machinegunkelly, you have an awesome family of friends, as do you PersianKitty.
I only have one kitty ... uh, cat I should say, named Gangster#1, or 'G'. I adopted him when I moved in to this way cool crackhouse with battering ram marks on he door and a bullet hole in my bedroom. -- no shit.
30 pounds (yes, lbs) and growing. My vet asked that I pretend he weighs only 15, and feed accordingly. I quickly replied: "Doc, you see the size of him ... you try and tell him he can not eat what he wants, then try and get some sleep.)