Arizona Humane Society Removes 2 Pounds Of Matted Fur From Fluffer The Cat, She Gets Adopted 2 Days Later
Interview
Kindhearted people are out there rescuing neglected pets every single day. Julie from the Arizona Humane Society rescued Fluffer the cat last Friday after she responded to a call and found the poor animal severely matted. At first, it wasn’t even clear what sort of animal poor Fluffer was!
After a lot of effort, care, and attention from the AHS team, Fluffer became a stunning gray and white catto once again. You could even say that Fluffer turned into ‘Floofer!’ The gorgeous 4-year-old cat was back to looking meowtastic after her rescuers removed 2 pounds (nearly a kilogram) of matted fur from her body. That’s a quarter of what the cat weighs.
The story wasn’t over yet, though. Barely 2 days after being given a new shot at life, Fluffer was adopted and now lives with her new owners in her forever home. Scroll down for Bored Panda’s interview about Fluffer with Bretta Nelson who is the Public Relations Manager at the AHS.
More info: AZHumane.org | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube
The Arizona Humane Society team rescued 4-year-old Fluffer the cat
She was severely matted and they couldn’t tell what animal it as at first
The AHS team removed 2 pounds of matted fur from Fluffer
The cat didn’t mind one bit even though it was painful!
Bretta told Bored Panda that the AHS’ Emergency Animal Medical Technicians received a call for help after Fluffer’s owner passed away. According to Bretta, it took around an hour to remove Fluffer’s matted fur.
“She is an absolute sweetheart, so much so that she required no sedation during her procedure which is extremely unusual when caring for cats who are likely in pain,” Bretta said. She added that she’s reached out to Fluffer’s new owners and is waiting to hear back from them. However, one thing that she can tell us is that Fluffer’s now living in Glendale.
She’s a very patient cat
Here’s what the transformation process looked like
The grooming took about an hour
Fluffer looks like she’s back to her good old self
“As a nonprofit organization that cares for the Valley’s sick, injured and abused homeless pets, our community, adopters, and donors are critical to the work that we do and we couldn’t be more grateful for their support. For people interested in making a gift, they can do so here,” Bretta said.
Meanwhile, Julie Bolchalk who responded to the emergency call last week said that she hasn’t seen matting this bad. “I have seen some rather horrific cases in my time rescuing animals, but had never seen matting this bad—they were larger than her entire body. Yet, she was very sweet and got groomed without having to be sedated which is a miracle.”
She must be glad that folks from the AHS helped her out
The matted fur weighed a quarter of the cat’s weight!
There, meowch better!
Fluffer was adopted 2 days after being rescued
Image credits: Arizona Humane Society
According to the Arizona Humane Society, Fluffer didn’t mind her haircut one bit. For those of you pandas who are worried about the cat, don’t be: she’s doing well and she’s in perfect health. When the AHS shared Fluffer’s story on Instagram, they got nearly 1.2k likes in 2 days.
The AHS has a very simple but wholesome mission—to help vulnerable animals and to enrich both their lives and the lives of people. They also have a very strict policy of never euthanizing any pets to make space for new rescues.
The Arizona Humane Society also states that its various medical, rehabilitation, and spay/neuter initiatives saved 100k animal lives over the last 6 years. The organization also supports pet owners by connecting them with medical, behavior, and support experts and services to make sure that both the animals and the owners are living their best lives.
What’s more, the AHS partners up with law enforcement for animal cruelty investigations and advances legislation to protect pets from neglect and abuse.
There are plenty of Humane Societies in the US, so it’s easy to get mixed up and lump them all together. However, the AHS is a completely nonprofit organization and isn’t affiliated with any of the other American Humane Societies.
So, dear Pandas, what do you think of Fluffer’s incredible transformation? Share your thoughts in the comments!
I'm glad that they were able to help Fluffer! And it's awesome that she found her new forever home so quickly.
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I heard that the fur actually cools an animal in the summer. In spring animals shed the lower layer of their fur, that which keeps them warm in winter.
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Fluffer is an awkward name.... That's a rather specific job in the adult movie industry.
And because of that I think it's a great name! ;)
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Don't all cats shed? Perhaps we need a complete story about how Fluffer got into this condition.
