Neglected Cat Sheds 2 Pounds Of Matted Fur After Grooming
Hidey the cat didn’t just have a bad hair day, she had a bad hair era. When a rescuer found her hiding in a Pittsburgh basement, her coat wasn’t “a little messy,” it was matted into something that looked uncomfortably like dreadlocks.
And we’re not talking about a quick brush-and-go situation. The tangled fur stretched about 6 to 8 inches, packed with fecal matter and knotted strands, and it took hours to get every single dread out. Once the Animal Rescue League and Wildlife Shelter stepped in, they shaved off the worst of it so she could finally breathe, move, and exist like a normal cat again.
Now that Hidey’s finally been freed from the tangled mess, the real question is what her next chapter looks like.
Unfortunately, for a cat named Hidey, a bad hair day was something that lasted for years instead of just a single day like it does for everyone else.

A cat in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been rescued with a sadly neglected coat of fur that was severely matted, resembling 'dreadlocks.'

The hair was matted together and was approximately 6 to 8 inches in length, with a combination of fecal matter and knotted strands.

After finding Hidey hiding in the basement, she was taken to the Animal Rescue League and Wildlife Shelter.

It took hours to remove all the dreads, and then the matted hair was shaved off completely.

Now that Hidey has been relieved of all the tangles and dreadlocks in her fur, she is feeling much more content.

She will be cared for by a distant relative of her previous owner and will finally have a chance at a happy and healthy life.

That’s when the basement hiding spot turned into an all-hands-on-deck rescue at the Animal Rescue League and Wildlife Shelter in Pittsburgh.
It’s hard not to think of the cat abandoned on a train while asleep, left to fend for itself.
The hours of untangling only made it clearer why Hidey’s “dreadlock” look had lasted for years, not days.
After the matted fur was shaved off completely, Hidey could finally feel content instead of stuck in knots and grime.
Now she’s being cared for by a distant relative of her previous owner, and you can almost hear her settling in after all that neglect.
Neglect can also take the form of not providing the animal with enough affection, exercise, and socialization. Animals need regular interaction, exercise, and love to stay healthy.
Without these essentials, an animal can become lonely, depressed, and even aggressive. Now that Hidey is in a new home, she is adjusting to her surroundings.
After being groomed and having all her matted hair and dreadlocks removed, she is feeling much better. She is now being cared for by a distant family member of her previous owner and will finally have the chance to live a happy and healthy life.
We are so happy for her.
Hidey’s fur grew back, but her chances at a real life finally did too.
For another extreme case of abandonment, read how Hidey was freed from 4 pounds of fur.