The Oregon Humane Society has a champion new fat cat.

"Wheels," a 33-pound, 14-year-old tabby is now available for adoption at the humane society, 1067 N.E. Columbia Blvd. in Portland

Sharon Harmon, executive director of the human society, was thinking in basketball terms when describing Wheels because of the NCAA tournament's visit to Portland this week.

"If he were a basketball player, he would definitely be the 'wide body' blocking the path to the hoop," said Harmon.

In January, OHS put up

up for adoption. He tipped the scales at 28 pounds and was quickly taken home by a Molalla couple. Previously, in February of 2007, the society had adopted out

That seemed big at the time, but Goliath was only two-thirds the size of Wheels and Harmon verified that Wheels is the fattest cat to ever cross the society's threshold.

Harmon said Wheels came to OHS from another humane society because it wanted to make sure the friendly cat had a good chance for full medical care. OHS veterinarians have given him a full medical exam and found him to be disease free but say Wheels needs to lose weight at a slow but steady pace to stay healthy.

Wheels is available for adoption for just $12 from OHS, and a medical consultation is included at no charge.

The public can visit Wheels Sunday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., at the OHS shelter.

He is online at

.

– The Oregonian