Giant 21-Pound Cat Arrives At Ohio Shelter, Stealing Hearts Immediately

Sometimes a new arrival at a shelter leaves everyone stunned, and that’s exactly what happened when Big Bertha arrived at the Jefferson County Humane Society.

Her name suited her perfectly — this short-legged, small-framed cat was carrying an astonishing 21 pounds. The team, accustomed to seeing cats of all shapes and sizes, couldn’t believe their eyes.

The extra weight was clearly taking a toll on her mobility and comfort. Without hesitation, the compassionate staff set their sights on helping this gentle giant slim down and regain her health.

Brandi DeNoon-Damewood, the development manager at the Jefferson County Humane Society, shared about her first meeting with Bertha in an interview:

“When she first arrived, we had to use our dog scale to weigh her because she was too large for the kitty scale. I have been working with shelter animals for over 10 years, and she is, by far, the most overweight kitty I have encountered. Don’t get me wrong, we have had obese kitties come into the shelter before AND some even weighed more than Bertha – but the difference is that NONE of them were as tiny as her. Bertha has a very dainty frame that simply can’t support the weight.”

The veterinary team wasted no time in creating a tailored weight management plan to support Bertha’s long-term health.

They also addressed potential skin issues caused by her size, providing careful wound care to aid healing. To help her shed the extra pounds safely, a gentle exercise routine was introduced, ensuring her journey to better health was both steady and comfortable.

To make movement easier and avoid putting extra strain on her small frame, the team used a supportive sling. Bertha’s journey was going to be a long one, more like a slow and steady weight-loss marathon, but she had the full encouragement of the shelter staff every step of the way.

Her former owner had made the difficult decision to surrender her, understanding that they could no longer provide the level of care she needed, especially with the veterinary attention required for her condition.

While the shelter staff may never know exactly how Bertha reached her size, they have a strong idea of the possible causes behind her weight gain. Brandi explained:

“Her mouth was full of infected, loose, broken teeth. Most kitties with teeth this bad are very thin from lack of appetite and pain with chewing. However, Bertha only ate soft/canned food that she could easily slurp down, and as her pain increased, she ate more and more – just like humans, kitties can become addicted to the happy feeling we get with a full belly. It is believed that she was a street kitty prior to her owner, which also helps shed a little light onto her food guarding and overeating. She may have gone days without any food whatsoever, and those days are forever carried with her throughout the rest of her life.”

Soon after her arrival, Bertha underwent dental surgery, which made a huge difference in her comfort and well-being.

Before losing any weight, she faced daily challenges—simple things like breathing and moving were difficult because of the strain her size put on her body. Her quiet, withdrawn behaviour suggested she was both physically uncomfortable and a little overwhelmed by the unfamiliar shelter environment.

But as the weeks went by and the pounds started to come off, a transformation took place. Her shyness began to melt away, revealing a sweet, vibrant personality that the staff had been waiting to see. As Brandi noted:

“She LOVES to ‘talk,’ and when she wants attention, she will call out for you to come over to her – I’m guessing this was a learned habit since she wasn’t very mobile.”

Bertha’s weight-loss journey reached a major turning point when she dropped to a healthier 16 pounds, shedding an impressive five pounds in just over a month.

While she still had a little way to go before reaching her ideal weight, she was ready to continue her progress in a loving forever home. That moment came quickly—Bertha was adopted soon after, finding herself with an owner committed to helping her stay on track and thrive.

Now surrounded by care, affection, and support, she has the chance to explore joy beyond food and leave her past behind. Both Brandi and the shelter team are hopeful her new life will be filled with health, happiness, and plenty of love.