Posted: April 29, 2008 2 a.m. EDT
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| Alice the cat has lost 6 pounds. |
The caretakers of an 8-year-old cat with a severe weight problem report that the domestic shorthair, named Alice, has started to shed a few pounds as a result of a feeding program designed to help her reach a healthy weight.
Alice was taken in by the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals when her owners could no longer care for her.
Alice the cat weighed 26 pounds and was not able to groom herself because the excess weight made it extremely difficult for her to move, said Amy Karls, DVM, a practice development veterinarian at Hill’s Pet Nutrition. After the cat started to eat the prescription diet food recommended by Karls, her weight went down to 20 pounds.
Her caregivers at the animal shelter say they are excited to see the progress. Jacqueline Rose of the RISPCA said that the cat gets up to greet visitors and walks around more to visit shelter staff in their offices. She says Alice the cat is the center of attention, and she is even “a little bit spoiled.”
An initial goal was set to get the cat’s weight down to 15 or 16 pounds, to be reached in 11 to 12 weeks. For more information and photos of Alice, visit the animal shelter staff’s blog.