Spongebob in fatter times.

By Paul Bisceglio

New York’s favorite corpulent kitty has shed more than fur this summer. Spongebob, the nine year old tabby whose physique puts Garfield to shame, has lost some pounds since he was adopted from Animal Haven in June by Upper East Side newlyweds Courtney and Matthew Farrell.

The blog maintained by the couple on their portly new family member reports that Spongebob dropped four pounds in his first two weeks at home, down to 26 pounds from 30. His obesity — the result of overfeeding by his previous owner — puts him at risk of diabetes and arthritis, so Animal Haven and the Farrells created a diet and exercise routine to get him closer the feline average of 12 to 15 pounds.

Too much weight loss too soon can be bad for cats, however, so the Farrells note that Spongebob’s impressive progress is a cause for celebration as well as caution:

“Obese cats that lose weight at too rapid a pace are at risk for Fatty Liver Disease, which requires serious treatment and can be fatal,” they say on the blog. “When trying to help a cat lose weight, it’s important to monitor their weight and exercise levels regularly and look for any signs of discomfort, stress or illness.”

The couple had intended to help Spongebob drop only one to two pounds per month, but recognize that the stress of his sudden celebrity probably jolted things forward. To get him back on track, they have shelved the diet cat food and count play and general movement around their apartment as exercise.

Spongebob was a whopping 33 pounds when he arrived at Animal Shelter earlier in the year. Kendra Mara, the shelter’s Associate Director, has kept tabs on the tubby tabby’s progress, and is confident that he found the right home.

“Sponge Bob is doing fantastic in his new home and we couldn’t have found a better family for him,” she told New York Press. “He continues to lose weight and his parents keep a very close eye on his health. He brings them so much happiness and I am sure Sponge Bob feels the same way about them.”

Actress Edie Falco with Sponge Bob

By Paul Bisceglio

New York’s tubbiest tabby has a new home.

Sponge Bob, the 30 lb. feline media sensation, made his debut with his new owners last week on the purple carpet at Animal Haven’s second annual Performance for the Animals benefit concert and auction at City Winery in Tribeca.

Two months ago, Sponge Bob’s previous owner went into hospice and left the nine-year-old cat with Animal Haven, a non-profit cat and dog shelter on Centre Street in Soho. The shelter started a blog about Sponge Bob to aid his adoption that won him instant fame last week, including press coverage in the UK and an appearance on the Today Show. He is likely the world’s largest living cat.

Sponge Bob now belongs to Courtney and Matthew Farrell, a young newlywed couple living on the Upper East Side. They hoisted Sponge Bob up for the cameras on the red carpet – no easy task, for sure – and shared hugs and kisses with the cat and each other while expressing their enthusiasm for the new member of the family

Mrs. Farrell said that she and her husband started to play with the idea of getting a cat once they were married, but did not want to bother with a kitten or anything too out of control. When she first read about Sponge Bob, she sent Mr. Farrell a picture as a joke. A few conversations later, they knew they had found the perfect match. They were amazed that he had not yet been adopted.

“We’re gonna whip him into shape,” promised Mr. Farrell when asked about the cat’s health. He and his wife both exercise regularly and believe in promoting healthy lifestyles.

“He’s already on a no carb diet,” Mr. Farrell added with a smile. “Catkins.”

Courtney and Matthew Farrell, the proud new parents of Spongebob the cat, pose on the purple carpet.

Kendra Mara, Animal Haven’s Associate Director, said that blood work done on Sponge Bob showed that he has no current health complications beyond obesity. Dangers of diabetes and arthritis persist, though, so it is essential for Sponge Bob to maintain a healthy weight loss routine, with the target of shedding about one pound per month.

Ms. Mara noted that Animal Haven had been careful not to over-sensationalize Sponge Bob’s Garfield-esque physique, and believes that his sudden fame has helped raise much-needed awareness of feline and pet obesity, a serious issue in the city.

The Farrells enjoyed their moment in the spot light, but packed Sponge Bob into his baby stroller and hit the road before the evening’s concert and auction began.

“He’s been through a lot,” they agreed while scratching his portly chin. “We just want to get him home.”

Follow Sponge Bob’s progress on his blog, spongebobthecat.com, and learn more about Animal Haven, its mission and pet ownership in the city at animalhavenshelter.org.