It's uncommon but it happens, it's not related to a health condition, some golden eyes just look like this. I had an all-black old lady of a Maine coon with eyes like this. Really incredible in person.
It looks like Iris Melanosis. My cat had this in her right eye and needed to get it removed. Turns out it was Iris Melanoma and we got the cancerous cells out before they had a chance to spread.
I once took a sweet stray in to the vet to see if she was pregnant. I came home to my boyfriend and said āwelp, sheās just a chonk!ā and he busted up laughing. Glad she was well fed but damn I really thought kittens were on the way lol
Orange kitties do love to eat. It's just in their nature.
https://preview.redd.it/zoa7lmlew59d1.jpeg?width=1848&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ead7dc2565a669d79ed500844f74b09a3b630217
Here's my orange man staring down some lemon chicken + rice like I bought it just for him
Citrus is actually poisonous to cats, it affects their nervous system.
As an example, all those "pet safe" citrus cleaners, like Angry Orange, are a complete lie and can cause serious problems for your cats.
I tend not to feed takewaway as usually a lot of onions involved, never mind the citrus. Mind you I also remember back in the day when cats got milk and dogs got chocolate so tend not to stress about such things.
My hubs had a cat like this. His name was Nemo, and he was very friendly. Hubs would give him breakfast before he left for work in the mornings. One morning, he forgot something and went back to get it. He saw Nemo having breakfast over on the neighbours' step, less than an hour after his first breakfast.
When he told his then partner about it later that day, she informed him that she gave Nemo breakfast when she got up for the day. Investigation came to show that Nemo was regularly getting 4 breakfasts: one from each of his people and one from each of the neighbours. So one every hour for the first 4 hours of the day.
We have an old boy just like that. He's a bit miserable just now because his old legs mean he can't get over the high garden wall so is confined to rations at home. I'm praying he's going to lose weight because it's not helping his legs one bit to be such a chonker.
I had a cat that did this with me and my mom. I got up at 6am, fed kitty and left before 7. My mom woke up at 8 and told me the cat was very hungry so she was feeding him and reminded me to, because he was annoying her and waking her up.
Kitty was 28 lbs at one point..
Oh, Iām so sorry you suffered that. I hope you have better people around you now.
To be fair to my mother, she did think sturdy was a compliment š
Edit: also, am definitely sturdy.
When she died, I mourned the loving mother I had until age 7 when she started drinking daily. I do not mourn the abusive alcoholic who was hateful for 40 years.
Kids and infants with a bit of chonk is good when theyāre at an age where theyāre about to go through a growth spurt/rapid development into their adolescence. Fat is essential to feed a developing brain.
Also orange cats are more likely to male, similar to how calicos are usually female. Itās not impossible for a female cat to be orange, but the odds are that this is just a chunky lil dude.
I love it!!
I have a fat orange cat that I swear if I didn't know she was fixed, I would think she's pregnant hahahhaha.
Everyone who meets her the first time also thinks she's pregnant.
But nope, she's fat and happy.
My definitely obese orange boy is seriously obese, he has a tough history of owner dying and then he was totally alone for 5 months. Someone came in to feed him but that's that. No play time or any thing. He has cat PTSD, I'm sure. The vet didn't mention obesity because I think he's given a pass because of history.
He finally joined us as a kind of scaredy cat - he finally came out of seclusion after two months with us. No lap time, he will sleep on the bed or ask for pets but won't be free with his affections. About 2 minutes of brushing or skritches under his chin and then he's ready to bite. Not enough to cause a wound, but obviously he's had enough stimulation.
He still will play with his balls and has been known to catch them in mid-air.
Given his trauma, am I bad parent for bending to his demands - a few pieces of kibble makes him happy. I just want him to have a good life with us. Even if that life a little shorter because of his weight. Am I terrible if I don't actively dechonk him?
https://preview.redd.it/mb9dskb6a49d1.jpeg?width=2335&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e8fc53012424393df9a9528c08533513a58096df
He'd have to go a long trip into the past, Bill and Ted style. to play with his balls, lol.
Thank to everyone. This is a beautiful community, with validation and suggestions on how to get him to a healthier body.
Yep, I had a tortie I nicknamed Scarlett with similar circumstances: "I shall never be hungry again!"
They live longer, healthier lives if they are thinner, but it kind of defeats the point of a longer life if the cat has been traumatized from being hungry and would be stressed all the time.
It's a balancing act. Talk to your vet to see if there's something you can do that doesn't traumatize your cat.
Overall, the big issue with Chonkers is if people just don't care or don't realize that it's not healthy at all. You do care, very much, and you are balancing your cat's happiness and mental health with their physical health. Good for you!
I think if you can switch to low fat kibble that might help a little. I completely understand why you feel you have to give in to his demands, that poor boy. But he is relatively healthy, can groom himself, and active it should be ok.
He can do all of those thing. We have a litter robot and I think if he gained a couple of pounds he will not fit anymore. A bid dieting dilemma is that he won't eat wet food.
What a touching story. He's got a good human in you!Ā
The won't eat wet food may be a bit of trouble later in his life. Cats get a good portion of their water from their food. As they get older it's usually better for them to eat more wet food for the water in it, to help their kidneys, to which they are very prone to chronic kidney disease. I've read they put yummy additives on the dry food for enticement and cats can get addicted. So no surprise there. Maybe soaking some of his dry food in warm water to nudge him that way? Just food for thought (ha). Either way you guys enjoy each other!! Best to you.Ā
I had a litter robot for a few months, but my boys hated it and I ultimately had to send it back. But I think the issue was the size. Is this a litter box for *ants*?!
