A big fella named Little Dude weighing in at a whopping 36 lbs (16kg) is on a mission to slim down safely with help from his foster family.

WAGS wrote: "A BIG Little Dude is a Supersized Sweetie looking to slim down and eventually find his forever home. He weighs in at 36 lbs & is in a loving foster home.

In August, 2014, a 5 year old male brown tabby named Little Dude was relinquished by his family to Westminster Adoption Group & Services due to financial hardship. Sadly, this story is quite common, but there was a twist!

No one at WAGS could prepare for what they were about to receive. They were presented with what could be considered the poster kitty for morbid obesity. Adult male cats typically weigh, on average, 12-14 lbs, but this handsome guy is just a bit bigger. Actually, he's a lot bigger. Little Dude can barely walk, weighing in at a whopping 36.4 lbs!

Right away, they recognized that this supersized sweetie needed an intervention. A call was put out for a foster to step up to help this cat shed the pounds and build his strength.

That call was answered by a wonderfully loving family who has fostered many times over the years, as well as adopted from WAGS. Together, WAGS and the foster family - with a prescription involving lots of love, a healthy diet, playful exercise, and weekly vet checks - will help Little Dude transform into a whole new cat."

Meet Little Dude. He weighs in at a whopping 36 lbs (16kg) is on a mission to slim down safely with help from his foster family.

Grooming time in his foster home.

"With a prescription involving lots of love, a healthy diet, playful exercise, and weekly vet checks - will help Little Dude transform into a whole new cat."

Follow Little Dude's progress on Facebook.