Cinder-Block is an arthritic 22-pound cat who was relinquished to Northshore Veterinary Hospital. She was previously named Cinder for her color, but the hospital staff thought Cinder-Block was more descriptive. They have put her on a regimen of diet and exercise. Here's her first exercise session on the underwater treadmill.
She approaches exercise in a manner that many of us can relate to. Veterinarian Brita Kiffney explains more.
Kiffney acknowledged that in the viral video, the water is too low to really be supporting Cinder-block; the plan is to raise the water gradually so that she becomes used to it. The veterinarian also said that she’s ordered Cinder-block a special harness for the workouts that should be more comfortable and supportive than the one she’s wearing in the clip.
While it’s important for cats to be at a healthy weight, Kiffney noted that it’s equally important that cats lose weight gradually, since cutting a cat’s food too drastically can lead to fatty liver disease and liver failure. She recommends that anyone whose cat needs to lose weight work with a vet to create a health plan.
The treadmill is not Cinder-Block's only exercise. She likes to play, as long as she can do it lying down! You can follow the process of turning Cinder-Block into Cinder-Ella at Facebook. -via The Daily Dot
(Image credit: Northshore Veterinary Hospital)