MEOW the cat might have the world's least original name but he's got bigger (ahem) problems.

He's possibly the world's fattest cat.

The orange and white tabby tips the scales at nearly 18 kilograms, and the Santa Fe Animal Shelter in New Mexico is on a mission to get him back into shape.

Shelter spokesman Ben Swan said Meow's 87-year-old owner could no longer take care of him, so the two-year-old cat was turned over to a southeastern New Mexico shelter that called Santa Fe for help.

Meow is going on a special diet so he can shed some pounds and go up for adoption.

Mr Swan said the cat has a sweet demeanor but cannot play for very long because he loses his breath due to the extra weight.

But he added it remained unclear how Meow got so big in his short life.

Originally published as Is this the world's fattest cat?