Fat cat taking swimming lessons to help lose weight

By Adam Dutton via SWNS

A fat cat that weighs more than double his healthy size has been thrown in at the deep end in a mission to lose weight – by swimming.

Moses, who weighs as much as a French bulldog, has started the unusual hydrotherapy sessions in a bid to slim down.

The nine-year-old cat piled on the pounds after refusing to go outside or exercise despite his owner putting him on countless diets.

The podgy puss is now undergoing swimming lessons as Linnaeus-owned Avonvale Veterinary Centre in Wellesbourne, Warks.

Staff say that his weight loss mission is going swimmingly as he aims to shed his bulk.

Olivia Stokes, veterinary hydrotherapist, said: “When he first came to us, Moses was nearly 10kg in weight.

“His owner said he had been on diets and been encouraged to exercise before but had still not able to lose weight.

“So, we decided to try a different approach with hydrotherapy. It’s a very unusual approach in caring for cats.

“I have been in the industry for five years and a qualified hydrotherapist for almost two years and I have never experienced hydro with a cat before, so Moses was a first for me.

“That is because cats don't usually like water and, sure enough, on his first taster session Moses was not impressed at all.

“He needed a lot of encouragement as he resisted the treatment.

“At the start, I tried gradually increasing the water level for him, like we would for a dog, but this wasn’t well tolerated.

“I also tried all sorts of cat treats but he wasn't interested in them for long either.

“So, then I ran the treadmill dry with no water to just get him used to walking.

“I then added water and found lowering him into the treadmill worked best.

“Fast forward down the line and Moses now sits in the tank as I increase the water level, then knows exactly what to do.

“Once he has been walking for 13 minutes, I then lift him up, raise the water level further, and swim him for a couple of minutes to give him a full body workout.”

Moses is now starting to shape up and as well as losing weight he is toning his muscles and is far more active and livelier at home.

Olivia added: “When Moses was at his heaviest, he was 9.7kg. At his last weigh-in, he was 9.1kg.

“That’s a loss in body weight of almost four percent in about six weeks, which is perfect as we don't want to lose the weight too quickly.

“The important thing is that his body shape is clearly changing as he loses the fat and
builds back muscle.

“He is also a lot more active at home and generally feeling much better in himself.

“I am very proud of Moses’ progression; he’s even walking with the incline on the treadmill now.”

Moses’ owner Jenna Joshi, a clinical nursing manager at Avonvale, is thrilled with her pet’s progress.

Jenna, from Banbury, Oxon., said: “Moses has always been a big cat but had gained a lot of weight over the last three years.

“I’d been keeping him on a strict diet but this didn’t help at all. He just was not interested in going outside, exercising or playing with toys.

“I asked my colleagues whether we could try hydrotherapy to help with his mobility and, hopefully, help him lose some weight.

“I could see a difference almost straight away. After his first hydro session, he came through the cat flap, which he hadn’t done in a long time.

“We are still having regular weight checks, still doing hydrotherapy and making good progress.

“It was difficult at first but now he doesn’t complain and knows exactly what he needs to do when he goes for his sessions.”