Cat rescued from unbelievable matted fur

While visiting an 82-year-old relative last week, a Pittsburgh man found a cat in pretty bad shape.

The creature, who he named Hidey because she likes to hide, was covered in two pounds of matted fur.

The Animal Rescue League Shelter & Wildlife Center wrote in a Facebook post that she "suffered from severe matting (dreadlocks, really), the likes of which had been neglected for years."

According to the post, Hidey is doing much better now. She is living with a relative of her previous owner.

"She was originally hiding under the bed in her new home, but now is snuggled on a warm cat bed on an open floor," the relative told the Western PA Humane Society. "She also begins purring while being held."

Sadly, the man who found Hidey told PEOPLE that his relative has Alzheimer's.

He said he "doesn't know anybody anymore," and that's why Hidey was neglected for so long.

He told PEOPLE he believe's Hidey's fur became so matted because she's morbidly obese and cannot properly groom herself.

"Please remember to not only check on the elderly in your community, but also check on their animals to prevent instances like this from happening in the future," the shelter wrote in their Facebook post.

It looks like 2017 will be a great opportunity for a fresh start for Hidey.