In Russia, a cat weighing more than 17 kg got stuck in a shoe rack while trying to escape from the Matroskin Animal Protection Center in the city of Perm.
The cat, named Kroshik, was discovered by the center's staff as it attempted to flee from its treatment area. Kroshik is currently on a strict exercise regimen and is maintaining a restricted diet, according to Newsflash.
Photos captured the moment the 17.2 kg cat was wedged between the bars of a shoe rack, wearing a rather sorrowful expression. "Kroshik caused some chaos before trying to escape the center. He didn’t seem too happy when we caught him. He tried to hide his face in a pair of slippers. After being fed, he finally calmed down a little," rehabilitation specialist Ekaterina Bedakova wrote in a social media post on September 11.
According to the center’s staff, Kroshik had previously been regularly fed biscuits and soup, which led to his rapid weight gain, making him too heavy to walk properly.
Veterinary experts say that most domestic cats should maintain a weight of around 4.5 kg. "Kroshik is an extremely rare case where the owner's love for the cat led to overfeeding," explained a spokesperson for the Matroskin Animal Protection Center in Perm.
Kroshik is now being supported in his efforts to return to a normal weight. He is following a special diet and regularly exercises on a treadmill or swims to ease pressure on his joints. The staff even shaved part of his belly fur to help dry him off more easily after his workouts.
Veterinarians predict that Kroshik will lose 50 to 70 grams per week. Additionally, Bedakova believes that Kroshik’s escape attempt is a positive sign, as it shows he’s becoming more active.