Thought the same thing. I had no idea cats hair could grow that long. How? I've had cats all my younger years. The hair did not grow. It just shed.
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VERY good work! Shaving a cat is very challenging, their skin is very thin and delicate. If nicked, it can TEAR! She's a pretty cat, and deserves a nice new home for her queenly self!
I wish people would pluck up the courage to ask for help before their pet gets into a situation like this... glad she found a new home.
What a handsome kitty underneath all of that matted fur. I'm glad that Fluffer found his forever home. Thank you to the Humane Society for rescuing him.
It's a shame that the cat got to this point. This is easy treatable and preventable, however, if it's a stray cat this is a different story. Thank you for everything you do and thank you that you rescued this sweet soul and gave him a second chance to life. Bless all of you! 🥰
Right?! It's so sad. Since they didn't say anything like "the former owners were brought to justice" it could of been an unhealthy person who didn't know any better. (as in some sort of dementia or severe depression)
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Matted, knotted fur can be painful for cats. It can inhibit movement like jumping and stretching -- even walking. If someone can't brush their cat(s), attach dollar store paddle brushes (instead of bristles, it has plastic sticks with ball ends) to the legs of tables or the frame of a doorway. Cats will brush themselves the way they do in the wild when rubbing against tree bark or thorny branches.
Years ago I moved into a new townhouse. There was a beautiful fluffy cat hanging around and his stomach was covered in matted fur, just like Fluffer. The tail and head too but his back was ok. I had some sedatives for my dog (long drive to move) and called the vet about the correct dose for a cat, I sedated this cat, kinda wrapped him in a towel, got my boyfriends clippers and went to town. The cat looked amazing and was much happier after. Turns out it was the new neighbours cat but and his excuse was ‘My girlfriend has been away, she grooms the cat’. Turds!
She's beautiful and I'm so happy that she's already found a forever home.
Bless Fluffer's heart and the hearts of all the people who helped restore this awesome lady to a bearable life! There is a special place in Heaven for those .who rescue and care for pets. Good luck Fluffer and may you have a long happy life with your new humans!
2 pounds? Wow! Fur is so light. That takes a serious amount of fur to make 2 lbs.
Kudos to all who worked to restore this lovely lady to a normal life. Matting is very painful to pets so her sweetness is remarkable during all of the grooming. Kudos to you all and may Fluffers have a long and happy, healthy life with her new humans!
You were patient and pleasant Fluffer as they got all that old fur off of you. Good job. Enjoy your new life, you deserve nothing but love and treats!
when my lovely old lady Maine Coone began having difficulties grooming is when I started regularly shaving her down and giving her a Lion Cut. Cutest damn thing ever.
Hello: Few years ago you posted a kitten pouch that enabled shelter workers to socialize feral kittens by walking around with them in the pouch on you. "Bjorn pouch?" I'd like the pattern, or to buy the pouch so my new rescue group, Garfield's Rescue, Inc. could make for our use. My contact information is:karenp1714@gmail.com. Please help!
Glad she found a home. I live in AZ, if she was still available I'd adopted her immediately
I've had cats. Not once did one get matted like this. We didn't comb their fur or anything. I know my Schnauzer would mat without care, but a cat!
Im sure they had to X-ray the sweetheart to identify how much fur had accumulated. Dogs can't get MRIs but cat scan.
This Ragdoll isn't so raggedy anymore! (I have one, so I recognise their look!)
Ok, that's nice, but the real question remains : Did they build at least one other cat out of all that fur ?
Anyone with hair that can get long enough—--even humans—-will tell you that if you do not groom, your hair will start twisting around itself and get matted. Haven’t you ever washed your hair and had a hard time running a comb through it after towel drying it? If you didn’t comb them out, they’d eventually become mats. Though cats do groom themselves, it can get to be too much for long haired cats to keep up with, which is why their parents need to comb them. Add in dirt, sweat, oil, and dander and you have thick mats that can actually harden to the point they cut off air flow to the skin.
Load More Replies... I'm glad that they were able to help Fluffer! And it's awesome that she found her new forever home so quickly.
Load More Replies... I heard that the fur actually cools an animal in the summer. In spring animals shed the lower layer of their fur, that which keeps them warm in winter.
