Cats, like any other animal, can become overweight due to overfeeding, lack of exercise, or simply genetics. It can shorten a cat’s lifespan and increase the risk of developing diseases.
The patches arrived in the care of Richmond Animal Care and Control at a staggering 40.3 pounds. Less than a day after he arrived, the shelter posted a photo of this adorable cat on Facebook. Soon after, Patches was assigned a new owner, who promised to give him a special diet and exercise regimen. To get Patches’ cage out of the building, his new mom, Kay Ford, had to enlist the help of a second person.
Ford promised to give Patches a social media account so his fans can keep up with his weight loss journey, so if you’re interested, follow along. The journey of the patches.
More information: Facebook | Facebook
Meet Patches, a 40.3-pound cat looking for a new home
Image credits: RACC shelter
bored panda reached out to Kay, the current owner, to learn more about this story from her perspective. We were wondering how Kay met Patches. She shared: “My daughter texted me the RACC post about patches. I moved quickly, knowing there would be tremendous interest in him. My email received a response about an hour later inviting me for a meet and greet. I sat down with him and I knew if they chose me, I could help him and give him the best home of his life! So they said yes! I had 2 concerns though, would my other cat Wellesley be okay with this? He was after a few days, and if they chose me, I was!
Patches had been residing at the Richmond Animal Care and Control shelter in Virginia.
Image credits: RACC shelter
Image credits: RACC shelter
Image credits: RACC shelter
Fortunately, after a photo of Patches went viral, he was soon adopted.
Image credits: RACC shelter
Patches now lives with two other pets in the home, another cat and a dog. We wanted to know how Patches was received in the family. Kay wrote: “Bella, a 13-year-old Yorkie, was undeterred and was happy to welcome a new way of life. She loves everyone and everything! Wellesley hissed and kept his distance for a few days, then he started to cheer up, then he agreed, and now they’re friends!
Image credits: The journey of the patches
Image credits: The journey of the patches
While we all love a “chunky” cat, it’s important to note that Patches’ excess weight wasn’t healthy for him.
Image credits: The journey of the patches
Since Patches needs to lose excess weight, we asked Kay to share her weight loss plan. “**DISCLAIMER: Patches’ plan is most likely not the same plan that his vet would recommend for his fur baby. Consult with your veterinarian about your pet’s specific needs and do not use the Patches plan without consulting with your vet,” Kay said.
Image credits: The journey of the patches
Image credits: The journey of the patches
As a result, you have been placed on a special diet and exercise regimen to help you lose those extra pounds.
Image credits: The journey of the patches
Kay wrote a detailed plan for Patches: “Food – To my surprise, Dr. Meaghan (Wellesley Animal Hospital) did not put Patches on prescribed food. That may change depending on how successful we are with normal food. I received a list of 4 good quality canned food brands and varieties to choose from to integrate into your diet. We’re going on a wet food diet. No sauce (if humans ate sauce with every meal, we wouldn’t be in a very good collective shape, same goes for cats). The broth is fine, no sauce. At the RACC he enjoyed the shreds but not the pâté. I am integrating a little bit at a time of pate with its shreds and reducing the shreds as the pate increases. Cats are notorious for not getting enough hydration from their water bowl alone, so wet food is a must. He loves his kibble, so I am reducing that amount and I’ve been ok, as we reduced the amount of kibble, to get to a point where he only has a little sprinkled on his wet food. I will not share or reveal marks as we have not yet landed on the one that he has fully taken over. He is NOT a voracious eater. No vacuum eater is Patches! So he eats a little at a time several times during the day.
“Exercise: Patches is a cat, and no cat I know will accept a ‘routine’ of exercise. We play… dedicated game for 10 minutes at a time about 4 times a day minimum. Further? All the best. Walking is a strain on your joints. We want him to walk, but I don’t force him. He moves around and plays with Wellesley (who provides a great source of exercise through play) a lot more at night, my ‘little’ night owl. A wonderful Facebook follower has donated a cat wheel. We are delighted. He won’t be up to the task for a while, but in the meantime, I bet Wellesley will be a master at it, as his zoomies are legendary! Another wonderful Facebook follower sent in a large inclined cat scratching post, complete with catnip that got Patches’ full attention at 3:30am this morning. We are very, very grateful for the generosity.”
“I’ll go into more detail on what’s next later, but a company approached Patches with a cat scale and the support of an electronic weight and nutrition app. A blessing that Patches doesn’t experience the stress of going to and from Richmond every week for the weigh-in. I can’t wait to go into more detail on this once everything is set up and in place.”
“So, there you have it… That’s our plan. It could change, but it’s the starting line. Of course, I will reveal his weight every week.”
Image credits: The journey of the patches
If you’re interested in following Patches’ progress, its new owner, Kay Ford, has created a Facebook page that you can follow.
Image credits: The journey of the patches
Kay decided to share her Patches weight loss journey with others by creating a Facebook page. We asked Kay what inspired her to do it. She shared: “People needed to be informed of her progress. I knew they would be grateful to know that I was okay. It has become so much more.”
We wish Patches all the best in his weight loss journey and hope he continues to receive the love and attention he deserves.
Image credits: The journey of the patches
And lastly, Kay added: “I ask that you support your local animal shelter in any way that you can. They need our support. The beautiful creatures they nurture and protect need our support. They only know how to love unconditionally. I don’t know of anywhere else you can find THAT precious gift!”
Image credits: The journey of the patches
Image credits: The journey of the patches
May your story serve as a reminder to all pet owners to put the health and well-being of their pets first.
Image credits: The journey of the patches