Minnie was brought to the Peterborough Humane Society a month ago after she was found wandering nearby someone’s home. Her rescuers could tell that she’d likely been dumped after being severely neglected — because of her size.
Minnie weighed 27 pounds when she was rescued, making her the chunkiest cat many of her new friends had ever seen. Her coat was matted and dirty in spots because she was too big to groom herself properly. She had trouble moving around, too, and was obviously very uncomfortable.
“Ideally, we would like to see Minnie around 15 to 17 pounds,” Heidi Wilkins, manager of community and shelter services at Peterborough Humane Society, told The Dodo. “When it comes to weight loss in cats, it’s a slow and steady process.”
In the meantime, Minnie is settling into life at the shelter and hoping to woo potential adopters with her personality and charm.
“Minnie is a bit shy at first, but she comes out of her shell rather quickly when you go in to greet her,” Wilkins said. “Considering she must feel very uncomfortable at her size, she’s quite easygoing and enjoys the company of everyone she meets. She’s also quite playful, which is very helpful in her weight loss journey.”
Minnie doesn’t seem to realize exactly how big she is and doesn’t let her size get in the way of enjoying herself. Some people can’t help but laugh at how ridiculous Minnie looks at times, which her friends at the shelter totally understand. They also try to remind people that while Minnie is definitely cute, she’ll be a whole lot cuter once she’s totally comfortable in her own fur — something her forever family will need to be aware of and on board with.
“Minnie would do well in a quieter home with a family who is dedicated to her specific needs,” Wilkins said. “She is on a metabolic diet and will require regular check-ups with a veterinarian and does require daily grooming to help her with her hygiene needs. She will not be able to jump high or escape from other animals or small children who might chase her, so a home with either another chill and cat-friendly senior animal or older children would be ideal.”
When she’s not working on her weight loss journey, Minnie just wants a home with lots of sunspots to lounge in, with a loving family who can help her maintain a healthy lifestyle.
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Source: The Wall Street Journal