Load More Replies... Fluffer is an awkward name.... That's a rather specific job in the adult movie industry.
And because of that I think it's a great name! ;)
Load More Replies... Don't all cats shed? Perhaps we need a complete story about how Fluffer got into this condition.
Thought the same thing. I had no idea cats hair could grow that long. How? I've had cats all my younger years. The hair did not grow. It just shed.
Load More Replies... VERY good work! Shaving a cat is very challenging, their skin is very thin and delicate. If nicked, it can TEAR! She's a pretty cat, and deserves a nice new home for her queenly self!
I wish people would pluck up the courage to ask for help before their pet gets into a situation like this... glad she found a new home.
What a handsome kitty underneath all of that matted fur. I'm glad that Fluffer found his forever home. Thank you to the Humane Society for rescuing him.
It's a shame that the cat got to this point. This is easy treatable and preventable, however, if it's a stray cat this is a different story. Thank you for everything you do and thank you that you rescued this sweet soul and gave him a second chance to life. Bless all of you! 🥰
Right?! It's so sad. Since they didn't say anything like "the former owners were brought to justice" it could of been an unhealthy person who didn't know any better. (as in some sort of dementia or severe depression)
Load More Replies... Matted, knotted fur can be painful for cats. It can inhibit movement like jumping and stretching -- even walking. If someone can't brush their cat(s), attach dollar store paddle brushes (instead of bristles, it has plastic sticks with ball ends) to the legs of tables or the frame of a doorway. Cats will brush themselves the way they do in the wild when rubbing against tree bark or thorny branches.
Years ago I moved into a new townhouse. There was a beautiful fluffy cat hanging around and his stomach was covered in matted fur, just like Fluffer. The tail and head too but his back was ok. I had some sedatives for my dog (long drive to move) and called the vet about the correct dose for a cat, I sedated this cat, kinda wrapped him in a towel, got my boyfriends clippers and went to town. The cat looked amazing and was much happier after. Turns out it was the new neighbours cat but and his excuse was ‘My girlfriend has been away, she grooms the cat’. Turds!
She's beautiful and I'm so happy that she's already found a forever home.
Bless Fluffer's heart and the hearts of all the people who helped restore this awesome lady to a bearable life! There is a special place in Heaven for those .who rescue and care for pets. Good luck Fluffer and may you have a long happy life with your new humans!
2 pounds? Wow! Fur is so light. That takes a serious amount of fur to make 2 lbs.
Kudos to all who worked to restore this lovely lady to a normal life. Matting is very painful to pets so her sweetness is remarkable during all of the grooming. Kudos to you all and may Fluffers have a long and happy, healthy life with her new humans!
You were patient and pleasant Fluffer as they got all that old fur off of you. Good job. Enjoy your new life, you deserve nothing but love and treats!
when my lovely old lady Maine Coone began having difficulties grooming is when I started regularly shaving her down and giving her a Lion Cut. Cutest damn thing ever.
Hello: Few years ago you posted a kitten pouch that enabled shelter workers to socialize feral kittens by walking around with them in the pouch on you. "Bjorn pouch?" I'd like the pattern, or to buy the pouch so my new rescue group, Garfield's Rescue, Inc. could make for our use. My contact information is:karenp1714@gmail.com. Please help!
Glad she found a home. I live in AZ, if she was still available I'd adopted her immediately
I've had cats. Not once did one get matted like this. We didn't comb their fur or anything. I know my Schnauzer would mat without care, but a cat!
Im sure they had to X-ray the sweetheart to identify how much fur had accumulated. Dogs can't get MRIs but cat scan.
This Ragdoll isn't so raggedy anymore! (I have one, so I recognise their look!)
Ok, that's nice, but the real question remains : Did they build at least one other cat out of all that fur ?
Anyone with hair that can get long enough—--even humans—-will tell you that if you do not groom, your hair will start twisting around itself and get matted. Haven’t you ever washed your hair and had a hard time running a comb through it after towel drying it? If you didn’t comb them out, they’d eventually become mats. Though cats do groom themselves, it can get to be too much for long haired cats to keep up with, which is why their parents need to comb them. Add in dirt, sweat, oil, and dander and you have thick mats that can actually harden to the point they cut off air flow to the skin.
Load More Replies...
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