NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – A cat that tops the scale at 31 pounds, twice the weight of an average feline, has been ordered to lose weight by veterinarians.
The Cat Shoppe’s Penny Adams rescued Buddah from Metro Animal Control after his previous owner gave him up.
"All I know is there was a death in the family and the owner wasn't able to care for him anymore," Adams said.
Buddah, who is kept in a round pen inside Adams' shop, spends most of the day lounging around picking at his cat food.
"Our vet believes he was on people food. And we believe it too because when we were eating our lunch here the other day he went bonkers...,” Adams said. "We know he likes pasta because that's what we had for lunch here and he wanted some of that."
A veterinarian gave Buddah a clean bill of health, but did say that if he does not lose weight, he might not be around very long.
"To me, it's neglect to let a cat get this large,” Adams said. “Of course everybody likes a good fat cat story, and it's a little comical to see. But in the end, it's his health and we want what's best for him."
Once he gets a doctor's ok, Buddah will go on a strict diet of cat food and exercise by hitting a kitty treadmill. The goal is to lose 12 pounds, a whopping one third of his body weight.
Adams and other volunteers are accepting donations to help pay for Buddha's medical treatment. They hope that he will weigh 19 pounds and be ready for adoption in about a year.
