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FELINE MEDICAL CURIOSITIES: DWARF CATS, GIANT CATS, FAT CATS Copyright 2001 - 2004, Sarah Hartwell Note: Contrary to suggestions on some bulletin boards, the images here are not photoshop. With the exception of those labelled as artist's impressions these are photos of medical conditions.
Giant Cats FAT CATS There is a difference between size (a giant cat with normal proportions) and sheer weight (obesity). Where available, I have given some measurements to indicate whether the cat was a big specimen overall or simply very obese. Unlike dogs, there is less size variation since cats don't possess the genes for huge size. Hybridization of domestic cats with wild species may produce larger cats. An indoor lifestyle is producing more and larger feline couch potatoes - bored compulsive nibblers, overweight, unstimulated and bone idle. Feline obesity is more common in the USA where more cats live indoors, but it is on the increase in Britain. Overeating, genetic causes and metabolic disorders are the main causes. Hypothyroid conditions cause cats to gain weight because they do not burn off calories. In October 1981 a male Russian Blue named "Kasha" belonging to Nettie Sohmers of Yonkers, NY, USA weighed in at 25 lb (113 kg). In 2003, Laura K Baker's cat, Brody, weighed in at 25 lb aged 7 years. However, Brody is a rare Klinefelter (XXY) tortoiseshell male cat and his size is due to Klinefelter syndrome. A 19th Century Lithograph called "Large Cat" records what it describes as "this noble specimen, domesticated at 175, Oxford Street ... very docile though his unusually large size conveys to the beholder, at first sight a contrary impression."
In 1936, "Ginger" of High Holborn, London was reported as "Heaviest Cat in London" at 23 lb 8 oz. In 1938, Mr E Kay of Sheffield, England has a 21 lb cat called "Bill" who measured 27 in round the chest. Mary Kennedy of Ayr, Scotland had 2 cats "Dusty" and "Rusty" each weighing 21 lb. Their mother was also reported to be a heavyweight, suggesting a hereditary cause or over-indulgent owner. "Tibby" (undated) of Northfleet, Kent, England weighed 28 lb and had a huge appetite. In 1959, "Tiddles" owned by Mary Maynard of Wymondham, Norfolk, England was weighed at 36 lb. "Ginger", exhibited at the 1969 Herts & Middx Cat Show (England) weighed 26 lb. In the 1970s, "Thomas O'Malley", owned by Hilda John of Cardiff, Wales weighed 37 lb and had a waist 2 inches bigger than that of his owner. His mother, brother and sister were all normally sized, suggesting that Thomas had a metabolic disorder. "Poppa" the tabby owned by Gwladys Cooper of Newport, Gwent, South Wales weighed 44 lb (almost 20 kg) in 1983. "Tiger" the Persian cross owned by Phyllis Dacey of Billericay, Essex, England began growing abnormally at a year old; He was treated for a hormone imbalance (hypothyroid) and lost weight rapidly. He died of kidney disease in 1980, aged 10 years, weighing 18 lb (approx 8 kg). "Dinkie" the ginger tom owned by Miss K Dowding of Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire, UK, weighed 42 lb (19 kg) in April 1955 and had a neck 18 in (46 cm), waist 32 in (81 cm) and total length 40 in (101 cm). "Gigi" the female tabby belonging to Miss Anne Clark of Carlisle, Cumbria, UK fluctuated between 37 - 40 lb (approx 17 -18 kg), peaking at 42 Ib (19 kg) in 1970 and had a waist 37 in (94 cm), total length 36 in (91 cm).
