A new blog about tubby tabbies has feline fanciers roaring — some with laughter, others with outrage.
FatCatLover.blogspot.com — a k a F@K@Lover — collects captioned kitty pics of portly pusses. It’s the brainchild of Erik Riesenberg, who launched the site in December. Riesenberg was inspired, he says, by “the curvy cuteness” of his “big-boned” cat Violet, who weighs in at a whopping 16 pounds. Riesenberg’s other cat, Bailey, is a relatively svelte 14 pounds, despite eating the same type and amount of food.
Well, almost: “Violet does have a tendency to finish off the meals that Bailey leaves behind,” Riesenberg admits. “She also begs for food whenever anyone is eating, and sometimes she gets her way.”
In just over one month, FatCatLover has attracted a loyal cyber following. “Last month, celebrity blogger Perez Hilton tweeted about the site, calling it ‘kinda amazing,’ and actress Amanda Bynes retweeted it,” Riesenberg reports proudly.
But not everyone is a fan. Among the negative comments was this: “You may think this is cute, but you should be ashamed of yourself, and I hope you get diabetes!”
Diabetes is just one of several serious health risks faced by fat felines, cautions veterinarian Al Townshend.
“Obesity can cause liver disease, heart disease, diabetes, digestive issues, skin problems, pancreas problems and lower urinary tract problems,” says Townshend. “All of those reduce the quality and length of a pet’s life.”
Townshend says some studies estimate that nearly half the cats in North America are overweight.
In addition to providing cats with plenty of exercise and play options, owners should read pet-food ingredient labels carefully, avoiding grains and corn, which pack on pounds. Look for low-calorie formulas, such as Wellness Healthy Weight, containing L-Carnitine, the heart-healthy amino acid that helps metabolize fat.
“Many overweight cats have arthritis because they’re carrying around so much weight,” Dr. Towns-hend explains, so Fluffy’s food should also contain the joint-lubricating supplements glucosamine and chondroitin, to help stiff-limbed pets move around more comfortably. When dispensing between-meal snacks, select low-calorie ones such as Pure Delights, which are soft and palatable yet contain a scant 1.2 calories per treat.
But Riesenberg, who feeds his cats fattening Fancy Feast, is unfazed by naysayers. “The blog kind of sparks a conversation,” he says. “If it can help people talk about it, great, but we won’t take sides.”
petreporter1@gmail.com