A cat that was anonymously left at a Las Vegas animal shelter had matted fur so severe and filled with dirt and debris that the feline looked like multiple cats.
After Treasure the cat was surrendered to the Animal Foundation on February 13, the team immediately started working on the matting since it was some of the largest it had seen, Marketing Manager Allison Ford told Newsweek. Treasure’s matted fur started at the nape of his neck and ended at the base of his tail.
Ford said that Treasure was very comfortable with the grooming staff and that it took the team only about 20 minutes to shave off all the matting. Sometimes cats will need anesthesia because such grooming can be uncomfortable, but Treasure did not need it. He was patient and showed discomfort just a few times when they were shaving the extra-tight areas, Ford said.
Once he was done, he “looked and felt like a new cat,” the caption on a February 21 Instagram post reads.
theanimalfoundation/Instagram
Matted fur can cause discomfort and irritation, and if the mats start to pull enough on a cat’s skin, sores can form, sometimes leading to infection. Treasure’s matting was thick and dense, which can make it difficult for the skin underneath to receive air. This will cause the skin to stay moist and dirty, with fecal and urine buildup.
Usually, a cat will groom him or herself by just licking. This helps keep its skin healthy, but every once in a while human intervention is needed to get to areas the cat might have missed or if matting occurs. Ford recommends speaking to a veterinarian if matting forms because it could be due to underlying health problems.
The Instagram post, which has over 1,133 likes and 35 comments, shocked viewers when they saw how much matting Treasure had. After the grooming, his face clearly showed he was so relieved.
“Poor baby! I bet he feels so much better with all those mats gone,” one comment reads.
Another user said: “Poor boy. So glad you guys found him.”
Ford said the Animal Foundation is not sure if Treasure was left as a stray or by a previous owner. Either way, he was in good hands with the team, getting the attention he needed. Now, he’s with an animal rescue facility waiting for adoption.
“For privacy reasons, we don’t typically release Paw Partner information, but we’re sure this handsome guy will be adopted again in no time,” Ford said.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.