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Extra-large and relaxed – Dad-bod tomcats seek easier life off the streets

While many have started their pre-summer fitness campaign, a languid lot at RSPCA SA’s Lonsdale shelter is having no part in it. The five handsome, softly round tomcats are enjoying a high life of regular meals, treats, warm beds, and lots of TLC while residing inside the shelter’s cat adoption centre.

At almost nine kilos, seven-year-old Mickie currently holds the RSPCA SA Best Dad Bod title, announced today ahead of Sunday’s Father’s Day celebrations. The ginger and white tabby arrived as a stray from Seacombe Gardens nearly a month ago and is in no hurry to drop to his ideal weight of 7.5 kilos.

“Mickie’s openly low-effort, built for comfort not speed,” says Jenny Sherring, RSPCA’s Cat Administration Manager, with unmasked affection.

“He’s well past any interest in sculpting a six-pack – when we pick him up, we’re the ones getting a workout.”

Second place goes to three-year-old, sleek and black Batman, who weighs six kilos and comes as a double deal with his best mate, yes – Robin, who is female, also stylishly black and strangely, almost two kilos heavier than her male sidekick.

“She’s big and proud – she seems to like stepping on the scales for her weekly weigh-in,” says Jenny, adding that the beautiful pair love each other, though Robin is boss. They arrived at the Lonsdale shelter more than five months ago, surrendered due to their elderly owner’s ill health, and need a new home where they can stay together.

Coming in equal third are 15-year-old Bond and four-year-old Curly, who both tip the scales at a comparatively svelte 5.3kilos. Like many tomcats, Curly sports evidence of rough times on the streets. To his many admirers among RSPCA SA’s cat care team, his slightly mangled right ear only adds to the big fella’s charm.

Affection-craving Steve is a special mention in the Father’s Day tomcat celebration. According to Jenny, the stray grey tabby from Seaford Rise, who at just one year old already weighs four kilos, came into RSPCA SA care just in time.

“With his droopy jowl and thick neck, Steve has all the hallmarks of an over-size tomcat in the making,” says Jenny. “If he hadn’t come to us this young, and been desexed, he would have gone on to sire lots of kittens, adding to our cat overpopulation problem…it’s a very good thing that he’s had the snip.”

Three-quarters of respondents to a survey conducted last year by Dating.com said they preferred the Dad bod to a more toned one, and Jenny and the cat-care team are hoping a majority of people feel the same way about tubby tomcats.

“By the time these big boys come to us, they usually have a bit of history, a few war wounds and plenty of offspring,” says Jenny.

“All they’re looking for is time on the couch, regular meals and occasional ear scratches, and in return they’ll give you the kind of joyful company you only get from a rescued animal who know he’s lucked out.”