Allow me to introduce you to Big Bertha, a two-year-old feline who was discovered tangled and deserted inside a sports bag.Found by a compassionate individual in Birmingham’s Calthorpe Park last October, poor Bertha was in a deplorable condition. She was severely matted and carried excess weight, tipping the scales at 11.5kg even after her coat was trimmed to remove the tangled fur.

Her size was so overwhelming that she couldn’t groom herself properly. Emma Finnimore, the supervisor at the cattery, remarked, “When she arrived, she weighed 11.800kg. In my 22 years with the RSPCA, she is the largest cat I have ever seen.”

A veterinarian delicately removed her mats, but Bertha still weighed 11.500kg. She couldn’t be housed in a regular cat pod due to her size, as she wouldn’t have been able to utilize the cat flap. Consequently, a cat run was adapted for her until she could be placed in a foster home.

Once taken in by the charity, Bertha embarked on a strict diet and exercise program. Regular weigh-ins and vet check-ups are necessary to ensure her progress remains on track.

Currently under the care of foster carer Emma Cureton, Bertha has made remarkable progress in her weight loss journey. She has already shed an incredible 3.82kg, equivalent to one-third of her body weight.

Although there is still some way to go, Bertha is determined to reach her goal and find a new loving home. Emma Cureton stated, “When she arrived, her condition was pitiable, with the mats tugging at her skin. It’s baffling how she became so large considering she’s just a young cat. Perhaps someone had been overfeeding her, rendering her unable to groom herself.”

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