When rescuers found Hidey on the streets, her condition was dire. Cats, though independent, need regular grooming, and Hidey had suffered years of neglect. Her owner, unable to groom her due to Alzheimer’s, had left her with matted fur so severe that rescuers mistook her for an alien creature.
Paul Russell, who discovered her, was shocked, exclaiming, “My god, this is a cat!” Hidey, a 14-year-old cat, was taken to the Animal Rescue League Shelter & Wildlife Center, where she became a symbol of the importance of supporting elderly pet owners.
After a medical team shaved her fur, Hidey found a new home with a family member, emphasizing the need for assistance in caring for elderly pets.
