• Kim Chapin/AP Photo
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    Skinny isn't quite living up to his name, but the orange tabby is making progress. According to TODAY, the pudgy pussycat is shedding the pounds and getting slimmer by the day. 

  • East Lake Pet Orphanage (ELPO)/facebook
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    Skinny was found wandering around Texas two months ago, weighing an impressive 41 pounds. 

  • East Lake Pet Orphanage (ELPO)/facebook
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    After some dedicated work from the East Lake Pet Orphanage, Skinny the shrinking fat cat now weighs 37 pounds. 

  • East Lake Pet Orphanage (ELPO)/facebook
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    Skinny lost the extra pounds through the classic mix of diet and exercise. The shelter's staff says the change has already had a positive effect on Skinny's mobility. 

  • Brittany Webb)/East Lake Pet Orphanage/AP Photo
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    Skinny will probably be hunkered down at the Texas shelter for a few more months to shed his extra padding. 

  • Kim Chapin/AP Photo
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    Veterinarians believe it would be unsafe to adopt out Skinny to an animal lover until he is about 30 pounds. Even when the kitty finds his forever home, his new owners will have to watch Skinny's weight. 

  • East Lake Pet Orphanage (ELPO)/facebook
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    It is still a mystery how 5-year-old Skinny reached the weight of a 4-year-old child, but one mystery has been solved — the cat's gender. 

  • Brittany Webb)/East Lake Pet Orphanage/AP Photo
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    Originally the staff believed that Skinny was a female cat, hence the more feminine name. 

  • East Lake Pet Orphanage (ELPO)/facebook
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    After a little more handling and weight loss, it became clear that Skinny had more of a masculine side. The cat is actually a neutered male. 

  • Brittany Webb)/East Lake Pet Orphanage/AP Photo
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    Next: Fat Cat 'Otto' Loses 16 Lbs

    Boy or girl, the name Skinny seems to suit this cat just fine. He may not be slim yet, but Skinny is on his way to a furry, fit physique and forever home.