A cat with a severely matted coat has been given a new lease of life after he was rescued from the streets and given a thorough haircut.
Henry was separated from his original owners when they moved many years ago, apparently unable to locate him before they left.
For the past three years he has been living in a lady’s garden in Bathgate, where he was fed and looked out for but as she was moving away he could no longer stay there, report the Record.
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Cats Protection’s West Lothian branch was called into action and volunteers managed to entice him in out of the cold. Henry’s long fur was so matted there was no chance a good grooming was going to cut it so his black coat had to all come off.
As he was unlikely to remain calm for such a procedure, he was shaved while under general anaesthetic. At the same time Henry underwent dental surgery to remove eight damaged teeth which would have given him a great deal of pain.
He was also neutered, microchipped and vaccinated.
Henry is currently being cared for by one of the branch’s volunteer fosterers, who is making sure he is kept warm while his fur grows back.
Thought to be around 11 years old, he is now ready to find a new home, where he can finally live a peaceful life away from the dangers of living as a stray.
Despite his hard life, Henry is now a healthy and affectionate cat who is expected thrive in his own home. As not much is known about his formative years, he is probably best suited to owners who can appreciate his traumatic past, and a garden he can explore.
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West Lothian branch coordinator David Cochrane said: “Henry has had a tough few years and was in a terrible state when he came in but he soon stole our hearts.
He now deserves to go to home where he can be pampered, and where someone can commit to grooming his coat once it grows back.
Anyone interested in adopting Henry can enquire here.
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