Mattie arrived at the York County SPCA centre earlier this year after a member of the public found him by the side of a road. But it's a miracle they even spotted Mattie. Because he didn't even look like a cat.
Years of poor care and neglect had turned his beautiful ginger coat into a tangled mass of matted fur, making Mattie look like an old, dirty carpet dumped by the side of the road. How could anyone let a cat suffer like this and then throw them away? Shocking.
Worst case ever
Staff couldn't believe their eyes when they saw Mattie lying on the examination table. He had enough fur to cover another three cats, and the way it was tangled up must have felt like agony.
Shelter Director Dr Natalie Weekes, who has practised veterinary medicine for over ten years, said she'd never seen a case as bad as this:
"Mattie was the worst matted animal I have ever seen in my career. The mats were so large and heavy that it was hard to see where his actual body was."
Vets spent three hours cutting and trimming Mattie's fur. And that revealed many other health problems, including a nasty skin infection and several open sores. Mattie was in a really bad way.
And then there were the emotional scars. Mattie was nervous, anxious, and didn't understand the idea of being stroked or petted. Poor soul.
The new Mattie
But Mattie had one thing on his side; he was under the care of people who would never (ever) give up on him. The shelter staff spent weeks treating Mattie's skin issues and earning his trust.
Since then, Mattie has blossomed into a sweet and loving little guy with a huge personality. And he looks great, too! All Mattie needs now is his forever home.
We're keeping our paws crossed for you, Mattie. But we don't think you'll need our help. You won't have to wait long for someone to fall in love and take you home. Cute cats like you never do.
