Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/fat-shelter-cat-lasagna/

Many people have put on a couple extra pounds during the pandemic. Our collective weight gain has even inspired its own moniker: “the Quarantine 15.”

But humans aren’t the only animals prone to packing on extra pounds in times of stress. A Philadelphia animal shelter encountered an abandoned cat so chonky staff decided to name her Lasagna.

Nobody knows what Lasagna’s circumstances were like before she wound up at ACCT Philly, but one day rescuers found the fat cat stuffed in a dog crate outside their Philadelphia location. When they moved the abandoned cat inside for processing, they discovered she tipped the scales at a whopping 29.5 pounds.

“Meet Lasagna! Lasagna was abandoned and took the quarantine 15 a bit too seriously,” ACCT Philly wrote on Facebook. “She just arrived and is looking for a foster or an adopter who can help her lose weight. No more lasagnas for this girl!”

Like most chunky cats, Lasagna looks pretty cute with a couple of extra pounds. But obesity poses huge health risks for cats, just like it does their human counterparts. Not only will Lasagna’s excess pounds open the door to future health issues, her hefty weight complicates her ability to walk and groom herself. This is why shelter staff is urgently seeking a foster or adoptive family committed to helping this big girl trim down.

“She’s unfortunately very overweight, which can create a lot of medical issues, so we are hoping to find her a wonderful home that can help her lose the weight,” shelter communications director Sarah Barnett told ABC6 News. “She’s very sweet, but she really does need to find a home that can help her lose the weight so she can be a healthy and happy cat.”

Keep tabs on Lasagna’s progress by following ACCT Philly on Facebook!

Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog