Family thought cat they wanted was 19lbs – it was 19kgs
Two people were needed to carry Axel out of the animal shelter.
A family accidentally took in a cat bigger than their own child after misreading his measurements.
Kristine Seguin chose Alex the cat for her 10-year-old daughter Amelie thinking he was 19lb, not 19kgs.
This meant she was shocked to find the three-stone cat weighs the same as Amelie who felt ‘crushed’ after Axel curled up on her lap.
It took two people to even carry him out of the animal shelter and into Kristine’s car as he was so heavy the bottom of the cat carrier began to rip.
The family have now put seven-year-old Axel on a diet, as he can barely walk without panting and rolling over.
Footage shows the cat’s paws slide around beneath him as he tries to walk around the house.
Kristine, from Ottawa, Canada, said: ‘The pictures and videos do not do it justice. It’s mind blowing. He takes your breath away.
‘We saw his profile and I actually thought he was 19lbs and not 19kg.
‘It’s been difficult to find something to fit him in. I had to take him to the vet in a laundry basket.’
His weight does not stop Axel wanting some fuss, as he ‘army crawls’ to whoever is sat on the toilet for some petting.
The family document his weight loss regimen on TikTok, and say he probably wouldn’t have died if he hadn’t started to eat less.
Kristine said: ‘He probably wouldn’t be here right now if he hadn’t started losing weight.
‘When he first arrived I put his litter box was next to his bed and his food was on the other side because he just could not take more than a few steps.
‘Even just moving a few steps he would roll over to the side. He was panting, he was out of breath and you could see his lungs sucking in.
‘He had no quality of life before where he just couldn’t move. His heart makes it difficult at that size to move or do anything really.
She added: ‘So far, he has lost just over 6lbs and weighs just under 37lbs. I am happy. He’s more active now and can even jump on the couch.
‘When he first walked down the stairs it was amazing. For him to do that safely and figure it out on his own was wonderful. I cried.
‘Even humans who are struggling with their weight are motivated by him.’
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