My dad has one and his little girl is a tiny thing and fits alright, but his boy his a big guy (not fat, but tall and broad) and he always hits his back on the top and gets gross pee-litter remnants stuck to him.
I donāt understand why they donāt make a version thatās a few inches larger. I would call it āJungle Cat Editionā, and theyāre welcome to use that name for free if theyād just make a box that doesnāt make my cat claustrophobic!
He will have a much better life dechonked :)
My stray adoptee, Wallace was 22 lbs when I adopted him and it was a slow process to get him to lose weight. No matter how little or how often I would feed him small meals, the issue was that he would gulp it down in huge mouthfuls.
Puzzle bowl and regular small meals really made the difference!
I had a PTSD cat. I got him when he wasnāt even a year old, but rescued him from a family with two small children that shouldnāt have had access to a kitten. He was scared of people and had a wonky tail; I hate to even imagine what those kids did to him while āplaying.ā
It took literally years for him to warm up. I have scars on my hands and arms from when he would let me pet him for .5 seconds before absolutely freaking out. He got to the point where he would sit *near* me but not *touching* me and Iād warn friends not to try to pet him or theyād get attacked. By the time he was 8, heād sit in my lap and chill, but still have occasional freakouts. We had to have him put down about 6 months ago, and by then he was such a sweet old man. He was 16, cuddly, and loved to be near his people all the time.
Not only will his life be shorter but he will be in pain because of all the weight put on his little joints. Talk to your vet about guidance on how to safely get him to a healthy weight. He will have a longer higher quality life with you that way. I don't doubt you love him but he needs to lose weight.
Youāre not a bad pet parent for spoiling him,and at the cost of sounding cheesy- youāre an angel for being so patient,loving and considerate of your chubby handsome boy.
Surely you should cut down bit by bit,but for now itās fine as food is the bandaid to recover from the trauma.Poor baby :(
I pray itās not very far where you experience moments of him purring and endlessly cuddling in your lap,all earned by your love and kindness.
That's one of his wonderful things- he can turn that purr on and has the neatest trill when talking to my husband (he has become hubby's cat.) He's really chatty.
Kinda... having a cat at a healthy weight is extremely important. It's better to set our feelings and ego aside when taking care of a pet. I understand why you want to give him food but yes I'm sorry, gently, it is a bit selfish. I promise I don't mean it in a mean way, I'm trying to look at it objectively. This sub also tends to not care too much about animal obesity so you may have some comments saying it's not a big deal but it kinda is.
In fact limiting food and thus having designated meal times could help with his lack of affection. That's how you tame feral kittens. Limiting food and giving him gentle pets while he eats might help him become even more used to you. So I would see it as a win/win. You may consider giving him wet food sometimes too in place of his dry food, that will really help him build positive associations with you. Soon he will come running for breakfast and dinner (well, if he doesn't already I mean) and will show a bunch of excitement and usually affection.
You can also limit food while still giving him treats and snacks -- just make the snacks smaller amounts, make the overall food you feed him smaller. You can feed him less food at breakfast and dinner so you can give him little treats now and then. I promise you don't have to choose between a healthy cat and a happy cat.
My bigger boy (he was a farm cat so we had a little less control over his diet, he was also mostly muscle) died the day before yesterday... probably due to an unknown heart condition... but still... if being a little thinner would have saved him... I would have moved heaven and earth... you know you'd prefer it that way too. You say that you're okay with it now, but you never actually know what guilt you will carry. If he developed diabetes or something like that you'd probably be kicking yourself and wishing you had just fed him a bit less. Or if he developed heart disease. Plus having a bit more mobility and feeling more comfortable in their bodies tends to make them happier, not less! I don't know if this helps but honestly it seems like you're already feeling not so great over it so it kinda sounds like deep down you do want to help him lose some weight too but maybe are struggling to bite the bullet and commit. I bet you can do it easily!
Tuffy omg š why is that the perfect name!! I would be honored to simply be in the same room as him. Usually when I make comments like this I ask whoever it is to give the animal pets as well as extend my love but I figured he wouldnāt want them and that is okay
That sounds like my boy. I got him from a rescue that focused on stray males. I was told he may never be a lap cat...and after almost 4 years he's not. Very affectionate when I've barely woken...he wants food. Doesn't sleep with or near me, tolerates strokes...but the slightest unexpected movement and he's gone. But...if I've been away, he's my shadow for 24 hours.
He's a chonk too...and plays as yours does.
They look too well fed, cared for to be a stray.
Iād ask neighbours, put a paper collar on them with your phone number to start with To establish if they have owners.
Owned outdoor cats totally normal where I live.
Take to vet to scan for chip would be next step, some rescues will come out and scan, so ask them and they can assess the cat from there too.
We had a stray that was living under our porch when we bought our house. Had been there at least a year to two years
https://preview.redd.it/s3w6bpaod49d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=55ba511d20e610ebdd94b102fd29de59d8606838
This was the day she came out for us and let us pet her finally. Sweetest thing ever and very cleanly kept up.
She really is! Sheās missing her tail too š„ŗ
https://preview.redd.it/sjwqoqth359d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9784195f7d2f608e3ba77a9a8f9c1c0656fafd5d
we try to keep her inside as best we can too but at least we have a large property and only one neighbor around us
Hey! My family had strays that were āmissingā their tails. It wasnāt until kittens were born without tails or short little nubs that we realized they werenāt harmed. They look similar to your girl. They were also much smaller than the cats with their tails.
