Tiny, the former fat cat, dies

Tiny, the former fat cat who made news around the world in 2011 when he was left at a Fredericton animal shelter, has died.

Tiny was one of two cats left in a box at the Fredericton SPCA in December. He weighed 30 pounds and was placed on a year-long weight loss program with a target weight of 17 pounds.

"Tiny's passing is a shock to all who knew and loved him," said Karen McGeean of the Fredericton SPCA. "While he has done very well since losing and successfully keeping off the weight with the help of his amazing foster/adoptive mom, we recognize that he was elderly and we were all able to give him a healthy, happy life to the end."

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In2014, Tiny became the first animal to be presented on the floor of the New Brunswick Legislature to mark the centennial of the Fredericton SPCA.

Tiny's online weight-loss challenge initially supported his specialized veterinary and dietary needs and has since expanded to pay for other cases where animals at the SPCA have special medical needs.

The SPCA said Tiny's Medical Fund has helped provide amputation, critical dental surgery, hip surgery and special dietary needs to "countless" animals since its creation.

"Tiny's legacy is huge, beginning with his public awareness campaigns," said Annette James, the director of operations for the FrederictonSPCA."And they[are] equally important with his fund that has helped to avoid euthanasia and provide other animals with a healthy, happy life in their forever homes.

"We are dedicated to keeping that legacy growing in his honour."

The organization is accepting memorialdonations to Tiny's Medical Fund to help other animals.