Pet Fit Club winners

It’s not just us humans who can overeat and put on weight – our pet pals can get a bit podgy, too. But with a healthy diet and more exercise, our animal chums can go from sad and chubby to slimline and chirpy! Check out these winners from the PDSA’s Pet Fit Club…

1st place
  • Name: Amber, cat
  • Age: 12-years-old
  • Starting weight: 7.1kg
  • Slimline statistics: 5.87kg

Amber beat her fellow heavyweight finalists to scoop first place by shedding a huge 17% of her body weight.
“It’s harder for cats to lose weight than dogs,” PDSA’s Elaine Pendlebury told NG Kids. “The diet has to be done carefully, as too rapid a weight-loss can be dangerous.”
“The first days of the diet were hard – Amber wasn’t very happy with her smaller portions,” says proud owner, Penny Faulkner. “But she’s so much happier now, and has gone from sour puss to super playful!"

2nd place
  • Name: Socrates, cat
  • Age: 5-years-old
  • Starting weight: 10.1kg
  • Slimline statistics: 8.6kg
‘Socs’ was the biggest cat to ever take part in the competition. But today he has a new lease of life after losing 14% of his body weight!
“Before Pet Fit Club Socs struggled to groom himself, had no interest in his toys and spent most of his time cat-napping,” says his owner, Bill Duncan. “Now, he’s like a different cat.  His coat looks great, has loads of energy and loves playing with his cat-toys!”

“Now he’s lost the weight, Socs is a much happier and more affectionate cat,” says Bill, who is hoping to help Socs reach his ideal weight of 4.5kg, within the next 18 months.

3rd place
  • Sasha, Staffordshire bull terrier
  • Age: 4-years-old
  • Starting weight: 25kg
  • Slimline statistics: 22kg

This once-porky pooch managed to drop a huge 11% of her bodyweight! Owner Margaret Dunbaven told NG Kids, “I did find it hard to keep Sasha to the diet over Christmas, when I’d usually spoil her with titbits. But I’m glad I stuck to it, as Sasha enjoys her walks so much more now that she doesn’t get out of breath.”
Sasha still has a way to go before reaching her ideal weight of 17kg, but Margaret says, “She’s loved taking part in Pet Fit club. And apart from the odd begging session, she’s been as good as gold, and is well on her way to becoming a slimline Sasha!”

Find out more about Pet Fit Club, and get top tips on keeping your furry friend in shape at the PDSA website!