Mike Wilson and Megan Hanneman didn’t anticipate finding a new pet when they went to visit the Humane Society of West Michigan one day in April.
The couple had been thinking about adding a kitten to their family, but when they saw Bronson, a huge orange cat who was three years old and weighed a staggering 33 pounds, it was love at first sight.
The pair couldn’t help but be captivated by Bronson’s towering figure amid the other felines at the shelter.
“When we first saw him, we were shocked at how big he was,” Wilson told The Dodo. “Neither of us had seen a cat that size before and we thought he was so cute and cuddly, like a large stuffed animal! We immediately went over to gaze at him from outside his room.”
Wilson and Hanneman waited in line to be interviewed so they could meet Bronson, but had to leave for work before they were able to sit down with the shelter employee.
Still, they couldn’t stop ogling the snapshot they had taken of the enormous cat before they left. “On the way to work, we were talking about him nonstop and started regretting not sticking around for him,” Wilson said.
As the day wore on, the couple’s fear that Bronson would be adopted grew, so they rushed back to the shelter as soon as they could.
“We started feeling like he would be adopted in no time because of how quickly we were drawn to him,” Wilson said. “We returned right when they opened the following day and were so happy to see him again!”
After the death of his elderly owner, Bronson had been brought to the humane society. He was known as “Fat Kat,” and while he had lived in a home with other pets, the staff at the shelter were told that he was a bit of a loner who preferred to keep to himself.
How such a young cat had put on so much weight was a mystery to everyone.
The staff changed his name once they admitted him, but Wilson said that his original name revealed how seriously they were treating his obesity. Their best hypothesis was that he was either being given excessive amounts of kibble or table leftovers.
At Bronson’s size, he stood an increased risk of cancer, heart disease and diabetes, along with many other health complications. The interviewer warned the couple that Bronson’s eventual adopter would need to help him lose weight at a slow pace through diet and exercise.
The young cat’s hefty measurements also made it difficult for him to adequately clean himself, so they would need to brush him daily to help keep his backside clean.
When Wilson and Hanneman finally met Bronson in person, they were shocked by how love-hungry the cat was, seemingly desperate for pets and affection. And though their hands were oily after touching his striped orange fur, the couple knew they had to bring him home.
“He was quite unkempt and had a lot of dander in his hair, mostly due to him not being able to groom himself because of his size,” Wilson said. “I just wanted to take him home, clean him up and care for him.”
Everywhere Bronson goes, he attracts attention — not just for his size, but for his sweet, peaceful personality.
“Everybody that meets him can’t believe how big he is and instantly want to pet him,” Wilson added. “When we first brought him to the vet, everyone took turns coming in our room to meet him until there were like five vets and techs in the room at once. It makes us feel so lucky to have him.”
Although they have now learned that even the cat who can’t get enough attention does have his limitations, even his parents can’t help but pet Bronson every time they see his huge, soft body.
Wilson stated, “It’s difficult not to go by him and pet him, and we probably do it more often than he would desire. Sometimes when we try to pat him and say, “Hey buddy!,” he just grunts and turns around. He resembles a celebrity.
