An incredibly muscular cat has taken the internet by storm — and shockingly, it’s not Buddy!
A Reddit user posted a photo of a Sphinx cat who looks like he eats UFC fighters for breakfast and bullies lions in his spare time. But it turns out there’s a medical reason for his bulging physique, and it’s not just the result of tens of thousands of kitty push-ups.
The hairless feline has “Myostatin-related muscle hypertrophy, a rare condition that causes muscles to grow excessively large,” the poster explained.
Humans and animals can be impacted by the condition. Myostatin-related muscle hypertrophy also results in reduced body fat and doesn’t just potentially double muscle size — it results in increased strength as well, per the National Institutes of Health.
“Affected individuals have up to twice the usual amount of muscle mass in their bodies. They also tend to have increased muscle strength,” according to the NIH. “This condition is not known to cause any medical problems, and affected individuals are intellectually normal.”
When one user asked if the cat will be alright, another answered in the affirmative, but with a caveat: “Anyone who pisses him off won’t be.”
The cat’s already racked up nicknames like Kitbull, Katzenegger and The Purrminator.
Asked for comment on the photo, Buddy the Cat insisted the super-muscular cat poses no threat to him.
“My meowscles are even yuger, it’s just that you can’t see them because of my fur,” Buddy explained. “If I were a hairless breed like a Sphinx you would see my bulging meowscles, but I’m a Buddinese tiger, and my coat is luxuriously silky smooth.”
Pain In The Bud 
Buddy wears his high self esteem proudly!
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It really is part of his personality. He thinks he’s a big, tough cat…and then when something scares him, he makes a terrified moaning sound and hides behind my legs lol. He’s not as dignified as Tux.
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Wow, that cat is RIPPED! A local tuxedo tom comes by often for a snack, and while he’s furred, his forelegs (forearms) are bulging! He’s not neutered and fully grown but not huge. Still, those bizeps are impressive! 8)
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Did you see the buff Canadian cat? A few years ago a woman who encountered him took photos. He was a stray, I think, and must have had a similar issue because he was as wide as two cats.
It makes sense that neutering would impact muscle development. Buddy doesn’t know any better since he got the ship at 4 months old. I hated having to have that done, but I know it’s necessary. At least it was before he hit puberty.
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Yeah, I saw that pic of the buff cat some time ago. An impressive animal!
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That can’t be a good thing in the long term for their kidneys. Low body fat is already an issue in normal kitties, not that Buddy is normal or anything.
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Of course not. And it’s totally obvious that he’s pure muscle — and not the slightest bit chubby — under that coat! (He’s looking over my shoulder right now.)
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Oh dear God. They front paw declawed this marvelous cat!
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I didn’t notice that and I’m definitely not an expert in determining if a cat’s been declawed. Is it possible they’re just retracted?
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Buddy is too cute to be lying!
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That’s how he gets away with his hijinx, he looks all cute and I’m like “Of course he didn’t knock over that glass, he’s such a good boy!”
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