A 43-pound Ontario cat has amassed quite the following on TikTok, as pet lovers worldwide have gathered to cheer the animal on during his weight loss journey. 

Axel, also known as Biggie Smalls, is an Ottawa cat that was sent to Ferdinand and Friends, a local non-profit animal rescue network that specializes in high-risk animals and those needing extra support. 

@axel.biggiesmalls Wow we are blown away by all those interested in Axel’s story! Heres a brief run down by Axel himself. Thank you to @Refuge Proanima au Québec for bringing him into our lives! #obesity #petobesity #cathealth #rescuecats #weightlossstory #axelbiggiesmalls ♬ original sound - Axel aka Biggie Smalls

The seven-year-old cat weighed a staggering 43 pounds when he was dropped off at the organization, and his owners have since been documenting his weight loss journey on TikTok to raise awareness about pet obesity. 

@axel.biggiesmalls Morning brush and rubs with that wide stance 😂 living his best life. #chonkycat #chonk #orangecatbehavior #fatcatsoftiktok #weightlossprogress ♬ original sound - ✨Walter the Catt✨

Axel's TikTok account has garnered over 2.6 million likes and 128,000 followers, with some viral videos — specifically one in which his owner attempts to get him to climb some stairs  — amassing over one million likes. 

"Hi, I'm Axel, but they call me Biggie Smalls 'cause right now I'm Biggie, but soon I'm gonna be Small," a voiceover in one of Axel's TikTok videos says. 

@axel.biggiesmalls

Axel went back downstairs again 🤣 it’s actually really amazing he was able to make it down the stairs but carrying him back up is hard on the back.

♬ Sneaky Friends - Eitan Epstein Music

Axel's fans regularly check back in during "weigh-in Fridays," where they keep up to date with the cat's progress. Since February, Axel has managed to lose an impressive 10 pounds, although his owners are hoping that he'll be able to lose another 10 to 15 pounds over the next year. 

"Biggie congratulations on getting a neck," one person wrote after Axel's recent weight loss.

"He's gonna look like a different cat before the end of this year," another fan wrote. "We all couldn't be more proud of him."