Ty was surrendered to the Vanderburgh Humane Society (VHS) by his family after they found out their baby was allergic to him. Cats get brought to their shelter all the time — but not usually cats as chubby as Ty.
“[He weighed] 30 solid pounds,” Laurie Miller, development and public relations coordinator at VHS, told. “After arriving at the VHS, he was diagnosed with morbid obesity. X-rays showed that his thoracic spine was starting to collapse from the weight. If this were to happen, it would ultimately affect his lungs and other vital organs. This is when his care team reached out to Canine Aquatic Center and devised a weight loss plan.”
Despite his limited mobility, Ty was a chatty guy right from the start, letting his vibrant personality shine through. He craved attention and soaked up affection from anyone willing to give it. His rescuers were confident that once he regained his mobility, he’d be practically unstoppable.
Ty’s situation was urgent, requiring swift intervention. His rescuers wasted no time scheduling his first water therapy appointment. Ty himself wasn’t consulted on this decision, and during his inaugural session, he made his opinions abundantly clear.
“He sang the song of his people the ENTIRE time, but was otherwise calm and collected,” Miller said. “Afterward, he patiently let the instructors dry him off and then wandered around the pool deck — even peering down into the water.”
Ty personally believed there could be alternative methods for him to shed pounds that didn’t involve water, but despite his reservations, he continued to attend his sessions — and now he’s practically a pro swimmer.
“After plenty of perseverance and a heap of encouragement, he’s transformed into quite the aquatic enthusiast,” Miller shared. “He’s even mastered the art of swimming across the pool solo!”
Ty still has a ways to go on his weight loss journey, but he’s already much more mobile than before. Once his health is firmly on track, he’ll be ready to embark on the search for his forever home filled with love.