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The internet has developed a host of words to describe animals that are perhaps a little larger than they should be. Chonker, choncky, thicc, and absolute units are all phrases one might hear when seeing a pet that is particularly well-fed.
It doesn’t take a genius to understand that, despite the cuteness, pets shouldn’t really be overweight. So here is a collection of before and after pics of cats whose owners did their best to help them lose weight. Get comfy as you scroll through and be sure to upvote your favorite examples and comment your thoughts below.
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#1
Chonk Is Going Into The New Year A Little Less Chonky
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 2 years ago
"You're twice the cat you used to be!" "That's odd, considering that there's a great deal less of me."
RELATED:
#2
Adopted A Chunk And Now He's Shrunk
Jason Marshall 2 years ago
The before is definitely our oldest. We call this para Kitty where she's flat on her back, not moving, just purring for a treat
It’s not hard to see how some of these cats ended up in this situation. Just like us, cats have evolved to be out in the wild, finding food, perhaps chasing it and fighting. Instead, we all sit inside comfy, climate-controlled homes and have regular meals that are pretty calorie-dense.
Plus, who doesn’t like a little snack? Most of us probably eat more than we should and move a lot more than we do. A housecat doesn’t exactly have access to the same physical activities that it would have in the wild. And since most of us love our pets, we always like to give them a little snack to munch on.
#3
She Can Lick Her Bottom Again
Eric Williams 2 years ago
Ever had a dirty cat butt in your face? Self cleaning is necessary for a good relationship with your cat..for both of you.
Jane No Dough 2 years ago
I don't think licking your own butt should be a goal, but pretty kitty!
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 2 years ago
You are obviously not a cat!
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Amelia Honeychurch 2 years ago
That’s our weight loss goal for our chonky boi! Only two more pounds to go!
#4
Enzo’s Diet Has Been A Success
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 2 years ago
His name fits him. Sometimes, even in pictures, you can just tell.
GFSTaylor 2 years ago
Obese animals are never gorgeous. The first picture is depressing when you think about how unhealthy he is, and how much the excess weight will impact his future.
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From Rotisserie Chicken To Chicken Tenderloin
So experts have a number of tips to help get your cat's health back on track. First and foremost, a food scale can be useful to understand just how much (or little) food they are getting. There is no one-size-fits-all scenario, as everything from the cat’s breed, gender and access to the outdoors will influence how much it needs to eat.
#6
From Fat Lucy To Fab Lucy! She Was Rescued Weighing 26 Lbs, But Now Is Back To A Healthy Weight
#7
The Dechonkification Of Freak. 2018 vs. 2023
Thee8thsense 2 years ago
The chonky Freak looks like he's saying "where's my food", and the slim Freak looks like he's saying "will I ever eat again?".
Emilia Tedmar 2 years ago
The face is like the mist chill face I’ve ever seen. It just says “I don’t care” And what a great result. I’m proud of them :)
#8
Quincy Is Still On Her Journey, But She Is Looking Much Healthier Of Late
This is why it’s best to consult with an expert and perhaps show them the cat to get a better estimate. Since a random decrease in nutrition has its own risks and can add stress to the animal's life, which has its own host of health risks. That being said, there are definitely fatty snacks that can be cut wholesale from its diet.
#9
Here’s Pepper Before And After Dechonkification
cerinamroth 2 years ago
Maybe I will lose my resting b***h face when I lose a few pounds too... Pepper looks a lot happier in the second picture!
Ricardo Ferreira 2 years ago
1st photo: old tired Meowfia boss 2nd photo: his young son, full of hope and innocence
#10
I Didn’t Realize How Much Weight He Had Lost Until This Old Picture Came Up In My Memories! Everyone Congratulate Simba For His Hard Work
Michelle K 2 years ago
Yes, and with cats they must lose weight VERY SLOWLY, otherwise, it's bad for their health.
