“I’ve got a fat cat, there’s nothing that fills him up anymore” (“Tengo un gato gordo, no hay nada que ya lo llene”) — the lyrics of a Spanish song about a fat cat are making waves on TikTok and Instagram, with internet users using the melody as the soundtrack to jazz up their cat videos.
Hundreds of Instagram and TikTok users have now shared videos of their “fat” cats. The clips share the same background music, and often depict their pets gorging on food or being lazy.
A tune with relatable lyrics
The catchy tune in question is a children’s song remixed to a reggaeton beat. The simple lyrics introduce the listener to a plump cat who is never satiated. “I’ve got a fat cat, there’s nothing that fills him up anymore. He’s a big belly. Oh, he won’t eat his dinner. That kitty is mine and I’m the one who loves him“.
The song gave birth to a new meme. Although it mentions a fat cat, in videos posted by users, cats of all kinds can be seen: from pludgy cats to not-so-fat cats and even dogs. The felines are filmed in comical positions or simply resting on the ground, eating or scratching some part of their body.
The videos have now gone viral due to the innocence of the song and the funny situations in which the owners film their pets. Many channels have included the lyrics of the ditty in their videos with the hashtag #tengoungatogordo. which translates to #Ihaveafatcat.
The music of the catchy song “I’ve got a fat cat” is available on the Tiktok account @malesonrie. More than ten thousand people and counting have used it. If you own a chubby feline and an social media account, feel free to join the craze.
Obesity in cats
If these little videos of overweight cats are harmless fun, obesity in cats is a current issue, especially in indoor cats.
Obesity is defined as an excessive accumulation of body fat. According to statistics, the condition affects about 30-35 per cent of the feline population in North America. Just like in humans, obesity in cats can lead to many diseases, such as diabetes or joint problems.
A cat is considered overweight when it exceeds its body weight by 10 per cent and obese when it exceeds by 20 per cent.The risk of this disorder is particularly high in adult cats between the ages of five and 11 years.
Most cats reach their standard weight at one. Nevertheless,the cat’s owner is sometimes unable to assess the weight of his or her cat. For this reason, proper and regular care by your veterinarian is essential to prevent obesity in cats.