Last Update:29 October 2024 12:21 IST

On October 26, shortness of breath began, alarming her keepers at the Matroskin Sanctuary in Perm, Russia.

Cancerous tumors in his spleen and other internal tissues of his body caused him to deteriorate rapidly. (Photo Credit: YouTube)

Kroshik, the world’s fattest cat, died weeks after being taken to a clinic specializing in weight loss. Kroshik (Russian for “Crumb”) weighed 17 kg and was found in the basement of a Russian hospital, surviving on scraps, biscuits and soup. His level of obesity posed a major threat to his health. There were many cancerous tumors hidden behind the fat mass.

“Sometimes even the strongest cats can’t handle it. Crumbs’ caregivers, thank you for being there for Kroshik until his last breath, The Independent reported.

According to The New York Post, the final days of Kroshik’s life were filled with the rapid deterioration of his health before his death. On October 26, shortness of breath began, alarming her keepers at the Matroskin Sanctuary in Perm, Russia. After noticing the symptoms, the veterinary team wasted no time in placing him in the oxygen chamber. Unfortunately, paramedics’ efforts to stabilize Kroshik were unsuccessful as his vitals continued to deteriorate.

Veterinarians found that many cancerous tumors in his spleen and other internal tissues of his body, hiding under layers of fat, were causing him to deteriorate rapidly.

Galya More, head of the Matroskin Shelter, told RT: “If someone had told me a few days ago that Kroshik would die, I would never have believed it.”

According to The Independent, the shelter was monitoring Kroshik’s health throughout his rehabilitation process. But his obesity was severe, making simple procedures such as ultrasound difficult to perform. With many underlying health complications, many had to go undiagnosed until cases became critical.

The cause of death has not yet been determined more specifically.

Rescued in early September 2024, Kroshik was taken to the Matroskin Sanctuary, where he was placed on a low-fat diet and began physical rehabilitation, along with efforts to remove the remainder of the fur and clear the skin. The shelter was aimed at helping him lose weight, which was between 70-150 grams per week, and regain the ability to move through hydrotherapy or a treadmill. It is remarkable that he even managed to lose 3 kilos during this period.

Kroshik’s story trended on social media networks, where he was referred to as “Crumbs” and compared him to Garfield due to his size and personality.