Thirty-pound cat too fat to jump on bed

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FREDERICTON, New Brunswick, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- The Canadian foster mother of an abandoned 30-pound cat named Tiny says she's using a laser pen to get the lazy critter moving more than a few yards.

The male cat was abandoned in a box at an animal shelter before the New Year in Fredericton, New Brunswick, and fostered out to Nancy Garon, the Toronto Star reported.

For five days, Tiny refused all food, which workers attributed to stress. Tiny lost three pounds, but concerns arose the cat could go into liver failure because of the sudden loss of appetite.

Garon said she's experimented and found Tiny will eat anything unhealthy from her hand, but isn't particular about fish and chicken unless there's some gravy involved.

She said the green-eyed gray tabby needs help getting onto her bed, but she's had success with getting Tiny active by having him chase a dot from a laser pen and swatting at a toy swung from a little fishing pole.

Once a week, she takes Tiny for a weigh-in as part of a fundraising weight loss challenge for Canada's Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Meanwhile, she told the Star she's leaning to changing from a foster role to outright adoption, as Tiny is "growing" on her.