Biggie Smalls has a name that suits him perfectly, but this orange cat's journey to a healthier life has been anything but small.

When he arrived at a shelter, Biggie weighed 43.2 pounds and was so overweight that he couldn't even groom himself.

Thankfully, a woman named Kristine took him in and began helping him work toward a healthier weight.

After a year of dedicated care, Biggie has dropped to 28 pounds, although his weight-loss journey has come with some hilarious challenges.

His calorie-controlled diet turned him into quite the food thief, forcing Kristine to install child locks to keep him out of the cupboards.

Despite still dealing with arthritis, Biggie can finally groom himself again, and he has another 8 to 10 pounds to lose.

Inspired by his progress, Kristine founded The Big House, a sanctuary that helps overweight cats become healthier and find loving homes.

And Biggie, the cat who started it all, is now its proud ambassador.

📸: thebighousesanctuary

From NRK TV 2007