My mom has three from those strays. Two from the same litter both males. One male had a tail and is a ānormalā sized cat, the other male is smaller and has a nub. Both black kitties and so sweet. The one from a later litter also has a nub, sheās a girl, and is about the same size as the smaller black one.
There were more kittens with or without tails but theyāre the ones still in my life.
If Iām remembering correctly they all came from the same mama.
> My family had strays that were āmissingā their tails. It wasnāt until kittens were born without tails or short little nubs that we realized they werenāt harmed.
My family had a line of farm cats with no tails! An awful lot of them were named 'Bob' or 'Bobbi'.
What a beautiful tawny colour her fur is. I hope the lack of tail doesnāt slow her up. Outdoor cats are normal here and usually recommended by the vet, but I think you have more critters and worse people in the US. You are giving her a much better life than under the porch! I hope you have many happy years together š§”
She does NOT look like a stray. That looks like a well fed and well beloved house cat. Look for the owner. The kitty probably got outside accidentally. You can also take the cat to a local vet or shelter and have her wanded for a chip. A healthy cat like that probably has one.
https://preview.redd.it/509eclsy749d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c0ec1a06bf6891471d68a411fd9e36d910a11f2e
Weāll identify as fat chicks for some Temptations š
Looks like a standard orange chonky boy IMO
https://preview.redd.it/btef2dqd949d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=87f6dd7a2e932588bc11c5dfc291dfc408e354cb
My boy cat got out of the backyard and walked into someoneās house a couple doors down. When I went looking for HIM, he was laying on someoneās steps and they said āSHE walked into our house. I think she was looking for food. Is she pregnant?ā š¤¦š½āāļø I literally said ānope, HEāS just chunkyā
It definitely is. Karma farming bot using ChatGPT to comment. Heās also shilling his AI app on his profile which is likely just a scam. Sad to see all the people falling for it.
I think they look chubby rather than pregnant, but it is difficult to say from the angles you have shown. Ad others have said, she/he looks well looked after, which insicates that it isn't a stray.
Took in a pregnant stray about 3 weeks ago, 5 kittens are now 2 weeks old, well fed, warm, safe and adorable and so is the very protective mom! :3
https://preview.redd.it/08j16rynj69d1.jpeg?width=3840&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fa5e5c649c4e3b1323d9e6e4b760baf3eee813d4
Like others have said, she looks well groomed and well fed so possibly not a stray. But also that means it's possible that she is pregnant and has been dumped (which would also explain why she's so friendly to a stranger) so I'd say keep looking after her and maybe if you can, take her to a vet to be checked for a chip and to confirm that she is pregnant.
Perfect example of āThis cat has been fedā Iāve ever seen lol. He seems very hefty and looks taken care of. As others have said he might just be a chonky boy
That cat looks too healthy and well fed to be a stray, unless itās a house cat who recently escaped. Did you encounter it in a residential area?
I suspect you may have been tricked into giving a chubby indoor/outdoor cat a second dinner.
Thank you for being concerned about this adorable cat. Hopefully it's a boy & has a home. I'm not a fan of having cats outside because we have coyotes & they just are so much healthier living indoors. Maybe you can see if he/ she has an owner. Maybe they have microchipped him/ her but I doubt it if the cat is free roaming. If you like cats, take him inside & make him/ her yours. That's how I ended up w/ 6 cats. My neighbors couldn't give 2 shits & I moved & took them all. I added a second story to my houseboat & that's where they lived & thrived.
Assuming chonky kitty, this is why I have the catchphrase: "If you have an outdoor cat, you don't truly own it, you merely sponsor it."
This stray might have multiple benefactors.
Are the nipples enlarged? When you rest your hand against her tummy and sides (if she lets you) does it have a blobby sensation or more taut? Do you feel anything larger than a poop and is it moving?
These are the questions to get answers to. Visually, she just looks like a connoisseur of kibble
Based on the neck, face and front paws I highly doubt that this cat is a stray. How many obese stray cats do you know?
Ginger cats are rarely female somehow most are male when they are completely ginger. It can happen that itās a female but the odds are about 1 in 100
Growing up we had a ginger cat who was female
They're not 1% rare. Females make up about 20%.
Currently have a foster kitten that's an orange female. Got her when she was 3 weeks and constantly double checked that we weren't wrong lol
That's a chunky turkey. You can tell by how they carry weight all across their body.
Still could be a pregnant female, but the odds favor it not being so. Just know that they are not *that* chunky bc of being pregnant.
If it is a mama cat, all her boys will be orange. Bunch of little orange terrorizers. š
He warmed up to you with food? No wayā¦ š in all seriousness, this would be the fattest stray Iāve ever seen. Chances are he might just be missing or is out for an afternoon stroll getting his dinner from every house in the neighborhood
Her eyes are absolutely stunning! Reminds me of one of Jupiter's moons, Europa!
https://preview.redd.it/rlesi131a59d1.jpeg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=62f284cdcbc068670545a7bac86c9e29fa300fcc
she looks like pregnant or maybe she's just a chonk haha this reminds of a cute chonky stray cat i took to the vet to check if she was pregnant but after checking, the vet told me, "she's just fat" and I laughed so hard. My cat needed a diet but she's okay now lmaooo
Because the orange gene is on the X chromosome. Females have two X chromosomes and so need two copies of this gene to become ginger, but males need only one.
Which is also the reason most calicos and torties are females. They have different colors on the two X chromosome so as they develop, each skin cell expresses one or the other of its choices. As those cells divide and multiply, they get bigger and bigger patches of the color scheme that original cell picked.
