Hello, thank you for clicking, are you in the market for a cat companion? And if so, how much time and space can you give over to its care, because the cat I have in mind for you is a big boy—a husky 41 pounds, in fact. But that just means more cat to love.

Interested? Of course you are. Let me tell you more about this thicc kitty. His name is Barsik, but if I were you, I would probably call him Beef. He is five years old, and came into the Animal Care Centers of NYC with his housemate, Sukie, reportedly a cat of "normal weight." Their owner had to give them up due to a move, and the pair has since been resettled at Anjellicle Cats Rescue in Manhattan because Barsik required roomier accommodations. (According to his new Instagram page, Barsik has been placed in foster care.)

We just received a 41 pound cat! Barsik is extremely obese and needs a home that can help him get to an ideal weight. He is too big for our housing so is resting in the office. Come by Manhattan ACC at 110th/2nd. pic.twitter.com/FNwuVVhC4P — Animal Care Centers 🐶🐱🐰 (@NYCACC) April 6, 2019

While I cannot guarantee that Barsik ranks as New York City's fattest cat—the Guinness Book of World Records no longer tracks this particular distinction—he is an impressive boy by any standard. Barsik outweighs Bruno, the high-maintenance polydactyl whose girth and lengthy list of demands won hearts the Internet over in 2018, by a solid 16 lbs. His portly constitution rivals that of the reigning record-holder, a 46-lb behemoth named Himmy who died in 1986, at age 10. While cats commonly live to about 1,000 years old (the actual average is closer to 15 years), feline obesity can reduce their lifespans considerably, and also translate to diabetes, urinary diseases, and bone problems.

Therefore, Barsik needs owners who can help him with his fitness: According to petMD's healthy weight calculator, Beef's—excuse me, Barsik's—target would be around 10 pounds, meaning you will need to craft a diet and exercise regimen, and get him to stick to it.

How do you exercise a cat, though? In addition to explaining the cat obesity chart to your beloved chonker, you'll need to consult with a vet to determine Barsik's best weight and ideal daily caloric intake, in order to establish a dietary game plan. You're also going to need to encourage him toward activity, whether that's by making him acclimate to a leash and harness so you can take him for walks, or by adding climbable scratching posts to your home, or by finding him more engaging toys, or some combination thereof.

My husband explaining the obesity chart at the vet's office to our cat pic.twitter.com/rkXgeMmvSb — Thirsty Spice (@thirstyspice) April 25, 2017

Anjellicle Cats had not responded to our request for comment at time of publication, so I can't say much about Barsik's temperament or preferred hobbies. I can tell you that he has blue eyes and predominantly white fur, save for a black ink spot on his nose and gray markings on his rump and his head. The latter sort of makes him look like he's wearing a toupee—a dapper and dense new buddy, to be sure.

Update: Barsik's foster human, Angelique Iuzzolino, says this chunky dude needs to undergo veterinary assessments before the adoption question comes up. "He will be under the close supervision of a veterinarian who will determine how much food he should receive daily to lose weight at a safe pace to prevent liver issues," a possible problem in cats who reduce too quickly, Iuzzolino tells Gothamist. "We will likely wait until any possible medical issues are sorted out and get him moving in the right direction before making him available for adoption."

Whoever becomes Barsik's keeper must be absolutely up to the task of keeping him on track in his weight loss journey, and committed to taking him to the vet regularly. In return, they will be rewarded with a "gentle and affectionate" friend: According to Iuzzolino, Barsik enjoys cheek and belly rubs, although she needs to get to know him a little better before she can really speak to his likes and dislikes.

Anjellicle Cats has set up a donation page for Barsik, in order to buy him a "special rolling carrier" and an extra-large litter box. If you feel so inclined, you can contribute here.