Pets thin prizes: Fat cats and massive mutts among animals vets hope to help get in shape

Portly pooches and flabby felines are desperately battling to shed some pounds in a competition run by an animal charity.

Pet Fit Club, a competition run by the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals, encourages overweight cats, dogs and rabbits to get in shape.

Specialist vets will be guiding the owners of each of these supersized pets on their journey to good health by providing a balanced diet and tailored exercise plan.

The contestants - 11 dogs, five cats and two rabbits - are carrying a combined excess weight of more than 24 stone - the equivalent of 380 tins of dog food, 35 average-sized cats or 50 Yorkshire Terriers.