Kroshik, known as the “world’s fattest cat,” died on Saturday (26 Oct), just weeks after being sent to a veterinary weight loss centre in Russia.
The feline, who went viral in September, was rescued from a hospital basement where it was overfed by well-meaning staff, resulting in a hefty weight of more than 17kg.
Source: @matroskin_prm on Instagram
Kroshik, which means “crumbs” in Russian, had been consuming scraps, biscuits, and soup at the hospital.
His excessive weight led his carers to send him to a veterinary weight loss centre, where he reportedly shed three kilograms before unexpectedly developing breathing issues.
The shelter, Matroskin, shared that Kroshik “suddenly became ill” and began choking on the day he died.
Vets attempted to resuscitate him and placed him in an oxygen chamber, but despite their efforts, Kroshik’s health rapidly declined.
The shelter assured the public that “he was not alone” and received care until his final moments.
“Until his very last breath, the best doctors fought for his life.”
Doctors believe that Kroshik’s layers of flab masked cancerous tumours on his spleen and other organs, which went undetected due to his weight.
Galiana More, the centre’s owner, said multiple organs may have failed due to the tumours, though an official cause of death is still pending.
She added that cats often hide health issues well, and Kroshik’s conditions only surfaced after his passing.
Despite his excess weight, he hadn’t shown any signs of respiratory or digestive distress, and his test results had been stable up until his sudden decline.
Even with the post-mortem exam conducted, More expects that it will be “very difficult” to determine whether Kroshik’s death was caused by his weight or tumours.
“It hurts that we didn’t know about it before, couldn’t help,” More said.
Due to his weight, Kroshik couldn’t walk properly, earning his ironic name for his tendency to hoover up every bit of food.
At the weight loss centre, he was on a strict diet and exercise regime that included sessions on an underwater treadmill.
His rehabilitation specialist, Ekaterina Bedakova, noted he had even tried to escape the centre, a sign he was gradually gaining strength.
Also read: Did you spot the cat? SPCA’s new Yishun billboard shows how easy it is to overlook pet neglect
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Featured image adapted from @matroskin_prm on Instagram
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