Two stone fat cat put on strict diet after getting wedged in his flap

Worried owner Molly Oliver, 68, considered Sooty's weight gain to be harmless but decided he ought to to the vets when she had to prise him free from the door last month.

Vets were amazed to see the six-year-old had piled on the pounds since his last visit, tipping the scales at almost two stone - three times the size of a normal cat.

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Animal lover Molly blamed over-generous locals for her pet's size - although she has now put her moggy on a strict low-calorie diet.

Luckily he has so far lost enough to be able to get in and out of his own house.

Molly said: "He's always been quite big but I feed him exactly the same amount as any other cat.

"He loves meat and I just give him normal size portions.

"Over the last couple of months I noticed he was getting stuck in the cat flap - it was quite comical to see his bottom wiggling as he squeezed through - but it was the final straw when he got stuck and could not get outside.

"I realised then how awful it must be for him.

"I was puzzled as to why he got so big. He had also stopped jumping around like he used to.

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"They had seen him six months ago and couldn't believe how much weight he had put on.

"They were worried he could die if he stayed the same weight, apparently he could have got heart disease and diabetes so he must lose some pounds."

The corpulent cat is now on a special low-calorie diet - he's not allowed meat and has to be content with biscuits.

Molly has also been told to encourage him to cram his huge frame through the cat flap so he can play in the garden of her flat.

Molly, who is divorced and lives alone in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, was forced to give up her work as a customer services assistant 15 years ago due to severe arthritis.

She added: "I think it was people being kind and leaving food out for him that has led to him getting so big.

"Some of the locals leave lots of meat out for cats, they are only trying to be kind but Sooty was already being fed by me so he didn't need anymore.

"Cats can be greedy and I think he just took advantage."

"He's such a well-behaved and well-mannered cat but he just loves his meat too much. I've had him since he was a kitten and he is great company for me."

Vet Lisa Winter, who set up Sooty's diet and exercise programme, said: "We do get overweight animals being brought in but I've never seen anything like this one.

"The average weight of a cat is four kilos and Sooty weighs 12 kilos, just under two stone.

"We will now weigh Sooty every month to see how he is progressing.

"With overweight cats we encourage them to play more. Some people get them to run up and down the stairs and some take them for a walk on a harness."