When Big Bertha was brought to the Jefferson County Humane Society in late February, staff were stunned. At just 21 pounds, Bertha was considered “morbidly obese” — not because of the number alone, but because of her tiny, delicate frame and short legs. She was so large, the team couldn’t even use the regular cat scale.
“We had to weigh her on the dog scale,” said Brandi DeNoon-Damewood, development manager at the shelter. “In my 10 years of working with shelter animals, I’ve never seen a cat like her. Others may have weighed more, but none had such a petite build. Her little body simply couldn’t handle the weight.”
Bertha arrived with a long list of medical concerns. She was surrendered by her previous owner, who could no longer meet the growing demands of her care. The shelter quickly sprang into action, placing Bertha on a weight management plan, cleaning and treating her wounds, and even helping her walk using a sling.
Though the exact cause of her obesity isn’t fully known, the shelter suspects a painful dental condition played a big part.
“Her mouth was full of infected, broken teeth,” DeNoon-Damewood said. “Most cats with dental issues lose weight due to pain, but Bertha had only been eating soft, canned food — and lots of it. It’s likely she found comfort in eating, especially as the pain worsened.”
Bertha’s early days were tough. Once a stray, she may have learned to overeat out of fear she wouldn’t get another meal — a habit that’s hard to break, even in a safe, loving environment.
Not long after arriving at the shelter, Bertha underwent dental surgery to relieve the pain in her mouth. Slowly but surely, she began to heal. As she started to lose weight, her true personality began to shine.
“She’s such a talker!” DeNoon-Damewood said with a smile. “Before, she would loudly protest being moved or lifted. But once the pounds started coming off and she felt more comfortable, she turned into this sweet, sociable, affectionate cat.”
By the end of March, Bertha had slimmed down to 16 pounds — a huge milestone. Though she still had more progress to make, she was finally ready for a forever home.
And in early April, she found it.
Bertha was adopted by a caring new owner who’s dedicated to continuing her health journey — and to loving her unconditionally.
“With the support of her adopter, she’ll keep thriving,” DeNoon-Damewood said. “We hope she finds comfort in life beyond just food — because there’s so much more waiting for her now.”