#11
Chonky Boy JC At His Chonkiest Last Year (36.7 Pounds) And Last Month (Down To 18.4) - He's So Much Happier And Energetic These Days
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 years ago
We had to do this with our younger cat after he fell ill with FIP. While he was undergoing treatment (with an experimental medication that is not yet approved for veterinary use) we allowed him to free-feed, as he needed calories to help his body fight the virus. He was 13 lbs when he finished treatment and was declared cured of FIP - overweight for his size, not obese yet, but fat XD My vet wanted him down to ~10 lbs. XD We simply started measuring each of his meals (in grams/calories) and slowly reduced his caloric intake down to his daily *required* caloric intake (as advised by our vet). We also made him play a lot. It took about a year to make sure he lost the weight safely. (We didn't want his FIP to relapse.) He is now 2 years old, 10.5 lbs, and is still on a strictly-monitored food intake XD
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Pheebs 2 years ago
Omg, this is what mine is like (orange too). He got up to 28.4lbs suuuuper fast. He was even on a strict diet when he did it. Turns out he was eating half his food at super speed, running half way across the house to eat half his sister’s, and then running back to finish his. He did it so quickly we had to set up cameras to finally catch him. He’s down 5lbs, with 4-5 more to go. Fingers crossed. Also, carbs bad.
Colleen Glim 2 years ago
We have to shut my calico in a separate room to keep her from eating everybody else’s food. She’s only 17 pounds but still on a diet. Vet wants her to lose at least three pounds
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Melissa Powell 2 years ago
I have one of these. Quiet shy old man. He is about 22. His name is PC.
Of course, a healthy lifestyle isn’t just eating less, it also involves more movement. While for humans this tends to manifest as a gym or at least more walking, it can be a tad harder to implement these changes for a cat. Getting a cat to use a treadmill is not going to work in most cases and the majority of indoor cats are going to remain indoor cats.
#12
Garfield's Dechonkification
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 2 years ago
Ok Jon, how did you keep Garfield out of the lasagna?
HelluvaHedgehogAlien 2 years ago
GASP! We have a new king here! Whoever manages to make Garfield diet are probably gods
#13
Everyone Say Hello To And Congratulate Hermione On Her Weight Loss Journey! She's Got A Bit Left To Go
hearditontheX 2 years ago
Bless her heart. Can't imagine how much better life is for her. Yes we'll done humans & Ms Purrmoine
#14
So Proud Of My Boy's Weight Loss
Lynda Nesbitt 2 years ago
The expression on the left must have been when the diet plan was introduced.
So the onus of responsibility will fall upon the owner. The best bet is to get a few toys and see what the particular cat likes. Then have a few minutes of play sessions every day. Not only will this make the cat more active, but it’s good stimulation for its brain and it helps create a bond between the cat and the owner.
#15
Sybil's Chonk Status One Year Ago vs. Today. Good Job Sybil
cerinamroth 2 years ago
Definitely wouldn't want to bump into that face in a dark alley!
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The before picture: she looks like A beast. Not A kitty to mess with. Now she's A marshmallow 😍😍 Gr8 job Sybal
#16
River Is Down 2 Pounds! And Still Yelling For Food Like Always
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 2 years ago
Why else would we yell, other than to just keep you on your toes.
#17
Before And After Chonk
Michelle K 2 years ago
My sleek Void eats 24 small cans of wet food per week. That's a case a week and he remains slim as ever. I, on the other hand, have to watch what I eat and exercise regularly...
Additionally, it can help to introduce some more ways the cat can be active even when the owner is not around. Vertical spaces are a great option, particularly if the cat has to jump and climb its way up. Our feline buddies do like a height advantage, so this way savvy owners can “trick '' their pets into exercising more.
#18
Cabbage In 2020 vs. 2021 - Chonker Transformation
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 years ago
I think it does - cabbage is only 25 kcal per 100 grams - a low calorie food - so one could say it suits the slimmed-down kitty perfectly! XD
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#19
Used To Be A Chonk
#20
Ivy’s Weight Loss Journey. It Was A Struggle
As cute as we might find these chonkers, it’s not just their hearts that might be at risk when cats are overweight. Cats are naturally very clean animals, so a larger surface area and diminished dexterity due to size can actually cause them a lot of distress, as they can no longer properly clean themselves.
#21
Kudos Are In Order For My Best Friend Bubba! I Hope This Will Keep You With Me For A Few More Years. Proud Of You Dude
#22
My Baby’s Weight Loss After 1 Year Together
#23
6-Month Difference
Heidi Anoni 2 years ago
Correct. I believe it’s a half pound per month. Anything faster, and there’s a good chance the liver will deteriorate.
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Kel_how 2 years ago
Some of this might be bloat, too. Our vet put our cats on prescription sensitive stomach food, but it was actually really terrible for them. They vomited nearly daily. When we transitioned them to a different food, it looked like they lost so much more weight than they did -- they just weren't gassy and bloated anymore. And they love the new food.
