The tubby cats fighting flab in the Pet Fit Club
MEET Maverick, a seriously fat cat who hopes to shed the pounds in a contest run by an animal charity.
Maverick ballooned to 1st 8lb after owner Dee Doyle rescued her in Edinburgh. But she has many rivals.
Eight-year-old Fifi weighs 1st 6lb – more than twice her ideal body weight.
But she has cheated diet plans for years by stealing food and charming owner Monica Bottomley’s Bradford neighbours into feeding her.
Fifi Bottomley who weighs 9.3kg
They are among five cats in the final of the Pet Fit Club contest run by the PDSA animal charity.
There are also 11 dogs and two rabbits. All pets will be on a diet for six months with a winner named in September.
Excess pounds can contribute to a number of serious health conditions
Senior PDSA vet Sean Wensley said yesterday: “Excess pounds can contribute to a number of serious health conditions and, sadly, can reduce life expectancy.
But it is never too late to make changes.”
The PDSA says there are six million overweight cats and dogs in the UK.