Chubbs, The 29-Pound Stray and Internet Star, Is Up For Adoption

LOS ANGELES, CA — He took the Internet by storm, and now someone will get to take Chubbs, the 29-pound stray Himalayan home.

Chubbs, a roly-poly bundle of fur and affection will go up for adoption Wednesday at the Pasadena Humane Society. Chubbs fans, and there are a lot of them, will have to be first in line Wednesday in order to adopt the rotund feline when he becomes available at noon. Since the shelter put his image up on social media trying to find his owner, supporters from around the world have volunteered to take him in, said Julie Bank, president and CEO of the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA.

“We are just shocked at how much support has come in for him,” Bank said. “He’s become like an internet sensation. He’s beautiful. He really is a striking cat. People just want the best for him.”

“We have had a lot of interest,” added humane society spokeswoman Jamie Holeman.

“We have had hundreds of calls and emails from people wanting to adopt him — even as far as Wales.”

But Chubb’s outlook wasn’t always so hopeful. A good Samaritan brought him in from Altadena where he was found wandering the streets.

“He had some pretty severe mats on his back,” said Bank. “It took us a Few hours to get them out — even breaking one of our shavers. The matting is common in cats as big as that because they can’t clean themselves. Matts can be really painful.”

A typical cat can weight anywhere from 8 to 14 pounds. At 29 pounds, Chubbs is too big for a cage, so he has been making himself at home in the office of a humane society staffer.

Chubbs had no microchip or tag, and staffers spent days searching for his owner. In the meantime, they put him on a diet and began an exercise regime. He’s blossomed during his time in the spotlight.

“He’s super sweet. He’s really relaxed and chill,” Holeman said. “He enjoys face rubs.”

Whoever adopts him Wednesday can expect a true cuddlebug but also a project. He’ll need a veterinarian supervised diet and and exercise that forces him to get up and play with toys and walk to his meal, warned officials. But he’s worth the extra effort, officials said.

“Whoever gets him is going to get a really awesome wonderful kittycat,” Bank added.