Amelia Honeychurch 2 years ago
Yikes! That’s a LOT of weight for a cat to lose in one month. Be careful not to trigger metabolism syndrome, please!
Kel_how 2 years ago
I think this entry must have been edited. I originally read it as 1-month, but now it says 6-month. Glad they clarified because I agree with you!
Load More Replies... On top of that, they may suffer from my joint issues and have general mobility problems. This can create a sort of vicious cycle, where the cat doesn’t want to move, gains weight, and struggles to move even more. This is why it’s vital that the owners take preventative measures, or at least do their best to play with their cat regularly. If you don’t like playing with a cat but still own one, perhaps rethink your life choices.
#24
Before And After Weight Loss For Our Fluff Chonk
Isabella 2 years ago
This chonk has some major stress or urinary tract issues just looking at fur on the belly
#25
When Bronson Was Heavy, His Paws Always Seemed Confused When He Stood Up, Like They Weren’t Exactly Sure What Their Job Was
#26
Big Girl Is Down Another Pound - Down 9 Lbs (22 Lbs To 13 Lbs) Total. Just A Few More To Go
While many of the cats here are clearly too large to be healthy, a cat can be overweight and suffer from it without it being necessarily visible to its owner. This is why it’s best to see a professional or at least look through guidelines created by experts to get a better picture. One useful resource is the PDSA’s Pet Health Hub.
#27
Chunky Was 6.2 Kg When We Adopted Her, After Being Left With Unlimited Food In The Shelter. Now She’s 4.4 Kg
Although taken at different distances you can see how much weight she’s lost over the past year.
SadieCat17 (she/her) 2 years ago (edited)
Look at the first pic and tell me with a straight face that that isn't an overweight cat
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Ash's Weight Loss Journey
#29
Duncan Is Dechonking While His Little Buddies Grow
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 years ago
The orange kitty has such an amazing scrungy expression in the second pic!
Mystery Kitteh 1 year ago
Second pic looks like orange kitty made a joke at big buddy's expense
Ultimately, a healthy cat will live longer, which any pet owner should see as a good thing. So figure out if your cat needs to lose weight and then get a plan in place. And if you want some more inspiration, Bored Panda has got you covered, check out our other articles on different cat’s weight transformation journeys.
#30
My Zeezee Has Lost Close To 10 Pounds In The Last Year And A Half! She's Finally Down To A Healthy Weight Again
Kel_how 2 years ago
Looks like. We take our girl kitty to the park with the dogs sometimes. She's strictly indoors, but sometimes likes an adventure in the backyard or woodsy park. We give her flea and tick meds to make sure she doesn't catch anything or take it back to the other cats.
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#31
My Chonky Boy Butters Is Almost At His Goal Weight Of 15 Pounds, Down From 20! After Almost 7 Months Of A Strict Diet He Only Has 0.8 More Pounds To Go
#32
Petite Girls Can Dechonk Too
#33
Down Two Pounds Since November! Started At 16.8 Lbs, Currently - 14.6 Lbs. Vet Said Target Is 12 But He’s Looking Very Fine
Michelle K 2 years ago
Yes! The more muscle you have the more efficiently you burn fat.
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#34
Tomorrow Marks One Year Of Sushi's Diet Journey! 3 Lbs Down But Just As Derp
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 2 years ago
You can lose weight or gain it, but derp is forever.
#35
Phoebe’s Weight Loss Journey Is Going Well
#36
Before And After Losing Almost 2 Kg. One Year Apart
#37
We Just Hit Our End Of The Year Goal! My Little Meatball Lost 20% Of Her Body Weight This Year. We Have Maybe One More Pound To Go
#38
Eloise’s Transformation From ~17.5 To Under 13. It Took A Lot Of Work, Experimentation, And Investment But I Can Tell She Is Much More Active And Happy
#39
This Is Bella's Before And After. She Has Lost So Much Weight. She's Such A Happy And Playful Cat Now And Her Fur Is So Much Softer And Healthier
#40
Vito's Journey From 17,2 To 14,8 Lbs. Looking Purrfectly Pawesome
#41
I Know He's Not Chonk Anymore But Look At His (Healthy, Vet Recommended) Weight Loss
#42
Progress Slowed To A Crawl These Last Couple Years, And She’s Still Just A Teensy Bit Heavy For Her Size, But She Has A Shiny Coat And A Clean Bill Of Health
#43
Chunky Boy Lost Weight. Healthy Kitty Now
#44
Big Boy Daemon Was Adopted At 25 Lbs, He's Now Down To 17 Lbs (6-Month Progress). 4 Lbs Left Until Weight Goal
#45
What A Difference Or What. Galatea Lost Quite A Lot Of Weight
GFSTaylor 2 years ago
She's a Rex - which means a curly or wavy coat. The fur of rex breeds is often very fine and appears thin in places, especially the stomach - hence the seni-hairless look. Pregnant females can look very patchy when the skin over the torso stretches.
