Cats are undeniably one of our favorite animals. From the tiniest smol meows to the largest floofs, there’s something for everyone. The ‘Illegally Big Cats’ subreddit, a community of roughly 13k feline-loving Redditors, is home to the latter. Strangely, the moderators of r/illegallybigcats point out that the internet group isn’t intended for puppy images. And that has us wondering why someone would upload dog pictures in a cat-only community. In this post, Gidypet has gathered some of the biggest cats and their lovely images from the thread for you to enjoy, so go ahead and brighten your day by diving headfirst into this pile of cats.
However, much as we like chonky cats, being overweight has a significant negative impact on their health. So, while we may want to admire these cats and squeeze them tight, we also want them to live their best lives. And that means assisting them in maintaining their health (more on that soon!). However, bear in mind that some cat breeds, such as Maine Coons, are naturally larger without being obese.
To learn more about how much weight impacts a cat’s health, PDSA Vet Nurse Nina Downing was invited to guide us on the issue.
(h/t: boredpanda)
#1 Big boy
“It’s important to remember that when a cat is overweight the excess pounds puts additional strain on the normal functioning of the body,” Vet Nurse Downing explained. “The same may be true for some larger breeds of cat, especially amongst the pedigrees, where gene pools can be smaller.”
#2 Magnas the great
#3 Whether cats or dogs, big or small, the human lap will always be their favorite place to sit
She also noted that breeds such as Maine Coons can suffer from heart disease or other breed health conditions that they inherited from previous generations.
“It’s vital that if your cat may have underlying health conditions, you do everything possible to keep them healthy so the condition isn’t made worse or brought forward early on in life. You can achieve this by feeding your cat the right amount of a good quality complete food, encouraging them to exercise, so that your cat can maintain a healthy lifestyle. The additional strain of any excess weight on top of underlying health conditions will only worsen things.”
#4 Help! He is growing up way too fast
#5 Einstein has quite the mittens!
Downing claimed that obese cats might have higher chances of having health problems. It’s the same for them as it is for us. “As with us, carrying excess weight puts extra strain on joints, makes organs work harder, and can interfere with the normal functioning of the body”.
#6 That’s a very big cat
#7 Big cats of the world…leopard, lion, tiger, cheetah, fuzzy the Maine Coon
“Overweight cats are at risk of developing diabetes, bladder problems, including painful blocked bladders, liver disease, arthritis, breathing problems, and even cancer. As well as these directly associated conditions, it’s worth remembering that once your cat’s health begins to deteriorate additional problems can start to develop as their body weakens.”
#8 Illegally fluffy
#9 Big boy
Being overweight affects cats’ lives more than we can imagine: they are less active, sleeps more, and soon loses their curious instinct. Downing gave a reminder to owners about keeping an eye on our tabbies’’ behaviors: “Although cats naturally sleep a lot, when they’re awake they should be alert and active—cats are athletic and agile creatures, so disinterest in life is an unnatural behavior for them to develop.”
#10 This cat is huge!!!
#11 Illegally big boy Ajax
The foremost reason why cats are overweight is their owners overfeed them on a regular basis. According to Downing, overfeeding is the result of the emotional attachment between the owner and the cat. “Our nurturing nature for those we love can be expressed in many ways, including in the form of wanting to feed our loved ones, and it’s no different with our pets.”
#12 Thought this belonged here
#13 “Does my winter coat make me look chonk?”
Reflecting on her experiences from working in weight clinics, Downing stated that many owners overfeed their rescue cats to make up for the maltreatment they underwent at their previous home. Owners also feed their cats since they continuously begging for food and their human parents can’t stand seeing them upset.
#14 Buba
#15 Ok
“These are both very understandable emotional responses. However, we need to change our mindset so that we don’t see food as the only way to express our love. Our pets of course need to be fed, but it’s important to understand that feeding is to meet the nutritional requirements for your pets’ good health and wellbeing.”
#16 Meet Zach and Marty
#17 He may be huge, but fat Jack is one suave lookin
Downing continued: “By overfeeding pets, we are actually harming their health and shortening their lives. It’s important to recognize as well that many owners don’t even realize that their pet is carrying too much weight. We can become blind to our pets’ physical shape, as we see them every day.”
#18 Cute and chonky
#19 Handsome boy is getting big!!
Instead of constantly feeding them and spoil them with treats, there are other ways to express our affection for them. “Spend time to research a suitable food for your cat and weigh it out with scales each day to make sure you’re feeding the correct amount. You can also make your cat work for their food by sharing their daily food allowance into different bowls and placing around the house, or using puzzle feeders,” she said.
#20 Play mates
#21 He needed a plus size cat tree even
“But remember, time, play, and activity are gifts that enrich our pets’ lives just as much as food does. By playing with our cats, we can keep their mind sharp and their body active, as well as the benefit they gain from the time we are spending with them. This will help them stay healthy and avoid any health problems associated with weight gain from developing. If owners can replace the treats and extra food with more playtime and snuggles, this is a much healthier way to show them how much you love them.”
Additional expert advice about caring for your felines can be supported by visiting the PDSA’s website.
#22 He weighs about 25 lbs and has paws almost as big as human hands!
#23 Chip exploring outside!
#24 Big floofy rescue boy!
The ‘Illegally Big Cats’ subreddit makes it clear that the forum is for cats that are “somewhat big (or fat),” but not “morbidly obese.” To put it another way, the community is more interested in demonstrating how beautiful these floofs may seem despite their chubbiness rather than in glorifying their obesity. The only exception here is if they’re on a diet.”
#25 He has the cutest face
#26 Oh lawd
#27 The largest cat in NYC, and possibly the world, 28 lbs
#28 He’s huge and lazy but when treats are involved, this big guy’ll do anything
#29 Was caught during grooming sesh
#30 Little sleeping tiger (8 kg)
#31 Better than 10 stars hotel
#32 Maine coon (Marijke, or meep for short) has been walked around in this pouch since she was a tiny kitten
#33 30% fat 70% cuteness
#34 This cat do be thicc tho
#35 “Charlie fats” backed into a corner
