4/27/2023 – Boulder, CO

A Colorado woman has revealed how she lost 200 pounds in two years by playing hide and seek with her cat in the wilderness. Mary Tomlinson, 45, said she adopted a cat named Fluffy from a local organization called Cats for Change, which trains felines to help their owners lose weight and have fun.

Fluffy was taught to run away from Tomlinson and hide in the forest and hills outside her house every morning, forcing Tomlinson to chase after him for hours. Tomlinson said she encountered many dangers during their games, such as bears, cougars, snakes, and even a moose.

“One time, Fluffy hid under a log and I had to crawl in after him. I didn’t realize there was a rattlesnake close by until it bit me on the leg. I had to run back to the house and call 911. Fluffy followed me and licked my wound until the paramedics arrived,” Tomlinson said.

Tomlinson stated she was initially overweight and depressed, but thanks to Fluffy, she transformed her body and her life. She wrote a bestselling biography called “The Cat That Saved Me”, which details her adventures with Fluffy and offers tips on how to lose weight with a cat. She also became a social media sensation, with millions of followers on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. She posts videos of Fluffy hiding in different places and challenges her fans to find him.

Cats for Change is a nonprofit organization that rescues stray cats and trains them to be companions for people who want to lose weight or have fun. The organization’s founder, Dr. Felix Meadows, said he came up with the idea after he lost his wife to obesity-related complications.

“I wanted to honor her memory by helping others who struggle with their weight. Cats are perfect for this because they are agile, playful, and independent. They can motivate their owners to exercise and have fun at the same time,” Meadows said.

Social media comments regarding the training and cats in general were mixed:

“Cats are like ninjas. They don’t need training,” noted @CatsForever. “They’re always there when you don’t want them, and nowhere to be found when you do.”

“Why play hide and seek? If you want to find your cat, just go to the bathroom.  I swear, my cat has a sixth sense for when I’m about to go there. She always comes running in at the exact moment I close the door.” @PrivacyPlease

“I swear, my cat is a magician. She can disappear into thin air,” @TryNewFads “I’m a big supporter.  Thanks Cats for Change. I need this!”

“I’m not sure where my cat goes when she hides, but I’m pretty sure it’s a place where she can judge me without me knowing it.” @CrassCats

“I’m starting to think that my cat is a spy for the CIA. She’s always sneaking around and eavesdropping on my conversations. And then, she goes missing for hours on end” @DogsAreBetter

Meadows said he has trained over 500 cats and helped over 1,000 people lose weight and improve their health. He said he is proud of Tomlinson and Fluffy’s success story and hopes they inspire more people to adopt cats and play hide and seek with them.