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#46
A Long Weight Loss Journey. Almost At Her Goal Weight
#47
We’ve Moved Out Of My In-Laws’ So Nobody’s Overfeeding My River Now
UnimportantDog/Imp (she/her) 2 years ago
"give me more food, puny hooman! i demand it!"
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Zoe Vokes 2 years ago
They probably were trying to be nice to the cat by giving it treats. Lots of people can’t resist a pet asking for food. “It’s rubbing against my legs, it’s purring, it’s meowing, it’s looking at me with love in its eyes. I’ll give it a treat because it’s hungry and it’ll be happy.”
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#48
Leo: 26 Lbs To 18 Lbs Over The Course Of 2 Years
Daycare Attendant Sun 2 years ago
You can see just a little sliver of it on the far left. I imagine the skin sags in a way after they've lost weight.
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LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 years ago
It's right there on his back. You can just see it right above his tail on the right-hand pic. It's the same cat.
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#49
Such A Good Progress
#50
I’m So Proud Of My Baby For Losing Weight! I Put Him On A Diet Recommended By A Vet And Look At Him
#51
I Didn't Even Know How Active She Could Be Till She Was Dechonked
#52
Dechonkification Progress! From 17.5 Lbs To 13.88 Lbs In About 1 Year! She’s Doing Amazing
#53
My Proudest Weight Loss Picture To Date
#54
The Dechonkification Of Squid
#56
From 15.4 Lbs To 10.3 Lbs. She's Officially At Her Goal Weight! I'm So Proud Of My Little Kibble
#62
Chonky Tonky Isn't So Chonky Anymore
#63
My 12-Year-Old Girl Weighed 13 Lbs Last November. Now She’s Less Than 10 Lbs
#65
Chonky Boy Meatball Is Losing Weight
#67
Stewie In 2020 vs. 2023. We Stopped Letting Him Free-Feed And Instead He Gets 3 Small Meals A Day. Look At The Difference
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 years ago
Before someone doubts - this is the same cat XD Siamese (and their close breed derivatives such as the Tonkinese) can change fur colors in different climates/amounts of sun exposure. They will get darker overall in colder weather.
#68
Bubba’s Dechonkification Has Led To Some Handsome Face Gains
#70
Jesse Has Successfully Shrunk. About A 1.5 Kg Loss
#71
Penny's Weight Loss 6 Months In
#72
Huge Congratulations To Kitty And Her Owner Jack For Helping Her Lose 2.2 Lbs And Reaching Her Target Goal Weight
#75
Dechonked. Geralt Got The Green Light From The Vet To Go On A Maintenance Diet. No Longer A Chonky Boy
#77
Smolls The Day I Brought Her Home At 22 Lbs vs. Today At 12,6 Lbs
#79
Marco's Progress After 2 Years! 22 Lbs To 13 Lbs
It's been an incredibly long 2 years of him being on his diet, but it's incredible to see how much happier he seems and how much more active he is. We started weighing his food and have him on the Royal Canin satiety support.
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Joy 2 years ago
I had to leave my cat with my parents when I moved out of state for work. When I came back for a visit, she was doubled in size! My dad was feeding her a whole can of wet food every night. Unfortunately I was unable to take her back at the time. Over time, she ended up becoming my parents cat. (I did move back to the state and got a house, but the cat was too attached to where she grew up. I didn't want to stress her out). She remained chonky for a lot of years but still had zoomies every day. As she got older, she lost weight. She passed away a week ago. I'm not sure how old she was as we initially found her as a stray on the street, but she seemed to be pretty old. I hope she had a happy life with us. I miss her.
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 2 years ago
Bouche has lost weight that she didn't need to. Audi is like a Clydesdale, and has to glom anything Bouche has or does. She'd just walk away. Since they've been fixed, Bouche is back to being at my side most of the time, and she's not letting Audi walk all over her. For his part, Audi is treating her like a cat rather than like a toy. He's sniffing noses with her, and lying down nicely with her. He'll even take turns sometimes. Bouche is grooming him, which asserts her dominance. I think she's gained back about a pound. Her collar isn't as loose as it was.
