What is a Chonker? Fat feline obsession explained as world's fattest cat Crumbs dies

On Saturday, October 26, Crumbs - the fattest chonker cat in the world - passed away. According to The New York Post, the cat, whose real name was Kroshik (a Russian term that translates to "Crumbs"), first went viral in September 2024. He attempted to escape from a diet center but got stuck in a shoe rack during his attempt, which ultimately proved unsuccessful.

In the wake of Crumbs' death, the chonker trend, which celebrates round, overweight cats because of their cuteness is being scrutinized. By inspiring pet parents to overfeed their cats just for the sake of making them appear plumpy and cuddly, the trend raises concerns about pet obesity. The obsession with chonker cats also promotes the mistreatment of pets, which is another reason why it's problematic.

Crumbs weighed 17 kg (37.4 pounds) when he arrived at the veterinary weight loss center in Perm, Russia, where he had lost 7 pounds by the time of his death.

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The chonker trend started in 2019

According to The Guardian, the trend of chonker - or chonky - cats started on the internet in 2019, with social media platforms witnessing a steep rise in videos and groups admiring fat, chonky cats.

Considered cute and cuddly by a majority of pet parents, these cats started gaining a large fan base on Instagram, where accounts posting content surrounding them built a following of several hundred thousand users in no time.

Accounts like Round Boys, which featured overweight animals, including cats, dogs, penguins, seals, and more, exemplify the rising chonker popularity.

However, the trend has birthed health issues among pets. Just like humans, obesity is a serious problem for all animals, with cats being no exception to the rule. It not only shortens their lifespan but also invites a host of other health issues, like kidney or liver failure, breathing difficulties, and more. Since they can't watch their weight or take measures to lose some, they're in even more peril.

The trend has fizzled out in most regions in the last couple of years due to the growing awareness of pet well-being. The fate of Crumbs has only reiterated this message.

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Crumbs suffered a multiple organ collapse around the time of his death

Following Crumbs' death, the vets who analyzed her revealed cancerous tumors to be the cause of his death, the New York Post reported. They believed that tumors didn't show up in any of Crumbs' previous scans because the layers of his fat flab ran too deep.

Last week, the cancerous tumors had spread to his spleen, among other organs. According to Galiana More, the owner of Matroskin Cat Shelter, where Crumbs was being treated, to a multiple organ collapse that caused his death. Before his death, the chonker cat also suffered from breathing difficulties briefly.

More added:

"When this is a large set of such multi-organ failure, the body simply can not cope, despite the fact that Kroshik was really a fighter. We are looking ahead to starting an examination, to understand why the Crumbs died but we will have to wait for five days for that conclusion."

The shelter owner also expressed her sadness about Crumbs' demise as well as their inability to learn about his condition sooner to help him, adding:

"This is a great loss for us, because Kroshik was a symbol of hope for everyone, and we really wanted to publish only good news. It’s really painful to talk about it."

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At the time Crumbs arrived at the fat loss center, he was so heavy he could barely walk, the New York Post reported. The chonker cat's routine at the center involved an underwater treadmill combined with a strict diet to help him lose weight.