August 14, 2008

A new home and big plans are in store for the 44-pound cat, Prince Chunk, who made national headlines after the Camden (N.J.) Animal Shelter rescued him. (Pet Pulse Photo)

CAMDEN, N.J. -- Having gone from homeless cat to national celebrity, America’s favorite tubby tabby, Prince Chunk, is ready for his new life, including a new home and big plans for him to represent the shelter that rescued him.

“It was amazing,” sighed Deborah Wright, who fostered the cat the past few weeks since he was rescued by the Camden Animal Shelter -- all 44 pounds of him, two shy of the feline world record.

Wright, who volunteers at the shelter, brought the 10-year-old cat home, never expecting the frenzy that ensued when word of Prince Chunk’s size made him a national figure. Wright brought him on numerous national TV shows that were clamoring for his appearance.

After his financially strapped former owner abandoned Prince Chunk, some 400 applicants inquired about adopting him the shelter says. He has been placed with a local family that will remain anonymous, which has agreed not to profit from his celebrity.

That, Wright says, is welcome news, because she did not want him winding up in the wrong hands.

“My main concern about this cat is getting exploited, and using it for their benefit,” Wright told Pet Pulse. “Not for just adopting a cat to give it a good home.”

The friendly but flabby feline received a clean bill of health from a veterinarian, who prescribed him a high protein, low-carb diet. Speculation about a possible thyroid condition turned out to be wrong. The vet says that with his bone structure, Prince Chunk should weigh in the high teens.

The adoption of Prince Chunk means the Camden Animal Shelter can return to business as usual, after they were inundated with calls and e-mails from prospective new owners, and visits from those wanting just to see the nearly record-setting cat.

Going forward, the shelter staff says they hope the publicity Prince Chunk has garnered will help the facility’s other animals that need new homes.

“If every one of those people who feels that they have room in their life for a kitty, would just come to our shelter, any local shelter, and take a kitty that’s maybe a little less famous and a little less heavy, the shelters would have a great start,” said shelter staffer Heather Speeks.

The shelter will seek to use Prince Chunk’s popularity to attract “chunks” of attention for its other adoptable animals.

“That would be great,” said shelter worker Dawn Armstrong. “If the cat could be like a spokes-kitty for events, which would draw more people, which always draws more donations and adopters.”

Indeed, Prince Chunk is slated to make his first appearance on behalf of the shelter at their adopt-a-thon this Sunday.

Ideally, the over-sized marvel will help find homes for its dogs too. During Pet Pulse’s shelter visit, we met a Labrador retriever up for adoption, named Hazel. She was chained outside for so long, she has scars with skin exposed, and some of the white fur on her neck has turned black.

There is no telling how much pull Prince Chunk might have.

“We want to bring the spotlight onto how important it is to foster and adopt,” Speeks said. “If everybody turned their backs, that poor cat could’ve been out there forever.”

Wright says she is sorry to lose Prince Chunk, having become very attached to him. Believe it or not, she already owns another mammoth cat, Yanni, who weighs between 35 and 40 pounds.

“I do have another cat that’s huge, but not as big as this one,” Wright said. “And I thought if I put them together, which they have been, maybe they’d become friends.”

All the attention has made Wright recognizable too. She says that during a recent visit to the doctor’s office, someone said, “I know you. You’re the fat cat lady.”

Wright, who fosters many animals on an ongoing basis for the shelter -- even though she is allergic to cats -- will gladly accept that fat cat lady moniker if it means Prince Chunk helps find homes for more of the shelter’s animals.

“We do have events, and people would want to come get pictures taken with him, and come meet the big cat of New Jersey,” she said. “That would be a benefit for the shelter.”

So time will tell if this prince will become king -- of spreading the word about adopting other animals.

For more information about the Camden Animal Shelter’s available pets, visit CCASNJ.org.

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