09/11/2026
Hello new friends!
It seems that Z**i made quite an impression (and rightfully so!) The last pictures were from her first week here, so I figured y’all were due for some updated shots now that she’s down to 15lbs 🥰 she can almost reach her bu****le!! That patch of hair loss next to her tail is new - it’s from overgrooming in an attempt to reach her b***y. She’s trying so hard 😭
Some quick FAQ and fun facts that I saw pop up in the comments:
•SHE DOESN’T LOOK MORBIDLY OBESE / MY CAT IS HEAVIER / 8LBS IS TOO SMALL. I say this with all the love, but if Zinnia’s size is not shockingly large to you then you have been affected by chonky cat culture. 60% of cats are overweight/obese; we are unfortunately so used to seeing it that people often see a cat at an appropriate weight and believe they are malnourished. I saw a LOT of people in that comment section posting pictures of their “big boned” cats where the cat is overweight/obese as well. This is part of why I have been so against chonky cat culture - it has changed the public perception of normal significantly and it is not safe for the cats.
•MY VET SAYS MY CAT’S WEIGHT IS OKAY AND THEY’RE ZIZI’S SIZE. Vets are not immune to the effects of chonky culture either! I can’t tell you how many veterinarians and vet nurses I’ve known who have overweight cats! Unless your vet is a board certified veterinary nutritionist, it’s possible your cat is still overweight/obese. Another aspect of this point is that owners often take offense to honest conversations about their cat’s weight. I have seen veterinarians literally get berated over telling someone that their cat was medically obese. I understand that addressing pet weight gently may be necessary to not offend the owners, but it can also diminish the seriousness of the issue and lead people to believe their pets are fine.
•HOW DO I GET MY CAT TO LOSE WEIGHT? Unfortunately this constitutes as medical advice so we can’t really give you any specifics! In general, 200-250 calories per day is considered normal for cats to maintain their current weight (usually 1/2 cup or less of dry food per day). A board-certified veterinary nutritionist can give you more tailored advice! https://www.vetspecialists.com/find-a-specialist
•MY CAT WON’T LOSE WEIGHT BECAUSE THEY WON’T EXERCISE. If your cat is sedentary they will need less calories on the daily than an average cat. You can also try to encourage more activity with some of our fav interactive toys: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2UIW6DSTYPPCG
•IS SHE LOSING WEIGHT TOO FAST? So, no and yes. We’ve had Z**i about a month and she’s lost 2lbs. If we were cutting her food drastically to achieve that there would be concerns about her not getting enough nutrients and that leading to other conditions, however Z**i is eating at a maintenance level. She is getting all the appropriate calories and nutrients, she was just being so horrifically overfed prior that even a normal amount of food is causing significant loss. Rest assured she will be okay!
•WHY IS SHE IN A CAGE? We are an animal rescue/shelter 🙂
•IS MY CAT FAT? If you post a picture and ask I will give you my honest opinion but if you’re questioning it the answer is probably yes SORRY
•CAN I ADOPT HER? Not yet! She still has a ways to go. We would also really like her to be adopted with her brother and he is awaiting eye surgery.
•HOW CAN I HELP THE BABIES? We have wishlists below (our primary needs are adult dry food and litter), or monetary donations can be made using the button on this post or on our website ❤️ https://www.spicycats.org/donate
Wishlists:
https://www.chewy.com/g/spicy-cats-rescue_b87880321
https://www.amazon.com/wishlist/3738D9RRD1N7J
Okay love you all thank you for loving our lady!!
