Casper

Introducing Casper

Sneaky food thief Casper the cat, from Stockbridge, Edinburgh, has been picked to take part in a national pet slimming competition - Pet Fit Club – a six month diet and fitness challenge run by the UK’s leading veterinary charity PDSA.

Weight story

Owner Christine Collins rescued Casper as an underweight, flea-infested kitten from a house overrun with cats. After nursing him back to health, Christine soon noticed that he was always hungry, regardless of what he ate.

Over the years, the pounds piled on, despite Christine trying her hardest to help him lose weight. She put him on many diet regimes over the years, from special food to commissioning a purpose-built outdoor run and she even attempted to walk him on a harness, but sadly without any lasting results.

The Ideal Size for Casper

Bad Habits

Casper lives with fellow feline Cracker, who is the perfect weight for his size, and a super-trim Jack Russell terrier called Timmy, meaning there is always lots of food about for a greedy cat to steal! Christine has now resorted to feeding Cracker on top of the freezer, as Casper is too fat to jump up and steal the food from there. But he still steals the dog biscuits if he gets the opportunity!

Half way update

Sneaky food thief Casper the cat is losing weight through Pet Fit Club but it’s true that a leopard never changes his spots! At the half-way point in the competition, Casper is making excellent progress despite him trying everything he can to get his paws on extra food!

Owner Christine admits it has been a constant battle to stop Casper stealing from her other cat and even her dog! She said: “He’s stuck to the diet food but he is always on the lookout for more food to steal. I keep his food in another room in a bucket and he managed to get in there once and I found him inside the bucket! He was sitting in there when I got home - I don’t how long he’d been there but he looked quite happy with himself.”

The Final Weigh In

Stats

Starting weight: 8.6kg

% overweight: 91%

Ideal weight: 4.5kg

Finishing weight: 6.96kg

Total weight lost: 1.64kg (19%)

Waist decrease: 13cm

Former mega moggy Casper has lost an impressive 19% of his bodyweight during Pet Fit Club, and his waistline has shrunk by a staggering 13cm!

Owner Christine said: “Casper is so much more active now – he runs and jumps, and he loves to play and chase our other cat which he never did before. He’s definitely much happier and will hopefully live to a grand old age now. He can also groom himself properly now, as he struggled before.

“The help I got from PDSA was amazing, I tried dieting him before but I just didn’t know the right portion sizes so never got anywhere. I am so much more aware of what a healthy size for a pet is, and I no longer spoil him with treats.

“Casper is very nearly at his target weight, so we’ll be continuing with the diet. He does still beg and try to steal food, so I have to be on constant alert, but it’s worth it to know he will have a longer happier life. My advice to other owners is to cut out the treats! It contributed a lot to Casper’s weight gain, and don’t fill their bowls if they cry – give them attention instead.”

PDSA Vet Advice

Sean Wensley, PDSA Senior Veterinary Surgeon, said: “Excess pounds can contribute to a number of serious health conditions and, sadly, it does reduce life expectancy. But the good news is that it’s never too late to make positive changes to a pet’s diet and lifestyle.”

PDSA advises that owners always consult their own vet for cat diet and pet exercise advice. Why not visit our pet health video pages for further information too.