The world’s heaviest cat, weighing 17 kilograms, passed away a week into its weight loss journey due to a previously undetected cancerous tumour hidden by excessive fat.
Named Khrushik, meaning Crumbs in Russian, the cat was discovered in a Russian hospital basement, surviving on a diet of soup, crackers, and scraps. This diet led to severe obesity, impeding its ability to walk.
Galiana More, who runs the Matroskin Cat Shelter and cares for Crumbs, explained that the tumours led to the failure of multiple organs.
It would be “very difficult” to determine whether Crumbs’ death was more due to obesity or the tumours.
Crumbs had been undergoing treatment at a specialized veterinary weight loss centre in Perm, Russia, where it exercised on an underwater treadmill. This regimen helped Crumbs shed three kilograms. However, its condition rapidly deteriorated, resulting in severe respiratory distress.
She expressed deep sorrow over the loss: “This is a great loss for us because Khrushik was a symbol of hope for everyone, and we wanted to publish only good news. It’s really painful to talk about it.”
