal Shelter, but the gain is certainly astonishing knowing that adult cats typically weigh between seven and 12 pounds.

Meow has since been placed with a foster family where he will be put on a special diet to stimulate weight loss with the goal of losing at least 10 pounds before he is put up for adoption.

Meow: Fat Cat, but not the Fattest

Although Meow is morbidly obese—his weight at 40 pounds can be equated to a human weighing 600 pounds—he is remarkably not the fattest cat around!

That record belongs to Himmy, a cat from Australia weighing in at a whopping 47 pounds!

The Guinness Book of World Records has stopped accepting applications for the record, however, as they fear it may encourage people to overfeed their animals putting the animals’ lives at stake since such obesity is conducive to severe health problems.

Meow: Fat Cat Hoping for a Healthier Life

In that vein, the shelter is awaiting the results of Meow’s blood work to determine whether the cute chubby cat possesses any additional health problems stemming from the obesity.

Like humans, obese felines face extra pressure on the heart and joints making it tough and painful for them to move and exercise, said shelter veterinarian Jennifer Steketee.

Yet, Meow’s team of helpers at the shelter are confident in the fat cat’s eventual weight loss and believe that his sweet demeanor and overall cuteness will certainly catch the eye of a loving companion.

What do you think about Meow’s story? Check out the video below and don’t forget to share your thoughts in a comment.

See video

Update: Since this story was reported, Meow the fat cat has passed on, according to those caring for him. Our hearts remain heavy with grief for our heavy feline friend.

Author's profile photo
Amanda Kelly

Amanda Kelly is an Editorial Intern for Digital Works @ NBCU.

She currently attends Iona…

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Comments (26)

J. (Unverified)
ANIMAL ABUSE, although maybe the owner had psychological problems and somehow never realized what was happening, nor how and what to feed a cat.;(
Joan Block (Unverified)
The real story about Meow the obese kitty. http://www.catster.com/the-scoop/setting-the-facts-straight-about-meow-the-39-pound-cat
Leiah Sariell (Unverified)
This is unbelievable, how somebody can give that much food for a cat; this is not nice at all. Cats should eat cat foods which are balanced and don't do that for cats. Happened in my home:I lost many cats for ilnesses in a short time but I was mourning so much I didn't notice that I gave the same amount food for the rest of them. I noticed by naked eye: "how all the cats have much more weight". Then I thought the food and put the amount of food into the balance they really need and plus dry food. Soon they were looking like they should look like. This cat has not many days left because he has had too much food and putting him on diet takes too long time because you cannot do it at once. I know how hard it is to not give yammies for a cat which ask for it, but still it's the same here than with people, he has to loose weight or he will die because of many possible illnesses.
Anonymous (Unverified)
Wow that was really difficult to read. Let me translate: This is unbelieveable how someone can give that much food to a cat, it's not nice at all. Cats should be fed a cat food with a balanced diet in it. You should not feed them anything else. I once experienced this firsthand in my home, I had lost many cats due to illness' in a short period of time. I was mourning over my recent loss, and I did not notice that I was overfeeding my other cats. I woke up one day and noticed that many of my cats had put on a good amount of weight. So I changed their diet to a more balanced one. Soon, my cats were losing weight and went back to a normal healthy weight. I fear that this cat's lifespan has been cut short because of his former owner giving him too much food. Cats take forever to diet because you have to do it gradually over time, and I fear this one may be running out of time. I know it is hard to not give cats treats when they beg for it, but it's the same with humans. You have to lose weight or die from related illnesses.
Anonymous (Unverified)
It saddens me to see such a beautiful kitty with such a potentially health threatening condition. I don't think pointing a finger at an 87 year old owner is right, but one has to wonder why this person didn't take Meow to the vet when his weight started to get out of control. I guess we don't know what was going on in his old owner's life, but this person shouldn't be allowed to own pets.
Sandy Duff (Unverified)
I feel sorry for the owner. Don't be too quick to judge... I have a dog that gained 20 lbs between age 2 and 3. The vet lectured me on overfeeding him,and put him on a diet.(I had honestly NOT increased his food intake!) so... he didn't lose. I was blamed for 'too many treats". Long story short, he had the lowest thyroid level that the Univ. of MI had ever seen in a dog. On thyroid meds, he is a healthy weight now.
Gayle (Unverified)
Is he still in need of a home? I live in Illinois, but would definitively be interested in him.