Now THAT'S a fat cat!!!

[pitc9]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/07302008...cat_122221.htm

Meet Princess Chunk, a 44-pound hunk of feline flesh, a cat so big that she needs a bathtub for a litter box.

Volunteers at a New Jersey animal shelter are trying to find a new home for the corpulent kitty - a really big home.

PHOTO GALLERY: 44-Pound Fat Cat

PHOTO GALLERY: New York Post Readers' Fat Cats

Officials at the Camden County Animal Shelter in Blackwood say they received the cat Saturday from Animal Control after she was found wandering around outdoors with no ID tags.

As hard as it is to fathom, volunteers think her owner might have lost her, which is as difficult a possibility to imagine as, well, as a 44-pound cat.

"I mean, how do you lose a 44-pound cat?" said shelter volunteer Deborah Wright.

Wright told the Camden Courier Post that volunteers named the cat Captain Chunk until they realized it was a girl.

It was probably hard to tell.

Usually when people talk about fat cats in New Jersey, they are talking about members of the state legislature. Or extras in a "Sopranos" shoot.

But when this portly pussycat came waddling along, they knew they had something different on their hands.

"She was probably fed table scraps, or may have a thyroid problem," Wright said.

Veterinarians say a healthy cat should weigh between 10 and 12 pounds, and that Princess Chunk's condition could be a combination of bad genetics and way too much Meow Mix.

The largest tabby on record tipped the scales at 46 pounds, 15 ounces. That cat, who lived in Australia, died in the 1980s at about age 10.

The Guinness Book of World Records dropped its category for overweight cats, fearing some fat-head feline owner would jeopardize a pet's health in a bid to break the record.

Wright said she isn't interested in breaking records - or her scale. She'll put Princess Chunk on a diet of low-fat Purina and 1 percent milk, and definitely no lasagna. (Look what that did for Garfield.) Also, Princess will get plenty of cat toys to start exercising.

"I'm about to put a leash on her and walk her," Wright told the paper. "She could pass for a dog."

Princess Chunk's owner, who by now may have been eaten into the poorhouse, has until the end of the week to claim her, after which the cat will be eligible for adoption.

"She's laid-back and friendly," Wright said. "We just hope someone loving will adopt her."

[Karen]

That poor kitty! I know some people think an extra-fat cat is extra cute, but that's just dangerous to her health!

[jennielynn1970]

I wonder what happened to the owner??? I mean, I doubt the cat "zipped" out the door and ran off. Can she even run?? I wonder if the owner was old and passed away, and they tossed the cat out the door? It's just odd to think that a 44lb cat would just be wandering the streets and no one is missing her.

I hope they can get her on a good diet and lose weight gradually. I know Cal and Zach are large boys, but they're not even 1/2 of her weight!

[Taz_Zoee]

I've said it many times on here...I LOVE big kitties. But WOW!! She sure is a cutie though. I'm sorta hoping the owners do not claim her so she can get heathly and go to a home that wouldn't let her get like that again.

[mamaducky]

I can just hear her now: "But really -- I'm just big boned!"

Poor gal -- she weighs almost as much as all THREE of mine put together -- and both of my boys are shopping in the "husky" section as well. I hope that wherever she ends up living, she's able to get to a somewhat healthier size.

[RedHedd]

It's so sad. If they find the owner, they should be charged with animal abuse. That poor kitty. Princess Chunk indeed.

[smokey the elder]

Poor Princess! Sometimes cats just get huge. Most of my cats are a pretty good weight. But my foster Nutmeg, who I had since 4 months, is just a butterball. I never see her eat (she's semi-feral).

[catmandu]

WE HAD A CAT WHO WAS CALLED PUMPKIN ON OUR STREET WHO WEIGHED 38 POUNDS AND SHE WAS A BIG ORANGE CAT WHO WAS OFTEN PUT IN SEASONAL POSES ON HOLIDAY ISSUES OF OUR LOCAL PAPERS , BUT PASSED AWAY AT 5 , WITH HEART AND KIDNEY ISSUES.
SHE WAS SUCH A GOOD CAT , BUT WAS JUST TOO HEAVY.
I HOPE SOMEONE CAN DO SOMETHING WITH THIS POOR CAT, BEFORE ITS TOO LATE.

[Ginger's Mom]

Aside from her overly large size, she is a very pretty cat. Oh Pam...are you looking at this pretty girl?

[Kirsten]

Poor kitty!

And I thought Luna was fat! *sigh*

Kirsten

[momcat]

This poor, sweet kitty was in the Trenton newspapers today and I pray that her foster will get her to a good vet immediately if not sooner. I work for the state with several other animal lovers and Princess was a very hot topic especially after we saw her on the state web page. This adorable kitty deserves only the best of veterinary care and a home that meets PT standards so she can enjoy the happy and HEALTHY life she rightly deserves. Personally, I find myself absolutely furious that her previous owners allowed this to happen! Many prayers are being prayed for Princess to get the veterinary care she needs and there will be no long term health problems.

[Catty1]

I am SO glad this girl was found and she can now start to get healthy!

What a pretty kitty!

I am SO glad the Guinness Book cut out the fat kitty competition. I hope some pet owners smarten up!

[krazyaboutkatz]

This is so sad. I hope that her new diet will help her lose the weight that she needs to lose and that she'll be able to be adopted by a much more responsable pet owner.

[G535]

I was starting to worry about Patrick Henry who has just hit 14 pounds!

[pomtzu]

I just saw Princess Chunk on the Regis & Kelly Show. It seens "she" is a "he" and his name is Powder and he is 7-10 years old - his foster and vet accompanied him to the show. They found that the owner was an elderly lady that was moving and just turned him loose in the streets. SHAME-SHAME-SHAME on her. How could she do that???? Such a beautiful and mellow kitty. People are lining up to adopt him - I'm sure he will be loved and PROPERLY cared for the rest of his life. You go Powder - such a celebrity you are!!!