When Ty arrived at the Vanderburgh Humane Society (VHS), staff couldn’t help but do a double take. The orange-and-white cat had the sweetest face — and a lot of it.
“He weighed 30 solid pounds,” said Laurie Miller, development and public relations coordinator at VHS. “After arriving, he was diagnosed with morbid obesity. X-rays showed that his spine was starting to collapse from the weight, which could eventually affect his lungs and other organs.”
Ty’s health was in danger, and rescuers knew they had to act fast. So they teamed up with the Canine Aquatic Center to create a weight loss plan — one that involved water therapy.
Ty, however, did not approve.
At his first session, the big guy made his feelings perfectly clear.
“He sang the song of his people the entire time,” Miller said with a laugh. “But he was calm, and he let the instructors dry him off afterward. Then he wandered around the pool deck, even peering into the water like he was considering round two.”
Despite his protests, Ty kept going back — and slowly but surely, something amazing happened.
“After much time and lots of reassurance, he’s turned into quite the swimmer,” Miller said. “He can even swim across the pool by himself!”
Now, Ty’s moving more easily, his energy’s returning, and his confidence is soaring. While he still has a few pounds to lose, his transformation has already been incredible.
Once he reaches his goal weight, this determined, chatty swimmer will be ready for the next chapter — finding a forever home that loves him just as he is (and maybe keeps a towel handy).
