Ananova:

A former fat cat has become the UK pet slimmer of the year after ditching his American lifestyle.

Nine-year-old Willie shed 2kg (4.4lb) on a strict diet and lots of exercise, reports the BBC.

Owner Helen Ebrahim said the turning point was moving from the USA to Pembrokeshire three years ago.

"He went to the vet regularly in the States but they would just say 'he's big' and that was the end of that," said Ms Ebrahim, of Manorbier.

"When I brought to him to the vets here they asked if I heard about the weight loss programme. As well as the diet he plays outdoors and we have at least 15 minutes of active play a day.

"He has more energy and you can see a big change in him - not just physically. It's the same as for people - exercise and diet."

Willie has been shedding the weight under the watchful eye of Cathy Raymond - a nurse with training in pet nutrition at the Kingston Veterinary Group in Pembroke.

"With Willie at the beginning we saw him once every three weeks - put him on the scales, got the tape measure out and talked about what he had been doing and eating since the last time we saw him.

"Now he has lost so much weight it is less frequent. It will definitely increase his life expectancy."

Willie beat off competition from pets across the UK to win the competition, organised by Hill's Pet Nutrition to help raise awareness of pet obesity.