Paul Russell discovered the cat after his 82-year-old relative, living with Alzheimer's, was relocated to a nursing home.
Initially assuming his relative had just one cat, Paul was astounded to discover an additional feline, weighed down by a whopping two pounds of matted fur.
Surprise discovery
The cat's fur had grown so excessively that it had transformed into dreadlocks. The 14-year-old feline was taken to the Animal Rescue League Shelter & Wildlife Center in Pittsburgh, where the medical team painstakingly removed the pounds of tangled fur from the cat, giving her instant relief.
New home for Hidey
Paul and his family adopted the cat, now affectionately named Hidey, alongside their relative's other feline companion. Hidey is still adapting to her new life with the family and their other pets, but the cat is gradually opening up.
While pet ownership can benefit older people immensely, it remains crucial to ensure that older relatives and friends can adequately care for their pets. If you know an older person who owns a pet, ensure they have an appropriate support system in place if they can no longer care for the animal.
