Spudgies story!

West Towne Veterinary Center and its boarding/foster center Bug’s Cat Gym in Madison Wisconsin has a long history of helping overweight cats getting fitter in 15 years of its “Fit Pets for Rescues” programs. When Spudgie a 37# cat arrived, he launched weight management  challenges to another level! Spoiler alert he is now 12# and living his “best life”!

Spudgie was a foster from the Dane County Humane Society who came to Bug's Cat Gym in Madison, WI in June of 2021. Spudgie  was  rescued from a household where one of the primary caregivers had cancer and was unable to  adequately attend  to his needs. He was just 2# less than the world's heaviest cat at the time according to the Guiness Book of World Records. Dr Lambrecht has been Medical Director of Fits Pets for Rescues supervising hundreds of cats & dogs to ideal weight but never a pet 309% of their ideal weight!

Physical examination revealed a morbidly obese cat (BCS 9+ /9) MCS -no wasting, who was  unable to groom himself and had severe seborrhea sicca. He was alert & very friendly  but unable to walk for more than a few feet. A minimum data base was performed including a ProBNP and all was WNL.

Dr Lambrecht has served on the Pet Nutrition Alliance (PNA) and American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition (AAVN)  boards so immediately consulted with 3 boarded veterinary nutrition colleagues whose warnings were that cats of this size were prone to sudden death along with the typical comorbidities of hepatic lipidosis, OA, DM. Given the time estimated (2.5 years) to get Spudgie to ideal weight using the research based  0.75% average weekly weight loss (AWWL) a goal of 1.5% AWWL was chosen and Purina OM because of its high protein level and as a purpose fed Rx food high in micronutrients for the extended time it would take Spudgie to get to ideal weight. Protein was the major macronutrient and choline was the major micronutrient of concern.

Drs Hadar & Lambrecht had just co-authored a study on weight management in multiple cat households and launched an app/dashboard based on that study In June 2021 the same month Spudgie arrived. The app was used to record all food intake and the platform to measure the average rate of weekly weight loss (AWWL) and SurePet microchip feeders were used as Spudgie shared Bug’s Cat Gym main area with Aspen, a geriatirc cat with lymphoma. The HPC body weight scale can handle up to 44#  and is low and stable and Spudgie quickly learned how to weigh himself! 

We used the PNA calculator to establish his starting Calories (0.8 RER) and decreased that amount  by 10% whenever AWWL fell below 1%.   He lost an at an AWWL of 1.03%  in the first 12 months going from 37# to 17#  and 0.87% going from 37# to his ideal weight of 12# over 18 months. Solensia was started on 6/20/23  when he began to become more mobile. No noticeable effects were observed after 3 injections so it was discontinued. Skin turgor, coat quality etc improved slowly over course of his weight loss and is now 100% back to a shiny, healthy coat with no extra skin whatsoever. 

Here is an article the Dane County Humane Society wrote about his amazing 25# weight loss journey.  https://www.giveshelter.org/news/new-year-new-cat-weight-resolutions
HPC/WTVC  donated over $500 to DCHS In Spudgie’s name as part of its mission to give back to rescues. Dr Ken officially adopted him in June 2023 having fallen in love with his fun loving nature and to ensure he will always maintain his current vitality. He now lives with the WTVC team downstairs and shares his loveable nature & demeanor. We tell his story daily to clients to inspire and motivate them.

Spudgie is now “coaching” Patches who started on the HPC platform in March 2023 at an astounding 42#  (no typos!) Patches was rescued in Richmond Virginia. Biggie, a 44# cat from Ottawa just joined HPC in “Spudgies BIG Cat Club” and will be “coached” in the 12th annual Fit Pets & Vets for Rescues fundraiser/contest which kicks off March 30, 2024 after a 4 year COVID lapse.
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Suffice it to say extreme outliers like Spudgie need an intense amount of staff time and morbid obesity (and obesity of any level) should be prevented. Calorie counts, strict measuring & weighing, the right food along with technology and lots of pet parent and DVM education are all crucial! The teams at WTVC, HPC & FPR are here to help “move the needle” on pet obesity.