Strawberry Pizza 2 years ago
This the kind of content I come here to see. You're my favourite user on this site.
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Diolla 2 years ago
This one made me really happy, because on Insta I see a lot of pics glorifying chonky cats, saying they're cute. No they're not, they're unhealthy! Am struggling to make my own Brit lose weight, halfway there.
Bec 2 years ago
We can see in these pictures how much happier and healthier they are after they lost the weight.
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Suck it Trebek 2 years ago
We did this. Adopted a 22 pounder. Proud to say she's at 12lbs. now!
Miss Frankfurter 2 years ago
When I essentially rescued Miss Frankfurter, she had gone from being the only pet in the home to being bullied by 2 dogs her owner had got and then she brought a feral psycho cat into the picture. The only safe place was under the bed. She would creep out when she could hear the dogs were out, but then had to deal with psycho cat. If she could get a drink of water, use the box and scarf down as much Walmart dry food as possible, that was a good venture out. Needless to say, when I got her she was pretty chonky. I of course went with the program to help her lose weight. Stuck right with the program. The vet was surprised that not a heckuva lot was happening even given that cats do lose and need to lose weight slowly. I tried to keep with it, but it does require the special food. The price is exorbitant and it’s senior could no longer afford it. I’ve still tried t do my best. She’s at least holding what little weight she’s lost.
TheElderNom 2 years ago
I have one senior cat with kidney problems that needs to gain weight and one former chunky kitten/puppy/garbage can (he's actually a seven year old cat but he doesn't act like it) that will tell everyone he meets that I'm starving him and he gets no food. He will eat pretty much everything and he chews on stuff.
Joy 2 years ago
I had to leave my cat with my parents when I moved out of state for work. When I came back for a visit, she was doubled in size! My dad was feeding her a whole can of wet food every night. Unfortunately I was unable to take her back at the time. Over time, she ended up becoming my parents cat. (I did move back to the state and got a house, but the cat was too attached to where she grew up. I didn't want to stress her out). She remained chonky for a lot of years but still had zoomies every day. As she got older, she lost weight. She passed away a week ago. I'm not sure how old she was as we initially found her as a stray on the street, but she seemed to be pretty old. I hope she had a happy life with us. I miss her.
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 2 years ago
Bouche has lost weight that she didn't need to. Audi is like a Clydesdale, and has to glom anything Bouche has or does. She'd just walk away. Since they've been fixed, Bouche is back to being at my side most of the time, and she's not letting Audi walk all over her. For his part, Audi is treating her like a cat rather than like a toy. He's sniffing noses with her, and lying down nicely with her. He'll even take turns sometimes. Bouche is grooming him, which asserts her dominance. I think she's gained back about a pound. Her collar isn't as loose as it was.
Strawberry Pizza 2 years ago
This the kind of content I come here to see. You're my favourite user on this site.
Load More Replies... Diolla 2 years ago
This one made me really happy, because on Insta I see a lot of pics glorifying chonky cats, saying they're cute. No they're not, they're unhealthy! Am struggling to make my own Brit lose weight, halfway there.
Bec 2 years ago
We can see in these pictures how much happier and healthier they are after they lost the weight.
Load More Replies... Suck it Trebek 2 years ago
We did this. Adopted a 22 pounder. Proud to say she's at 12lbs. now!
Miss Frankfurter 2 years ago
When I essentially rescued Miss Frankfurter, she had gone from being the only pet in the home to being bullied by 2 dogs her owner had got and then she brought a feral psycho cat into the picture. The only safe place was under the bed. She would creep out when she could hear the dogs were out, but then had to deal with psycho cat. If she could get a drink of water, use the box and scarf down as much Walmart dry food as possible, that was a good venture out. Needless to say, when I got her she was pretty chonky. I of course went with the program to help her lose weight. Stuck right with the program. The vet was surprised that not a heckuva lot was happening even given that cats do lose and need to lose weight slowly. I tried to keep with it, but it does require the special food. The price is exorbitant and it’s senior could no longer afford it. I’ve still tried t do my best. She’s at least holding what little weight she’s lost.
TheElderNom 2 years ago
I have one senior cat with kidney problems that needs to gain weight and one former chunky kitten/puppy/garbage can (he's actually a seven year old cat but he doesn't act like it) that will tell everyone he meets that I'm starving him and he gets no food. He will eat pretty much everything and he chews on stuff.
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