Owen looks very happy and healthy, to be sure, and according to his owner, his personality could not be improved upon.
However, in regard to his weight, even if he is a cat with "big bones" or whatever, he should lose weight gradually so that he will not develop diabetes later on in life. THAT IS NOT FUNNY!
I own a short haired domestic black and white male, age 5, who ballooned up to 19 pounds by the time he was 4 years old.
My vet recommended weight loss over a two year period. After one year of eating Medical REDUCING DIET he now weighs in at 17 pounds. The final goal is 15 pounds, since he is a very big cat, taller and longer than most domestic cats. (Heavens knows who his parents were!!! He started out as a skinny runt, closely resembling an alien judging by the size of his ears!!!LOL)
I recently moved and now have a new vet who congratulated me on Picasso's weight loss!! (I felt SO proud!!!) He told me that diabetes is almost a certainty for obese cats and that if I persevere with the weight loss regime, my cat will be more than likely to live longer and healthier...that is all I needed to hear and we are going for a svelte 15 pound kitty lover by the middle of 2003!! Just my input and I hope it helps....regards from Deborah in Montreal.