PDSA Pet Fit Club
For the first time ever, a cat has been crowned UK slimming champion in PDSA’s annual Pet Fit Club competition.
PDSA’s new pet slimming ambassador, Edinburgh cat Amber (12) beat her fellow heavyweight finalists - five dogs and three cats - to scoop first place by shedding an impressive 17% of her bodyweight.
PDSA on The One Show - BBC1
You can now watch the PDSA Pet Fit Club winner announced on BBC1's 'The One Show'
WINNER – Cat, Amber (12) from Edinburgh
Amber’s vital stats:
At the start of the diet back in September 2009, Amber weighed over 7kg - making her 62% overweight. To date she has lost 1.23kg, which may not sound a lot for the winner of the competition, but taking into account her vital statistics she has topped the board for overall percentage weight-loss at 17%.
Amber was nominated for the fat fighting competition by her owner Penny Faulkner (26), who re-homed the already porky puss in July 2009. Penny is delighted at Amber’s progress: “The PDSA vets and nurses have been great. They have really helped me to understand what Amber’s nutritional and exercise needs are and the results speak for themselves. You can see a real difference in Amber’s shape - she no longer waddles when she walks. I’ve also noticed she’s sleeping less and seems more interested in playing. She can also jump over fences now.
SECOND PLACE - Cat, Socrates (5), Newcastle
Socs’ vital stats:
‘Socs’ was the biggest cat to ever take part in the competition. But today he has a new lease of life. At the start of his diet Socs weighed a whopping 10.1kg - making him more than double his ideal body weight and 124% overweight. At the end of the competition, he has lost 1.5kg, an impressive 14% of his body weight.
Owner Bill Duncan (52), from North Shields, is hoping to help him reach his absolute ideal weight of 4.5kg, within the next 18 months.
Bill says: “Before Pet Fit Club Socs struggled just to groom himself properly, he had no interest in his toys or exercising and spent most of his time cat-napping. Now, he’s like a different cat. He can groom himself and reach places he couldn't before - as a result his coat is in superb condition, he has loads of energy and loves playing with his cat-toys.”
Bill feels that the competition has been a positive experience and has made Socs a much happier and more affectionate cat: “The most important thing I’ve learned is that a pet’s life is severely compromised by obesity, but you can make a change if you want to. The whole process has been a real education and very worthwhile.”
JOINT THIRD PLACE: Labrador, Tara, Edinburgh and Manchester Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Sasha.
Tara’s vital stats:
At her heaviest Tara weighed a whopping 42kg - making her 66% overweight. At the end of the competition, she has lost 4.3kg, an impressive 11% of her body weight.
Her owner, Linda Smith (43) from West Lothian, is hoping to help her reach her absolute ideal weight of 25kg, within a year.
Sasha’s vital stats:
At her heaviest, Sasha weighed 25kg - making her 47% overweight. At the end of the competition, she has lost nearly 3kg, an impressive 11% of her body weight.
Her owner, Margaret Dunbaven (20) is hoping to help her reach her absolute ideal weight of 17kg, within a year.
Runners up
- London cat Chumlie Bear (10) lost 7% of his body-weight
- Romford Jack Russell Terrier cross, Scamp (10) also lost 7% of his body-weight
- Southampton Border Collie/Labrador cross, Bessie (8) lost 6% of her body-weight
- London Labrador Sandy (13) lost 6% of his body-weight.