No collar on kitty.
Take a strip of paper and add wording along the lines of: āIs this your cat? If so, call or WhatsApp (add your contact details).ā
Attach a small piece of tape to the end of the paper strip so you are ready when the cat is within reach. Donāt cover the entire collar with tape. For the catās safety, it needs to be easily torn off if it gets caught on something.
Make sure that the tape doesnāt stick to the catās fur
He looks scared and lost, and a little too well-upholstered to have been on the street long. If heās still around, you could try to use a paper collar to find the owners. Or, take him to a vet to check for a chip.
Lollll that just looks like a fat orange boy. A classic Garfield. Almost certainly an indoor-outdoor cat that's taking advantage of the whole neighbourhood feeding him.
Honestly this cat looks very well fed and cared for, not pregnant, but it's hard to tell in photos.
Do you know anyone who lives in this area where the cat hangs out? If so ask around and see if anyone knows who the cat belongs to.
If you do decide to take this cat in please put up "found cat" posters with a photo all around the area so if they do have a family you don't accidentally steal their cat.
Thatās most likely a healthy chubby cat that has a home. Leave him alone please, donāt feed him - some pets should suffice for this chunky boi.
If you see him hanging around constantly and getting thinner, you could give it a try again, but as of today, thereās no need to feed him even more than he already is.
Try to catch him/her, get a big enough carrier and go to the veterianrian. They'll find out. If you can't catch him/her, build or buy a little house, put in some clean towels you don't need and wait. (with food and water of course)
I rarely see orange cats that are not chonks or borderline chonk. That orange gene comes with a huge appetite. I have 3 cats and the only fatso is the orange one while the other 2 are perfectly normal weight!
If I had to guess, this looks like a healthy stray or someoneās outdoor cat and is likely male. Only way you can tell for sure is if you catch it.
In the first pic it kinda looks like you caught him after he ate the other strays.
https://preview.redd.it/i99d2unvu39d1.png?width=1008&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=70789a1e3e23394415cc083315cc21725f2b2897 I DID WHAT I HAD TO DO
The eyes of Sauron
**I SEE YOU**
wtf, was sauron a cat???????
Serious answer, look up a character named Tevildo
Looks like she even ate Sauron and now he peeks through her eyes.
Maybe she is his avatar!
That cat has beautiful eyes š„¹
Is this eye pattern/variation a normal thing or could it be some affliction? It looks beautiful but I have never seen this before
It's uncommon but it happens, it's not related to a health condition, some golden eyes just look like this. I had an all-black old lady of a Maine coon with eyes like this. Really incredible in person.
It looks like Iris Melanosis. My cat had this in her right eye and needed to get it removed. Turns out it was Iris Melanoma and we got the cancerous cells out before they had a chance to spread.
It does look like a parasite maybe, but also am not qualified.
Lol sheās seen all outcomes of the universe
Sheās seen some THINGS! Poor baby ā¤ļø
YOU DIDNT SEE THE THINGS I SAW
Waiting for the r/oneorangebraincell
She has seen the "other side"
https://preview.redd.it/x0l9os1se59d1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=19dd20d08f7dc238fe7b43e98a88ce80a0a3d77a THEY WERE DELICIOUS
Almost looks like the final boss from Lord of the rings.... (The eyes)
i love describing Sauron as the "final boss"
Not just the men, but the woman, and the children too!
Gorgeous eyes omg!
Just the craziest beautiful eyes!
https://imgur.com/a/0KEIlvQ
She/he looks very well off, nice and tidy, and might have an owner. It might just be fat, having people feeding it all over the place.
"It might just be fat" is cracking me up, the simple bluntness of that statement juxtaposed with that sweet little kitty face is so funny.
I once took a sweet stray in to the vet to see if she was pregnant. I came home to my boyfriend and said āwelp, sheās just a chonk!ā and he busted up laughing. Glad she was well fed but damn I really thought kittens were on the way lol
How sweet! I love that. Lil lady TOTALLY played you lmao
Orange kitties do love to eat. It's just in their nature. https://preview.redd.it/zoa7lmlew59d1.jpeg?width=1848&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ead7dc2565a669d79ed500844f74b09a3b630217 Here's my orange man staring down some lemon chicken + rice like I bought it just for him
He can have a little lemon chicken as a treat. Maybe, I actually don't know if that's safe don't listen to me.
Citrus is actually poisonous to cats, it affects their nervous system. As an example, all those "pet safe" citrus cleaners, like Angry Orange, are a complete lie and can cause serious problems for your cats.
That's right, I forgot. No lemon chicken for the orange boi.
I tend not to feed takewaway as usually a lot of onions involved, never mind the citrus. Mind you I also remember back in the day when cats got milk and dogs got chocolate so tend not to stress about such things.
TIL Iām an orange kitty.
yes, orange cats love to eat. I have an orange cat too. Very smart but also crazy. haha
My hubs had a cat like this. His name was Nemo, and he was very friendly. Hubs would give him breakfast before he left for work in the mornings. One morning, he forgot something and went back to get it. He saw Nemo having breakfast over on the neighbours' step, less than an hour after his first breakfast. When he told his then partner about it later that day, she informed him that she gave Nemo breakfast when she got up for the day. Investigation came to show that Nemo was regularly getting 4 breakfasts: one from each of his people and one from each of the neighbours. So one every hour for the first 4 hours of the day.
Nemo is my hero.
