BLACKWOOD, New Jersey — The fat cat of New
Jersey, who drew attention across America for his mammoth size, has
a home.
A family in southern New Jersey will get the 44-pound cat
nicknamed "Prince Chunk" next week, according to the Camden County
Animal Shelter. The shelter won't disclose the family's
identity.
About 500 people applied to adopt the 10-year-old cat found
lumbering around Voorhees, New Jersey, after his owner lost her
home to foreclosure.
Catherine Harr, president of the animal shelter's board, said
the cat's new family is a couple with a teenage child. She said
they are
building a castle to go over Prince Chunk's litter box.
The adoption comes after a vet gave the cat a clean bill of
health — other than his large weight.
Harr said the couple was chosen because they have past
experience with cats, and their finances are stable — unlike the
cat's former owner.
Prince Chunk received national attention when he was found,
including an appearance on the "Live with Regis & Kelly" talk
show. The attention was so intense that shelter officials last
Sunday had to sneak the cat out of a foster home and move him to
another foster family, Harr said.
Thousands of people from as far away as London and
California called to inquire about adopting the cat, Harr said.
Unfortunately, she said no one who contacted the shelter was
interested in adopting any of the more than 200 other cats and
kittens in the shelter's care.
The shelter had to euthanize about 1,000 unwanted cats last
year, about a third of the cats it took in, she said.
<!-- QUIGO --> <!-- QUIGO -->