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NEW YORK NEWSDAY BLACKWOOD, NEW JERSEY July 31, 2008  A 44-pound cat, found wandering the southern New Jersey community of Voorhees last Saturday, is seen July 28 in Sicklerville, N.J. The cat's owners have until Aug. 2, 2008, to reclaim her; then, she'll be up for adoption.
(AP Photo / July 30, 2008) Turns out, the economy is the reason a 44-pound cat found lumbering the streets of New Jersey became homeless.
The Camden County Animal Shelter says the cat's owner came forward to say she had to abandon the tubby tabby because her home was foreclosed.
Shelter director Jennifer Anderch says the older woman recently lost her home and could not keep the 10-year-old cat, whom she called "Powder."
The shelter has been caring for the cat _ who became a local media sensation this week and was dubbed "Princess Chunk" _ since it was found on Saturday wandering the southern New Jersey suburb of Voorhees.
It also turns out that the princess is a prince. A veterinarian who checked the cat Thursday on "Live with Regis and Kelly" determined it's a "he."
In a week with headlines about presidential politics, suicide bombings in Iraq and big baseball trades, the cat has also captured the nation's attention.
In fact, Anderch has changed her voicemail greeting to identify herself as "Chunk's publicist."
Shelter volunteer Deborah Wright says the cat eats normally despite its girth.
The largest tabby on record weighed 46 pounds, 15 ounces. That cat, who lived in Australia, died in the 1980s. The Guinness World Records has since dropped the category, fearing cat owners might harm their animals in an attempt to break the record.
Hundreds of people have called seeking to adopt the cat. Anderch's voice mail greeting says she's getting up to 15 calls an hour about the cat.
Powder was due to appear Friday on "Good Morning America" and closer to home later in August. She's scheduled to meet the public at the shelter's pet "adopt-a-thon" at a pet store in Cherry Hill on Aug. 17.
WIRES BLACKWOOD, NEW JERSEY Talk about New Jersey's fat cats. A 44-pound feline was found waddling around Saturday without a collar in Voorhees, and officials at the Camden County Animal Shelter hope she gets a nice — hopefully, diet-friendly — home. "She's built like a quarterback," said Deborah Wright, a shelter volunteer and current foster owner of the kitty. "I mean, how do you lose a 44-pound cat?!" Shelter officials are calling the porky cutie "Princess Chunk." The largest tabby on record weighed 46 pounds, 15 ounces. That cat, who lived in Australia, died in the 1980s. The Guinness World Records has since dropped the category, fearing cat owners might harm their animals in an attempt to break the record. Princess Chunk's owner has until Saturday to reclaim her. After that, the weighty pet will be eligible for adoption. Wright plans to speak with a veterinarian to put Chunk on a diet. For now, Chunk's diet consists of dry and wet cat food. "I'm about to put a leash on her and walk her," said Wright. "She could pass for a dog!"
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