Prince Chunk

Prince Chunk was a very large orange tabby who shot to fame in the United States in 2008 after being found as a stray in New Jersey and taken in by a local animal shelter. Tipping the scales at around twenty pounds, the good-natured giant made headlines partly for his sheer size and partly for the poignant circumstances that led to him being surrendered, and his story struck a chord at a time of economic hardship for many families.

Originally saddled with a less flattering name, the cat was rechristened Prince Chunk by the shelter, and the moniker stuck as his story spread. Newspapers, television crews and websites picked up the tale of the enormous, mild-mannered cat looking for a home, and he quickly became a national talking point — a heavyweight underdog everyone wanted to see land on his feet.

And land on his feet he did. The wave of publicity brought a flood of adoption offers, and Prince Chunk found a loving new home, his happy ending broadcast to the many people who had followed his search. His fame even inspired a foundation set up in his name to help other families keep or rehome their pets during difficult times.

Though his celebrity was brief, Prince Chunk became a feel-good symbol of animal rescue — a reminder that even the roundest, most down-on-their-luck stray can find fame, a foundation and a forever home.