In a hilarious turn of events, a hefty feline in Russia found himself stuck—quite literally—between a rack and a hard place after trying to make a great escape from a diet center. The cat, fittingly named Kroshik (Russian for “Crumbs”), was caught wedged in a shoe rack with his face comically stuffed into a bright blue Croc. Kroshik, weighing in at a staggering 38 pounds, has been on a strict workout and diet regimen to tackle his ballooning weight, but apparently, he’s had enough of the low-calorie life.
Kroshik’s escape attempt took place at a rehabilitation center in Perm, Russia, where he’s been placed under close supervision for his weight-loss journey. Ekaterina Bedakova, a rehabilitation expert at the center, shared the incident on Telegram, laughing at the cat’s antics. “He caused a ruckus and escaped today,” she wrote, adding that Kroshik was not thrilled about being found, humorously “disguised as slippers” in the shoe rack. But, after a portion of food, the chunky tabby mellowed out.
A Long Journey for Crumbs
Kroshik’s weight struggle is no laughing matter, though. The rotund tabby was discovered just a week ago in the basement of a hospital in Russia. According to reports, hospital staff, in their misguided affection, had been feeding Kroshik a diet of cookies and soup, which resulted in him tipping the scales at a whopping 37.47 pounds. To put this into perspective, most domestic cats should weigh around 10 pounds, depending on the breed. Needless to say, Kroshik had more than tripled that.
The team at the Matroskin Shelter in Perm took charge of Kroshik’s recovery, embarking on what can only be described as a “fat-cat fitness crusade.” Shelter employees put the massive moggy on a carefully crafted diet and started him on a strict exercise regime, including treadmill workouts designed to help him shed pounds without overwhelming his overworked joints. Kroshik was even given water therapy, where he walked on a submerged treadmill to reduce the strain on his body—something that most cats would vehemently resist.
Too Much Love for a Cat?
Kroshik’s story shines a light on the often misguided affection some pet owners shower on their animals. “Kroshik’s story is a rare case of someone loving a cat so much they fed him into a near-fatal state,” a spokesperson for the Matroskin Shelter explained. While it’s easy to spoil a pet with treats and table scraps, it’s important to remember that overfeeding can lead to serious health problems, as poor Kroshik’s experience proves.
But not all hope is lost. Bedakova and the shelter staff are confident that Kroshik is on the right path to slimming down. Vets predict that Kroshik will lose between 70 to 50 grams per week, a healthy and sustainable rate of weight loss for the plus-size tabby. In fact, Bedakova sees Kroshik’s daring escape attempt as a positive sign, commenting that it shows he’s still an “active guy.”
While Kroshik may have gotten stuck in his attempt to flee, his newfound energy is an encouraging step in the right direction. With continued dedication to his diet and exercise plan, this chunky tabby might just have a bright, healthier future ahead—hopefully without any more misadventures involving shoe racks!
