It’s no secret that cat enthusiasts online have a soft spot for chubby felines. And what’s not to love about cow-patterned cats? When these two features combine, you get an irresistible and beloved combination. Meet Keith, a charming British spotted cat with a massive heart full of love and kindness. His owner shared on Instagram that they rescued him when he was just six months old and seriously ill on the streets. Despite suffering from Feline Herpesvirus and digestive issues, Keith’s fun-loving personality won over his owners’ hearts. He became an especially loyal companion to the owner’s daughter, who has autism, and the pair quickly became inseparable. Through speaking to his owner, I discovered more about Keith’s incredible journey, and I’m excited to share it with you here. Get ready to meet this exceptional feline who is sure to warm your heart!
Can you tell me about the story of how Keith became a member of your family? It all started in 2013 when my daughter and I were volunteering at a local cat rescue center. A weak kitten who was struggling with cat flu and gastrointestinal issues was brought in after being found wandering on the streets. Despite being treated for a month, he didn’t show any signs of improvement. As he followed my autistic daughter around and playfully climbed onto her shoulders, she grew attached to him. Although concerned about his health, I decided to take the young cat home to give him a better chance at life. However, to prevent exposing my other cats to any contagious diseases he might have, I took him to the vet secretly without telling my daughter. The following day which happened to be Charlie’s tenth birthday, we brought home the six-month-old kitten from the vet as a surprise for her. Initially, she named him Spartacus because she believed he was a brave warrior. However, we soon discovered that his humorous and goofy personality was more appropriate for the name Keith, inspired by the comedian Keith Lemon.
I’ve noticed that Keith seems to have lost some weight lately. Can you tell me how he managed to shed those extra pounds? Keith has always struggled with his weight, even when he was a kitten. By the time he was a year old, he weighed 5.5kg, and our vet put him on a special diet. But despite our efforts to limit his food intake, he always seemed to be starving and would get very stressed if we tried to restrict him. He also loved to go outside and eat from bins, which made him even sicker.
We tried everything to get Keith’s weight under control, including every test possible to figure out the root cause of his weight gain. But even our vet suspected that he might have an issue with his pituitary gland, which would be very expensive to diagnose and treat. So our goal now is just to prevent him from gaining any more weight. We’re constantly coming up with new ways to keep food away from him and slow down his eating, but he still manages to be a hyperactive cat despite his size.
