Volunteers helping 30-pound obese cats groom, and exercise to promote weight loss

With several morbidly obese cats recently being brought to the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL), the organization’s staff and volunteers have dedicated themselves to helping these 30-pound cats in any way possible to help them lose weight and find the forever homes they deserve.

Maleficent came to ARL weighing more than 30 pounds.

To put this into context, a typical healthy weight for a cat is approximately 10 pounds!

For Maleficent, a 3-year-old female cat, and King, a 7-year-old male cat, both exceeded 30 pounds upon arrival at ARL, and given their condition, they were unable to groom themselves, leading to painful mats in their fur, and were relatively immobile.

Following their initial veterinary exams, both cats needed a dietary plan to lessen their caloric intake, and as we all know, the key to weight loss is to get up and get moving.

ARL staff and volunteers have dedicated themselves to spending ample time with these cats during the day, helping them groom so they will remain comfortable, and getting them out of their kennels for playtime and exercise.

To date, the cats are both responding well, they have come out of their shells and are starting to show their sweet and playful sides, and have both lost several pounds over the past month or so.

King came into ARL weighing 33 pounds.

Despite the progress, both cats will need to be in homes with families that are committed to helping the cats continue their weight loss journey and help them in any way possible.

Like humans, excessive weight gain for animals can be extremely detrimental to their overall health and well-being.

Health risks for obese animals include diabetes, high blood pressure, renal disease, and respiratory disease, among others.

Both King and Maleficent are currently unavailable for adoption as ARL wants the animals to achieve a healthier weight before finding their forever homes.

Volunteering at ARL

ARL volunteers are the lifeblood of the organization, performing many tasks to help ARL achieve its mission to be an unwavering champion for animals every day of the year.

In 2022, 1,100 volunteers donated nearly 118,000 hours to help animals in need, the equivalent of 57 full-time staff members!

If you have a passion for animals, consider volunteering at ARL.