Meet the UK’s fattest pets battling it out to become the ‘biggest loser’

11 May 2017

This year’s fat fighters include a rabbit with a serious carrot habit, a cat so big it got stuck in the cat flap and a pint-sized Pug who dines on chicken nuggets.

Together the line-up of porky pets – which includes three dogs, three cats and a giant rabbit – weigh a staggering 18st 7lb (118kg). That’s more than heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (113kg), and they need to lose a total of 7 stone (42.55kg).

The Pets

Alfie (Middlesbrough)

Weighing in at a whopping 4st 10lbs (30kg), six-year-old bulging Beagle Alfie has eaten his way to become 67% overweight.

Alfie’s owner, Emily Simcox (25), adopted him four years ago. His previous owner’s busy lifestyle, and young children, meant they found it difficult to take him on walks and give him the time and attention he needed to be fit and healthy. A taste for corned beef and Sunday dinners, as well as chips from the takeaway, has meant his waistline has continued to expand over the years.

Alfie needs to lose nearly 2st (12kg) to reach his ideal weight.

Barnaby (Derby)

Tipping the scales at 1st 4lb (8.1kg), 10-year-old Barnaby the cat is around 65% overweight.

The porky puss is so big he snapped his cat carrier and his owners, Deborah Bull and Dave Cardus, are now forced to take him on a cat harness whenever he needs to visit the vet.

Deborah admits they have spoiled their ‘fur baby’ rotten ever since adopting him from a rehoming centre in 2011. Every morning he wakes to find a bounty of food and goodies in his bowl, including cat food, biscuits, a fresh bowl of creamy milk and leftovers.

Barnaby needs to lose half a stone (3.2kg) to reach his ideal weight.

Lola (Derby)

Weighing over a stone (7.4kg), bulging bunny Lola rabbit is around 36% overweight.

Owner Karen Birks (47) says her beloved rabbit’s huge size is due to her husband Gary feeding her too many carrot treats. Her poor diet was compounded over the winter months, when her dislike of the cold weather and rain meant she remained tucked up in her hutch, rather than exercising out in the garden.

Lola needs to lose around 4lb (1.9kg) to reach her ideal weight.

Marshall (Blackpool)

Tipping the scales at 2st 4lbs (14.95kg), Marshall the roly-poly Pug* is a shocking 66% overweight.

Marshall’s owner, Richard Molyneux (34), says he eats anything and everything he can get his paws on - including the fat from steaks, chicken nuggets and leftovers from dinner. Marshall is well known for his huge appetite and even got in a fight with another dog over food and needed veterinary treatment for a bitten ear.

Marshall needs to lose a stone (5.95kg) to reach his ideal weight.

Milo (Margate)

The heaviest cat in this year’s line-up of fat fighters, Milo weighs a colossal 1st 12lb (11.8kg) – making him around 97% overweight.

Milo’s owner, Lou Eldridge, says her roly-poly cat has been big ever since he was a kitten. His excessive diet and reluctance to exercise has led him to him pile on the pounds over the years. The only exercise he does is lying on his brother Todd in the garden!

Milo needs to lose nearly a stone (13lb/5.8kg) to reach his ideal weight.

Pumpkin (Aberdeen)

Weighing in at a whopping 1st 8lbs (10.2kg), Pumpkin the cat is so big he once got stuck in the cat flap.

The flabby feline, who is 46% overweight, gets fed three times a day and does virtually no exercise as he hates going outside. His expanding waistline is due to being fed ice cream and crisps.

Pumpkin needs to lose half a stone (3.2kg) to reach his ideal weight.

PDSA Pet Fit Club

Pet Fit Club is an annual six-month diet and exercise programme, tailored and overseen by expert PDSA vets and nurses.

Rebecca Ashman, PDSA Vet, who helped select this year’s Pet Fit Club participants, said: “Pet obesity is a growing issue that affects millions of UK pets. Up to 40% of dogs and cats in the UK are estimated to be overweight or obese, but the true figure is possibly much higher.

Carrying excess weight can have serious health risks and increase the chances of pets suffering from life-limiting and life-threatening diseases including arthritis, diabetes and heart disease.

Professor Alex German, of the University of Liverpool, is an expert on pet obesity and supports this view. He states: “Obesity is the most concerning disease of our time, and can cause a range of illnesses as well as affecting quality of life. Recent research studies show that owners do not realise their pet has obesity, meaning that they are not getting the care they need.”

Rebecca continues: “With the help of PDSA Pet Fit Club, these owners are making the necessary lifestyle changes to help get their pet down to a healthier weight. We will support them every step of the way over the next six months to ensure they succeed.

“Sadly, too many pets are being fed inappropriate, unsuitable diets and not receiving enough exercise. At PDSA we are committed to educating owners on how to keep their pets fit and healthy before the problem gets even worse. If owners are unsure what to feed their pets, or are concerned about their weight, their first port of call should be their vet who will be able to advise on how to lose weight healthily.”

PDSA Pet Fit Club was launched in 2005 and has already helped 78 dogs, 34 cats and 7 rabbits lose a total 68 stone 9lb - equivalent to a grand piano or 192 Chihuahuas.

To help them with their weight loss plan, Pet Fit Club participants will receive free diet pet food for the duration of the competition, courtesy of Dechra. The overall Pet Fit Club Champ, who will be crowned at the end of 2017, will win a year’s free supply of Dechra pet food and a £250 voucher for a pet friendly holiday courtesy of Sykes Cottages.

Pet obesity: The facts**

• 5.7 million pets (3.4 million dogs, 2 million cats and 260,000 rabbits) are fed treats every day. Loving but indulgent owners admit feeding foods such as crisps, cake, cheese, chips and takeaways.
• 3.9 million pets (2.4 million dogs, 1.5 million cats and 30,000 rabbits) are fed table scraps or leftovers as their main meals.
• 1.6 million dogs (17%) aren’t walked daily, some of these are never walked because their owners mistakenly believe that playing in the garden is a suitable substitute.
• 440,000 cats (4% of the population) don’t exercise daily– including running, climbing or playing.
• Up to 40% of dogs and cats are now overweight or obese.

For more information about this year’s pet finalists and to follow their progress visit www.pdsa.org.uk/petfitclub.