Cats are often regarded as low-maintenance pets, but certain breeds require more attention than others. Breeds such as Persians, Himalayans, and Maine Coons have long, thick fur that demands regular grooming to avoid complications such as skin infections and matting.
Due to inadequate grooming by her owner, Hidey, the cat was neglected, resulting in her poor condition. When the rescuer arrived to inspect the well-being of his elderly relative’s cat, he mistook Hidey for a feline concealed under a blanket. The experience was likened to a scene from the sci-fi film Alien. At the time, he was unaware of the presence of a second creature in the same abode.
Paul Russell told PEOPLE, “It darted out from under a bed.” “At first, I believed it to be a cat with a blanket covering it. The following day, when I entered the eerie old cellar, it was tucked away in a corner. I said, “My god, this is a cat!”
After discovering Hidey, a 14-year-old feline with a tendency to hide due to neglect, an animal-loving couple from Churchill, Pennsylvania took both cats into their care. They arranged for an appointment at the Animal Rescue League Shelter & Wildlife Center where staff removed the matted fur that had accumulated over several years on Hidey’s body.
Hidey the cat was rescued by the Russells who named her and claimed that her previous owner had Alzheimer’s disease and was no longer aware of her surroundings. The Russells believe that the mats on Hidey were a result of the obese feline’s inability to groom herself properly. Since her rescue, Hidey has become a symbol of the importance of monitoring the well-being of elderly individuals and their pets.
According to Dan Rossi, CEO of the Animal Rescue League Shelter, while pets can offer numerous positive benefits to the elderly, such as reducing loneliness and increasing physical activity, pet ownership also requires significant responsibility. Therefore, he recommends assisting elderly pet owners in establishing a support system in case of mental decline.
Upon discovering Hidey, an abandoned cat with dreadlocks as long as 6-8 inches, the rescuers sought assistance from the Animal Rescue League Shelter and Wildlife Center in Pittsburgh. Hidey’s owner had been relocated to a nursing home due to Alzheimer’s, and the cat had likely been left alone for up to two years.
Dr. Yaelen Levitzki, a veterinarian, posted a video on Facebook documenting the process of liberating Hidey from severe matting. According to Dr. Levitzki, Hidey’s fur had formed into dreadlocks, making it the most extensive matting she had ever seen in a cat.
To ensure the cat’s comfort during the procedure, Hidey was sedated.
The shelter reported that she had severe matting that had been untreated for years. “This cat is feeling so much better now,” our medical team said after shaving off the pounds of tangled fur from her body.
After he was freed from that burden, the cat was relocated with a relative of his owner.
Share this article:
Recommended: