In a hilarious yet unfortunate turn of events, a 38-pound rescue cat named Crumbs found himself in a tight spot after attempting to escape from a weight-loss camp in Russia. The hefty feline, who has become a sensation due to his larger-than-life size, was discovered wedged between the bars of a shoe rack while trying to break out of the center that had placed him on a strict diet and workout routine.
Crumbs, whose real name is Kroshik, made quite the commotion during his escape attempt, according to Ekaterina Bedakova, the rehabilitation expert overseeing his care. In a post shared on Telegram, she described the amusing scene, saying, “Kroshik… he caused a ruckus and escaped today. He was extremely displeased when we found him disguised as slippers, but… after a portion of food, he mellowed out.”
The fluffy giant has had quite the journey to reach this point. Crumbs was discovered just over a week ago in the basement of a Russian hospital. He had been living off a peculiar diet of cookies and soup provided by the hospital staff, which caused him to balloon to an astonishing 37.47 pounds. To put that in perspective, the average domestic cat weighs around 10 pounds, though that number can vary depending on the breed.
Crumbs’ extreme weight gain led to severe mobility issues, leaving the oversized cat unable to walk on his own. As a result, he was taken in by the Matroskin Shelter in Perm, where staff quickly began working on a plan to help him shed the extra pounds. “Kroshik’s story is an extremely rare case when someone loved a cat so much that they fed him to such a state,” explained a spokesperson from the shelter.
To help Crumbs return to a healthier weight, shelter employees devised a rigorous fitness and diet program for him. His journey toward weight loss includes a carefully controlled diet and a regular exercise routine, which features treadmill workouts. To make things easier on his joints, Crumbs walks on an underwater treadmill, a contraption that helps reduce the strain on his legs while still giving him a solid workout. Photos from his rehab sessions even show the shelter staff shaving his belly to make it easier to dry him off after his aquatic workouts.
Despite his considerable size, Crumbs has been adjusting well to his new routine. In fact, Bedakova took his failed escape attempt as a positive sign, noting that it showed just how active he’s become. “Crumbs’ ill-fated escape attempt was actually a good sign because it demonstrated that he’s a very active guy,” she said.
Vets working with the shelter are optimistic about Crumbs’ progress and believe he can lose between 70 to 50 grams per week under the current regimen. Though his road to a healthy weight is long, the staff is hopeful that Crumbs will make significant strides toward a fitter future.
Crumbs’ story has struck a chord with many animal lovers who have followed his progress online. His amusing antics, combined with his adorable yet challenging weight-loss journey, have made him an internet sensation. While he may have gotten stuck between a rack and a hard place, there’s no doubt that Crumbs is determined to get back on his feet—literally—and continue his weight-loss journey.
For now, it’s back to the treadmill for Crumbs, but his growing fanbase will certainly be cheering him on as he sheds the pounds and gets one step closer to his healthier self.
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