The most famous feline fattie was 32 lb (145 kg) "Tiddles" who lived in the ladies' lavatory at Paddington Station, London, England for 13 years. Tiddles was adopted in 1970 as a stray 6 week old kitten by lavatory attendant June Watson. He dined on chicken livers, lambs' tongues, kidneys, rabbit or steak brought in by his admirers and had his own personal fridge. Tiddles continued to grow in girth and received fan-mail from around the world as well as appearing in news reports. His weight was due to overeating, but vets' attempts to put him on a diet failed (largely thwarted by titbits from admirers). Tiddles easily became London Fat Cat Champion' in 1982 at 30 lb (136 kg). He was put to sleep in 1983 after vets found fluid round his lungs. Tiddles had essentially eaten himself to death - killed by kindness - and photos show a grotesquely overweight and sad-looking cat, immobilised by his own girth. In my opinion, over-feeding a cat to this extent (despite veterinary advice) constitutes cruelty. A ginger and white male called "Spice" owned by Loren Caddell of Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA reached 43 lb (almost 20 kg) in 1974 and peaked at an unconfirmed 46 lb (almost 21 kg) before being prescribed a special diet and medication for acute hypothyroid. In 1977 a weight of 53 lb (24 kg) was claimed for a male tabby named "Boots" living in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada but photographic evidence failed to substantiate this claim.
In 1982, the American "National Enquirer" tabloid staged a Heaviest Cat' competition. It was won by a 41 lb (almost 19 kg) neutered tabby called "Baby" owned by Mr Maefred Slawson of Constableville, NY. Neutered male tabby "Himmy" owned by Thomas Vyse of Redlynch, Cairns, Queensland, Australia peaked at 45 lb 10 oz (207 kg) in 1982. Himmy had a neck circumference of 15 in (38 cm), a waist of 32 in (81 cm) and a total length of 38 in (965 cm). Despite his weight, Himmy was reported to be a moderate eater and probably had an underactive thyroid. He had to be carried about in a wheelbarrow and died in 1986 of respiratory failure. In 2001, there was a claim of 87 lb by a giant mutant cat from Canada. "Snowball" was reported to be the offspring of two cats found near a research facility in Canada and to be properly proportioned, not obese. Photographic analysis indicates a fake and the "former employee" apparently did not appear in the records of the company he apparently formerly worked for! The photo is included here to demonstrate what can be done a photo. The Guinness World Record Holder for longest (and contender for the heaviest) cat is Snowbie, owned by Lorna Sutherland of Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. In 1997, 4 year old Snowbie measured almost 41 inches (103 cm) from nose to tail-tip. Some sources originally gave his weight as 98 lbs (44 kg), though other sources cited his weight as a more realistic 32 lb in 1999 (note: possibly a submitted weight of 44 lb was erroneously logged as 44 kg). Guinness's printed edition gave a believable 47 pounds and other sources have claimed an he has tipped the scales at 53 pounds; in fact fluctuations of several lbs are very possible with such obese cats. Snowbie was neutered at 3 months old, after which he apparently just kept growing. He stands 13 inches (33 cm) tall with a 12 inch (31 cm) tail. He also has a pampered lifestyle and like Paddington's Tiddles, probably an over-indulgent diet. On 21st February, 2003, what was believed to be the world's current fattest cat was discovered in Russia. Five-year-old Katy weighs over 20 kilogrammes (over 44 lbs/3 stone 2lbs). According to her owner, Katy has lost interest in everything but food. She has a 686 cm (27 inch) waist and according to her owner she ploughs through sausages at the rate of one-and-a-half per minute. Katy is being considered for the Guinness Book of World records. The previous record holder, an Australian named Himmy, was 2 kilos (44 lbs) lighter.
Dwarf and Midget Cats Dwarfism and midgetism has been recorded in cats. Achondroplasia dwarfism affects the arm and leg bones giving a normal-sized body with short legs. Midgetism (pituitary dwarfism) produces a small individual with normal body proportions. Another form of dwarfism produces a compact cat with shorter than normal legs and a short body; the proportions of legs, body and head are visibly "wrong" but the cat is neither a Munchkin-type nor a midget. Other causes are metabolic disorders (lack of growth hormone) and congenital defects (birth defects) which cause the individual to stop growing. I have seen dwarf cats in severely inbred feral cat colonies. Some genuine feline dwarfs have weighed under 4 lb (under 2 kg) when fully-grown. A diminutive female shorthair called "Kitu" owned by Wanda Mitka of Laverton, Victoria, Australia was examined a...
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