Cat found with embedded collar Palm Coast, FL (US) Incident Date: Wednesday, Aug 22, 2007 County: Flagler Local Map: available Disposition: Open Case Images: 1 files available Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!

Case ID: 12122 Classification: Neglect / Abandonment Animal: cat View more cases in FL (US) Login to Watch this Case

The lack of care for a cat abandoned at a shelter this week left her almost unrecognizable.

"I just don't understand why someone would do this to their cat, and let it get this bad," Lisa Hale of the Flagler Humane Society said.

Caregivers at the Flagler Humane Society call her Fluffy, but workers were forced to shave all her fur after the cat was left at the shelter in deplorable condition.

"I mean, you couldn't even pet the cat. It was just hard mat. It was just terrible, from head to toe," Hale said.

A smelly pile of fur that was matted with feces and cat littler came off the cat, along with the cat's collar that was so deeply embedded in her neck that it left a gaping infected wound.

"So the top layers of skin are gone. It's just basically an open wound. We cleaned it as best we can," Hale said.

Workers believe Fluffy was fed but otherwise ignored for weeks, maybe longer, while struggling to survive in a small cage.

When the cat was found, her tail was so heavy so caked with debris that she couldn't lift it, the toes on her paws permanently separated.

Advocates said her condition would have been hard to miss.

"It's pretty bad, the neglect. You can't not see this on your cat, especially if it's in the house with you," Animal Control Officer Michelle Adorante said.

Workers at the Flagler Humane Society have saved everything they took off the cat as evidence they'll turn over with graphic pictures of the animal to the sheriff's department as part of an abuse and neglect investigation.

The vet at the humane society is doing more tests on the cat because it's possible she ingested some of the nasty debris trying to clean herself.

It will take a while, but they're committed to seeing the cat recover.

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WESH - Aug 23, 2007

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