Once the runt of the litter, a now 8-year-old tuxedo cat has gained viral attention for his unbelievable transformation.
In a video with more than 30.3 million views on TikTok, @christianchristianchr shared before and after footage of the animal that he said was the "runt of the litter," who is now a very large 25-pound cat.
"Love my chonk," wrote the owner in the caption of the viral TikTok clip that has captivated internet users, prompting comments from animal lovers.
Viewer Tiara commented: "That's what happened to my girl runt. She's a potato now." Padmore Candace also had their own story to share and posted: "It must be a runt thing. I got the runt and he was fat shamed at the vet for being 20lbs. But he's happy so."
"Mine was a tiny tiny and now he's this long 16lb man with obvious muscle," added viewer ValPal.
While others shared their shock at seeing the tuxedo's hilarious transformation from teeny kitten to extra-large cat. "Nothing could've prepared me for this," added one commenter, while another wrote: "My jaw dropped."
What Is a Runt?
Runts of the litter are typically the smallest and weakest among their siblings. While some may face extra challenges with their health and development, most will thrive with the right care and attention.
Some runts may catch up in size and weight with their littermates, while others may remain smaller than average. However, size is not the only factor that determines a cat's health.
How To Tell if a Cat Is Overweight?
The typical weight range for a healthy domestic cat is 8 to 12 pounds. But this can vary, depending on the breed, and body condition and shape are a better indicator of a feline's health than their weight alone.
Healthy cats should have a visible waist, slight abdominal tuck, and a thin layer of fat covering their ribs.
In 2018, the American Veterinary Medical Association reported that more than 59 percent of cats were clinically overweight or obese. Excess weight in felines can lead to various health issues, including diabetes, urinary disease, and arthritis.
In a later comment, poster @christianchristianchr said that, despite his larger size, his cat is happy and healthy. He added that his pet is a tuxedo mixed with Maine coon, which could explain his larger size as the latter breed of cats are often larger than regular domesticated felines.
Newsweek reached out to @christianchristianchr via TikTok for comment.
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