The abandoned cat is released after removing two pounds of fur.

The cat now lives with a distant relative of her former owner
Thanks to a necessary haircut, a Pennsylvania cat holiday will be brighter and brighter.

The cat, who had about two pounds of dense fur that formed into heavy mats, was brought to the Animal Rescue League Shelter & Wildlife Center in Pittsburgh on Thursday, clearly in serious need of help after her owner entered a nursing home.

“She suffered from severe dreadlocks (dreadlocks, really) that were lovingly neglected for years,” said a post on the shelter’s Facebook page on Friday. “Our medical team shaved the pounds of intertwined fur off her body & needless to say, this cat feels so much better now!”

The kitty, Hidey, is now being cared for by a distant relative of her former owner and, according to the post, will “finally have a chance at a happy and healthy life.

The Facebook post reminded people how important it is to check on the elderly and their animals to prevent such things from happening to other animals.