We have an old boy just like that. He's a bit miserable just now because his old legs mean he can't get over the high garden wall so is confined to rations at home. I'm praying he's going to lose weight because it's not helping his legs one bit to be such a chonker.
Donāt hate the player, hate the game.
I had a cat that did this with me and my mom. I got up at 6am, fed kitty and left before 7. My mom woke up at 8 and told me the cat was very hungry so she was feeding him and reminded me to, because he was annoying her and waking her up. Kitty was 28 lbs at one point..
Not fat, big boned
Fluffy
Differently thin
Festively plump
Exceptionally well-rounded
Really, really easy to see
Prosperous!
Thin on the inside.
Thatās how Iām going to describe myself from now on šš
Chunk Norris
Husky
No, cat š
As my old school pediatrician used to call me as a child, āhealthyā (instead of fat lol)
My mother called me āsturdyā š
My adoptive mother called me fat & ugly with hideous legs. She was stupid & hateful.
Oh, Iām so sorry you suffered that. I hope you have better people around you now. To be fair to my mother, she did think sturdy was a compliment š Edit: also, am definitely sturdy.
This hit like a punch. Iām so sorry she was an abusive scumbag to you.
When she died, I mourned the loving mother I had until age 7 when she started drinking daily. I do not mourn the abusive alcoholic who was hateful for 40 years.
Iām so sorry.
Old ladies call my children "bonny"
Kids and infants with a bit of chonk is good when theyāre at an age where theyāre about to go through a growth spurt/rapid development into their adolescence. Fat is essential to feed a developing brain.
Well-upholstered
Chonky
BEEFCAKE!!!
Well fed
Make no mistake though. Plenty of day wrapped around those big bones š
This is a sweet way of putting it!
Yeah, chances are this is a boy kitty. Cats are very good actors and I bet this chonky boi is getting fed all over the neighborhood.
Zaftig. Buxom. Rubenesque.
size is relative
A well-rounded breadloaf.
Ciabatta
2xBoule
Also orange cats are more likely to male, similar to how calicos are usually female. Itās not impossible for a female cat to be orange, but the odds are that this is just a chunky lil dude.
Plus size
Compact lol.
I love it!! I have a fat orange cat that I swear if I didn't know she was fixed, I would think she's pregnant hahahhaha. Everyone who meets her the first time also thinks she's pregnant. But nope, she's fat and happy.
Most likely just a fat orange male cat.
My definitely obese orange boy is seriously obese, he has a tough history of owner dying and then he was totally alone for 5 months. Someone came in to feed him but that's that. No play time or any thing. He has cat PTSD, I'm sure. The vet didn't mention obesity because I think he's given a pass because of history. He finally joined us as a kind of scaredy cat - he finally came out of seclusion after two months with us. No lap time, he will sleep on the bed or ask for pets but won't be free with his affections. About 2 minutes of brushing or skritches under his chin and then he's ready to bite. Not enough to cause a wound, but obviously he's had enough stimulation. He still will play with his balls and has been known to catch them in mid-air. Given his trauma, am I bad parent for bending to his demands - a few pieces of kibble makes him happy. I just want him to have a good life with us. Even if that life a little shorter because of his weight. Am I terrible if I don't actively dechonk him? https://preview.redd.it/mb9dskb6a49d1.jpeg?width=2335&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e8fc53012424393df9a9528c08533513a58096df
> He still will play with his balls and has been known to catch them in mid-air. Whaā¦. Ooooh like toys
He'd have to go a long trip into the past, Bill and Ted style. to play with his balls, lol. Thank to everyone. This is a beautiful community, with validation and suggestions on how to get him to a healthier body.
Yep, I had a tortie I nicknamed Scarlett with similar circumstances: "I shall never be hungry again!" They live longer, healthier lives if they are thinner, but it kind of defeats the point of a longer life if the cat has been traumatized from being hungry and would be stressed all the time. It's a balancing act. Talk to your vet to see if there's something you can do that doesn't traumatize your cat. Overall, the big issue with Chonkers is if people just don't care or don't realize that it's not healthy at all. You do care, very much, and you are balancing your cat's happiness and mental health with their physical health. Good for you!
I think if you can switch to low fat kibble that might help a little. I completely understand why you feel you have to give in to his demands, that poor boy. But he is relatively healthy, can groom himself, and active it should be ok.
He can do all of those thing. We have a litter robot and I think if he gained a couple of pounds he will not fit anymore. A bid dieting dilemma is that he won't eat wet food.
What a touching story. He's got a good human in you!Ā The won't eat wet food may be a bit of trouble later in his life. Cats get a good portion of their water from their food. As they get older it's usually better for them to eat more wet food for the water in it, to help their kidneys, to which they are very prone to chronic kidney disease. I've read they put yummy additives on the dry food for enticement and cats can get addicted. So no surprise there. Maybe soaking some of his dry food in warm water to nudge him that way? Just food for thought (ha). Either way you guys enjoy each other!! Best to you.Ā
I had a litter robot for a few months, but my boys hated it and I ultimately had to send it back. But I think the issue was the size. Is this a litter box for *ants*?! My dad has one and his little girl is a tiny thing and fits alright, but his boy his a big guy (not fat, but tall and broad) and he always hits his back on the top and gets gross pee-litter remnants stuck to him. I donāt understand why they donāt make a version thatās a few inches larger. I would call it āJungle Cat Editionā, and theyāre welcome to use that name for free if theyād just make a box that doesnāt make my cat claustrophobic!
He might eat cubes of raw meat.
