Wednesday, July 30, 2008

"She could pass for a dog!"

The term fat cat refers to a wealthy person who contributes to a political campaign.

But an animal shelter in New Jersey houses a real fat cat who may have had a few too many cans of Friskies.

The Camden County Animal Shelter took in a -- get this -- 44-pound feline on Saturday that was found wandering around without a collar in Voorhees, N.J. Volunteers were stunned to find a cat so large.

"She's built like a quarterback," said Deborah Wright, a shelter volunteer and current foster owner of the kitty. "I mean, how do you lose a 44-pound cat?!"

The new name for the fat cat, shown above: "Princess Chunk."

According to the Associated Press, the largest tabby on record weighed 46 pounds, 15 ounces. That cat, who lived in Australia, died in the 1980s. The Guinness World Records has since dropped the category, fearing cat owners might harm their animals in an attempt to break the record.

The cat's owner has until Saturday to reclaim her. After that, the weighty pet will be eligible for adoption.

Shelter officials hope to put Chunk on a diet.

"I'm about to put a leash on her and walk her," said Wright. "She could pass for a dog!"

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