From a different article:

The world's heaviest cat was 47 pounds, according to Guinness World Records, but the competition stopped awarding the fattest animals in fear that owners would begin to overfeed their pets in order to become a record-holder, the Examiner reported.

Poor Meow, I hope he is able to lose a lot of that weight and regain his healthy and mobility. I know his owner probably loved him, but love and food are not the same thing.