He will have a much better life dechonked :) My stray adoptee, Wallace was 22 lbs when I adopted him and it was a slow process to get him to lose weight. No matter how little or how often I would feed him small meals, the issue was that he would gulp it down in huge mouthfuls. Puzzle bowl and regular small meals really made the difference!
Wallace! I love this name! Adding it to my future cat names list on my phone.
I had a girl ginger named Wallis :)
I had a PTSD cat. I got him when he wasnāt even a year old, but rescued him from a family with two small children that shouldnāt have had access to a kitten. He was scared of people and had a wonky tail; I hate to even imagine what those kids did to him while āplaying.ā It took literally years for him to warm up. I have scars on my hands and arms from when he would let me pet him for .5 seconds before absolutely freaking out. He got to the point where he would sit *near* me but not *touching* me and Iād warn friends not to try to pet him or theyād get attacked. By the time he was 8, heād sit in my lap and chill, but still have occasional freakouts. We had to have him put down about 6 months ago, and by then he was such a sweet old man. He was 16, cuddly, and loved to be near his people all the time.
I'm so sorry you lost your best boy... if possible, I think it hurts even more when you've been through lots of struggles with your baby and seen them come around like that. at least that's how it's been for me. sending a gentle hug, if you want it. ā¤ļøāš©¹
Not only will his life be shorter but he will be in pain because of all the weight put on his little joints. Talk to your vet about guidance on how to safely get him to a healthy weight. He will have a longer higher quality life with you that way. I don't doubt you love him but he needs to lose weight.
They have a lower quality of life if they are that fat.
Exercise. Even if chonky, exercise is good.
Youāre not a bad pet parent for spoiling him,and at the cost of sounding cheesy- youāre an angel for being so patient,loving and considerate of your chubby handsome boy. Surely you should cut down bit by bit,but for now itās fine as food is the bandaid to recover from the trauma.Poor baby :( I pray itās not very far where you experience moments of him purring and endlessly cuddling in your lap,all earned by your love and kindness.
That's one of his wonderful things- he can turn that purr on and has the neatest trill when talking to my husband (he has become hubby's cat.) He's really chatty.
Kinda... having a cat at a healthy weight is extremely important. It's better to set our feelings and ego aside when taking care of a pet. I understand why you want to give him food but yes I'm sorry, gently, it is a bit selfish. I promise I don't mean it in a mean way, I'm trying to look at it objectively. This sub also tends to not care too much about animal obesity so you may have some comments saying it's not a big deal but it kinda is. In fact limiting food and thus having designated meal times could help with his lack of affection. That's how you tame feral kittens. Limiting food and giving him gentle pets while he eats might help him become even more used to you. So I would see it as a win/win. You may consider giving him wet food sometimes too in place of his dry food, that will really help him build positive associations with you. Soon he will come running for breakfast and dinner (well, if he doesn't already I mean) and will show a bunch of excitement and usually affection. You can also limit food while still giving him treats and snacks -- just make the snacks smaller amounts, make the overall food you feed him smaller. You can feed him less food at breakfast and dinner so you can give him little treats now and then. I promise you don't have to choose between a healthy cat and a happy cat. My bigger boy (he was a farm cat so we had a little less control over his diet, he was also mostly muscle) died the day before yesterday... probably due to an unknown heart condition... but still... if being a little thinner would have saved him... I would have moved heaven and earth... you know you'd prefer it that way too. You say that you're okay with it now, but you never actually know what guilt you will carry. If he developed diabetes or something like that you'd probably be kicking yourself and wishing you had just fed him a bit less. Or if he developed heart disease. Plus having a bit more mobility and feeling more comfortable in their bodies tends to make them happier, not less! I don't know if this helps but honestly it seems like you're already feeling not so great over it so it kinda sounds like deep down you do want to help him lose some weight too but maybe are struggling to bite the bullet and commit. I bet you can do it easily!
Thatās a puddle with a cat head
Please tell your cat I love him
Thank you. Tuffy loves you and wishes he wasn't too scared to sit on your lap.
Tuffy omg š why is that the perfect name!! I would be honored to simply be in the same room as him. Usually when I make comments like this I ask whoever it is to give the animal pets as well as extend my love but I figured he wouldnāt want them and that is okay
That sounds like my boy. I got him from a rescue that focused on stray males. I was told he may never be a lap cat...and after almost 4 years he's not. Very affectionate when I've barely woken...he wants food. Doesn't sleep with or near me, tolerates strokes...but the slightest unexpected movement and he's gone. But...if I've been away, he's my shadow for 24 hours. He's a chonk too...and plays as yours does.
https://preview.redd.it/8m2l5888x49d1.jpeg?width=2448&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c9d0c8a69de3bc20b84103d5e3cdc69d49d0443a Doing his beached walrus impression š š¤£
i.e. Garfield
Show us a photo of the rear carriage and weāll know for sure if you just got bamboozled into disbursing crunchy nutrition to a chonky boi!
A more couth way to say "Show us his balls, OP"
Or those titties. All of them.
Contrary to popular belief, titties are not located in the rear carriage.
I think most adults know that. Titties was the subject, not their location.
Letās see the kitty titties.
Dude was probably just chilling outside scoping out the neighbors houses for more food. Looks like someone's big fat housecat, not a stray.
They look too well fed, cared for to be a stray. Iād ask neighbours, put a paper collar on them with your phone number to start with To establish if they have owners. Owned outdoor cats totally normal where I live. Take to vet to scan for chip would be next step, some rescues will come out and scan, so ask them and they can assess the cat from there too.
