A fat rat from Wales battles the bulge in a national pet slimming contest

A monster rat from Neath nicknamed ‘Mr T’ has reached the finals of the UK’s largest pet slimming competition.

The two-year-old rotund rat has been selected to compete against 12 other overweight animals as part of a project run by charity PDSA.

All of the participants will follow a strict six-month diet and exercise programme overseen by vets and vet nurses.

Chloe hopes her pet rat will slim down Credit: PDSA

Mr T’s story

Weighing in at a whopping 0.975kg (2.1lb), Mr T has snacked his way to double the size he should be. He needs to lose 0.475kg (1lb) to reach his ideal weight (0.5kg/1lb).

His owner Chloe Evans owns several rats and says it’s a mystery to her why Mr T has become so obese but she has several other rats and dears he could be taking more than his fair share.

'Mr T' relaxing in his cage Credit: PDSA

Chloe thinks a lot of Mr T's weight gain is down to his lack of exercise, but despite making adaptations to the cage to make him work harder for his food, he hasn't lost anything.

He will now be put on a special diet and won't be able to get his teeth into his favourite foods.

Mr T's six-month Pet Fit Club diet and exercise programme will be monitored by the vets and nurses at Swansea PDSA Pet Hospital.

With a ban on tasty treats 'Mr T' may get a bit ratty but it's for his own good!