Half Ton Gato

Razzle

I've been watching the TLC Half Ton marathon for the past couple of hours... because nothing cures nausea from a New Year's hangover like watching 60 lbs get lanced off some fat kid's abdomen.

If you're not familiar with the Half Ton series, it follows "super" obese people, their struggle with weight, their eventual gastric bypass surgery, and their varying levels of success. "Super" obese people are heavier than the "morbidly" obese- meaning these men, women, and children weigh up to 1,000 lbs... quite literally a half ton each.

The Half Ton episode that impacted me this evening was Half Ton Teen, the story of a 19 year-old boy named Billy who weighed over 800 lbs. His extreme weight at such a young age was alarming enough, but what really broke the camel's back (so to speak) was his relationship with his mother. This woman coddled and spoiled her child like nothing I have ever seen, and I watch The Real Housewives of Orange County. I think we can all agree that most parents spoil their children because they love them and want the best for them, but with all the excess, parents who spoil are harming their children. It makes me sick and it makes me sad... and it leads me to judge.

Which brings me to Razzle.

In 2006 I adopted Razzle from the Coppell Humane Society. She was a member of the "Lonely Hearts Club", which is a nice way of saying nobody wanted her. Razzle gets along with other cats pretty well- she's just afraid of people. She's practically feral.

You know what she's not afraid of? Food. Razzle must weigh 20 lbs. I don't know for certain because there's no picking that animal up. I'm nursing a wound to my palm (stigmata?) for trying. Her brother, who eats the same low-calorie cat food, weighs a healthy 12 lbs.

Razzle is what the vet calls a "snacker." She visits the food bowl multiple times a day- after getting petted, after using the litter box, after taking a nap. My cat is constantly eating. To combat this, my vet advised I put the bowl down for only 10 minutes, twice daily. At first the cats won't understand, but once they get hungry they will learn to eat what they need for the day or night in 10 minute's time.

I've tried this before and it seemed to be working. So how did Razzle fall off the wagon?

Her momma.

See, the fact of the matter is- it's simply easier to put down that bowl and be done with it, just like it's easier for "Half Ton" Billy's mother to drive through Burger King instead of prepare him a healthy meal. And as much as it pains me to hear Razzle meow constantly for food, it must be infinitely more difficult for Billy's mother to deny her child... even if that is what's needed to save his life.

I need to go put up cat bowl.