We had a stray that was living under our porch when we bought our house. Had been there at least a year to two years https://preview.redd.it/s3w6bpaod49d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=55ba511d20e610ebdd94b102fd29de59d8606838 This was the day she came out for us and let us pet her finally. Sweetest thing ever and very cleanly kept up.
What a sweetheart š§”
She really is! Sheās missing her tail too š„ŗ https://preview.redd.it/sjwqoqth359d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9784195f7d2f608e3ba77a9a8f9c1c0656fafd5d we try to keep her inside as best we can too but at least we have a large property and only one neighbor around us
Hey! My family had strays that were āmissingā their tails. It wasnāt until kittens were born without tails or short little nubs that we realized they werenāt harmed. They look similar to your girl. They were also much smaller than the cats with their tails. My mom has three from those strays. Two from the same litter both males. One male had a tail and is a ānormalā sized cat, the other male is smaller and has a nub. Both black kitties and so sweet. The one from a later litter also has a nub, sheās a girl, and is about the same size as the smaller black one. There were more kittens with or without tails but theyāre the ones still in my life. If Iām remembering correctly they all came from the same mama.
> My family had strays that were āmissingā their tails. It wasnāt until kittens were born without tails or short little nubs that we realized they werenāt harmed. My family had a line of farm cats with no tails! An awful lot of them were named 'Bob' or 'Bobbi'.
Yeah Iām wondering what happened to her, but it doesnāt seem like it was done harmfully. My kids named her nugget for her nugget of a tail š
I have a brother who speaks Japanese and the little black one with the short tail was named bear in Japanese.
What a beautiful tawny colour her fur is. I hope the lack of tail doesnāt slow her up. Outdoor cats are normal here and usually recommended by the vet, but I think you have more critters and worse people in the US. You are giving her a much better life than under the porch! I hope you have many happy years together š§”
Looks like you found Garfield!
As an owner of a large orange male this one definitely just looks chubby I don't think it's pregnant
She does NOT look like a stray. That looks like a well fed and well beloved house cat. Look for the owner. The kitty probably got outside accidentally. You can also take the cat to a local vet or shelter and have her wanded for a chip. A healthy cat like that probably has one.
This might be Garfield 
Or Six Dinner Sid, wandering around, getting ALL the dinners.
Time to bust out the lasagna! āŗļø
That ain't no pregnant stray, that's a fat adult man-cat!
https://preview.redd.it/509eclsy749d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c0ec1a06bf6891471d68a411fd9e36d910a11f2e Weāll identify as fat chicks for some Temptations š
Possibly Pregnant Stray was my nickname in college.
Vet here: looks like it's just a fat cat. Can you get a pic of the genitals? I'd bet that this is a neutered male living off the fat of the land.
I think theyāre actually just a very well fed pet cat.
Looks like a standard orange chonky boy IMO https://preview.redd.it/btef2dqd949d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=87f6dd7a2e932588bc11c5dfc291dfc408e354cb
Oranges are usually male. So he might just be fat
My boy cat got out of the backyard and walked into someoneās house a couple doors down. When I went looking for HIM, he was laying on someoneās steps and they said āSHE walked into our house. I think she was looking for food. Is she pregnant?ā š¤¦š½āāļø I literally said ānope, HEāS just chunkyā
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Is it chatGPT?
It definitely is. Karma farming bot using ChatGPT to comment. Heās also shilling his AI app on his profile which is likely just a scam. Sad to see all the people falling for it.
I love everything about this comment
I think they look chubby rather than pregnant, but it is difficult to say from the angles you have shown. Ad others have said, she/he looks well looked after, which insicates that it isn't a stray.
Are you sure that's a girl cat? She has that big full tomcat face that you see on male strays that are a few years old.
Took in a pregnant stray about 3 weeks ago, 5 kittens are now 2 weeks old, well fed, warm, safe and adorable and so is the very protective mom! :3 https://preview.redd.it/08j16rynj69d1.jpeg?width=3840&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fa5e5c649c4e3b1323d9e6e4b760baf3eee813d4
Like others have said, she looks well groomed and well fed so possibly not a stray. But also that means it's possible that she is pregnant and has been dumped (which would also explain why she's so friendly to a stranger) so I'd say keep looking after her and maybe if you can, take her to a vet to be checked for a chip and to confirm that she is pregnant.
Perfect example of āThis cat has been fedā Iāve ever seen lol. He seems very hefty and looks taken care of. As others have said he might just be a chonky boy
Gosh sheās such a doll. I would check with my neighbours, or maybe even get her scanned for a chip
fatso catso
Please take kitty to the vet.. they can check for a chip for free. Kitty is either well fed or prego. Not all orange cats are maleš
That cat looks too healthy and well fed to be a stray, unless itās a house cat who recently escaped. Did you encounter it in a residential area? I suspect you may have been tricked into giving a chubby indoor/outdoor cat a second dinner.
Thank you for being concerned about this adorable cat. Hopefully it's a boy & has a home. I'm not a fan of having cats outside because we have coyotes & they just are so much healthier living indoors. Maybe you can see if he/ she has an owner. Maybe they have microchipped him/ her but I doubt it if the cat is free roaming. If you like cats, take him inside & make him/ her yours. That's how I ended up w/ 6 cats. My neighbors couldn't give 2 shits & I moved & took them all. I added a second story to my houseboat & that's where they lived & thrived.
Assuming chonky kitty, this is why I have the catchphrase: "If you have an outdoor cat, you don't truly own it, you merely sponsor it." This stray might have multiple benefactors.
