A 14-year-old ginger cat named Kroshik from the Russian city of Perm has become unable to walk after its weight ballooned to a whopping 38 pounds due to being overfed.
Kroshik became a viral topic among local social spaces after pictures of the morbidly obese feline were shared on the Russian social media platform VKontakte, by volunteers at the Matroskin Animal Shelter in Perm.
According reports, the Matroskin staff noted that Kroshik was rescued from a local hospital whose staff contacted them after the 14-year-old feline lost his ability to walk due to his weight and age.
It’s understood that Kroshik had been living in the hospital basement for years, hunting rodents and enjoying food from humans at the facility, however in the last few years, his weight had gradually grown to the point he couldn’t stand on his four legs.
Noticing the health risks to the animal, nurses at the hospital called the animal shelter.
According to reports, The Matroskin Animal Shelter described Kroshik’s case as an example of too much love.
Referred to as the hospital’s unofficial mascot, the adored animal was constantly fed by staff around the clock, eventually abandoning his appetite for chasing rats.
The cat has since been placed on a strict program with doctors estimating that he will begin losing between 85 to 170 grams per week on his way to a normal weight.