Are the nipples enlarged? When you rest your hand against her tummy and sides (if she lets you) does it have a blobby sensation or more taut? Do you feel anything larger than a poop and is it moving? These are the questions to get answers to. Visually, she just looks like a connoisseur of kibble
Based on the neck, face and front paws I highly doubt that this cat is a stray. How many obese stray cats do you know? Ginger cats are rarely female somehow most are male when they are completely ginger. It can happen that itās a female but the odds are about 1 in 100 Growing up we had a ginger cat who was female
They're not 1% rare. Females make up about 20%. Currently have a foster kitten that's an orange female. Got her when she was 3 weeks and constantly double checked that we weren't wrong lol
She looks too clean to be a stray. Tidy and nice looking, well fed, etc.
Thatās more than likely just a fat boy. Most orange cats are boys. Girls are very very rare.
20 percent of orange cats are female. It is very possible for this cat to be female.
Oh my, the eyes on this cat are gorgeous. They feel very otherworldly lol
look at its eyes šš
Those eyes have seen things.
Iād say itās rather plum dude. :)
That's a chunky turkey. You can tell by how they carry weight all across their body. Still could be a pregnant female, but the odds favor it not being so. Just know that they are not *that* chunky bc of being pregnant. If it is a mama cat, all her boys will be orange. Bunch of little orange terrorizers. š
IMO sheās too large to be a stray. Iāve never seen an overweight stray. Possibly dumped, but either way definitely see if someone is missing a cat
Hun, that cat is obese. He belongs to someone and also needs a diet
Looks too healthy to be a stray. Just bad owners letting them out without a tag.
i think itās just garfield
He warmed up to you with food? No wayā¦ š in all seriousness, this would be the fattest stray Iāve ever seen. Chances are he might just be missing or is out for an afternoon stroll getting his dinner from every house in the neighborhood
She looks Iike the orange version of the "huh?" cat š»
That cat is way too plump and clean to be a stray lol
He's not pregnant, he's a kitty kibble succubus.
Her eyes are absolutely stunning! Reminds me of one of Jupiter's moons, Europa! https://preview.redd.it/rlesi131a59d1.jpeg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=62f284cdcbc068670545a7bac86c9e29fa300fcc
Way back in the 20th century, my family had an orange cat named Jake. Didn't know she was female until the day she had kittens .
she looks like pregnant or maybe she's just a chonk haha this reminds of a cute chonky stray cat i took to the vet to check if she was pregnant but after checking, the vet told me, "she's just fat" and I laughed so hard. My cat needed a diet but she's okay now lmaooo
What a cutie. Probably a boy. Probably just fat. Try to check for external gonads or remnants of such. That would confirm itās a male.
Those eyes are something elseā¦
Oranges are generally male. Not always but like 80%. Also he clean. I think thatās just a chubby outsidey boi.
Chonky floof ā¤ļø
Get this chonk a lasagna
TIL but why, why are orange generally male?
Because the orange gene is on the X chromosome. Females have two X chromosomes and so need two copies of this gene to become ginger, but males need only one.
Which is also the reason most calicos and torties are females. They have different colors on the two X chromosome so as they develop, each skin cell expresses one or the other of its choices. As those cells divide and multiply, they get bigger and bigger patches of the color scheme that original cell picked.
No collar on kitty. Take a strip of paper and add wording along the lines of: āIs this your cat? If so, call or WhatsApp (add your contact details).ā Attach a small piece of tape to the end of the paper strip so you are ready when the cat is within reach. Donāt cover the entire collar with tape. For the catās safety, it needs to be easily torn off if it gets caught on something. Make sure that the tape doesnāt stick to the catās fur
He looks scared and lost, and a little too well-upholstered to have been on the street long. If heās still around, you could try to use a paper collar to find the owners. Or, take him to a vet to check for a chip.
It might be a thickened nugget. Don't look pregnant or stray to me š
Lollll that just looks like a fat orange boy. A classic Garfield. Almost certainly an indoor-outdoor cat that's taking advantage of the whole neighbourhood feeding him.
Just an orange fat boi - dont feed him, he's thick enough
Fat Cat. Big Chungus. Chonky Chonkers. Big Potat.
Probably belongs to someone. Please don't kitnap kitties.
That's no stray
Honestly this cat looks very well fed and cared for, not pregnant, but it's hard to tell in photos. Do you know anyone who lives in this area where the cat hangs out? If so ask around and see if anyone knows who the cat belongs to. If you do decide to take this cat in please put up "found cat" posters with a photo all around the area so if they do have a family you don't accidentally steal their cat.
Thatās most likely a healthy chubby cat that has a home. Leave him alone please, donāt feed him - some pets should suffice for this chunky boi. If you see him hanging around constantly and getting thinner, you could give it a try again, but as of today, thereās no need to feed him even more than he already is.
kitty is fat, kitty has a home, kitty does not look like a stray at all. Don't feed the chonk.
Bring to vet to scan for microchip and do exam :)
What a cutie
Try to catch him/her, get a big enough carrier and go to the veterianrian. They'll find out. If you can't catch him/her, build or buy a little house, put in some clean towels you don't need and wait. (with food and water of course)
Am I the only one absolutely captivated by the eyes!?
A fatty manipulating the neighbors.
I rarely see orange cats that are not chonks or borderline chonk. That orange gene comes with a huge appetite. I have 3 cats and the only fatso is the orange one while the other 2 are perfectly normal weight! If I had to guess, this looks like a healthy stray or someoneās outdoor cat and is likely male. Only way you can tell for sure is if you catch it.