Three years in the past, Monique O.’s daughter, Sariya, introduced dwelling a tiny orange-and-white kitten.

“He was the runt of a litter in our neighborhood, ignored by his mom,” says Monique. “I instantly fell in love. Right now, he’s my finest good friend.

“He’s beautiful,” she provides, describing Tailz’s attributes. “His eyes match his honey-golden fur. Once I’m away, he sits on the door and waits for me. I’m a proud mama.”

Tailz as a kitten, higher left, and lately.

A Tangled Mess

Simply after New Yr’s 2024, Monique seen that Tailz’s thick coat was turning into matted. The food-loving feline had gained weight, and he was unable to groom sure areas.

Monique searched her East New York, Brooklyn neighborhood for a groomer who welcomed cats, however to no avail.

“Nobody would take us,” she says.

A number of days later, Monique found the ASPCA Neighborhood Veterinary Middle (CVC), and was in a position to make an appointment for Tailz.

“We noticed Tailz on January 11,” says Pedro Devin Guzman, Shopper Operations Supervisor of the ASPCA NYC Cell Veterinary Providers.

A No-Stress Course of

As soon as Tailz was admitted, the ASPCA group set to work.

Nathalie Morales and Tyrone Thomas, Senior Veterinary Assistants, and Frisnel Lamour Jr., Medical Supervisor, labored with Tailz for greater than an hour.

Tyrone and Frisnel helped maintain Tailz whereas Nathalie used a de-shedder brush, a steel instrument with superb to medium tooth that helps take away useless hair and mats hidden within the undercoat. Nathalie and Frisnel then took turns with the comb, eradicating all of the mats.

Grooming Tailz: From left, the ASPCA’s Nathalie Morales, Tyrone Thomas, and Frisnel Lamour Jr.

“It was fairly straightforward, and we didn’t trigger Tailz any stress,” Nathalie says. “We did not must shave any hair in any respect, nor did we have to sedate Tailz. He was a trooper.”

“As a result of he was such boy all through the method, we didn’t want to make use of hair clippers both,” Tyrone provides. “He sat in place properly.”

Grooming: A Well being Care Important

Pets who’re improperly or sometimes groomed can ultimately expertise extreme well being issues together with pores and skin infections, strangulating hair mats and restricted and painful motion attributable to dense hair mats or overgrown claws.

Tyrone advisable to Monique that she brush Tailz’s coat as much as twice every week and monitor his weight loss program. He additionally gave her a de-shedding brush to make use of on Tailz at dwelling.

Nathalie, left, with a de-shedding brush.

“Being chubby made it troublesome for Tailz to achieve sure areas and contributed to his situation,” Tyrone says.

Accessible grooming choices, as Tailz skilled, are invaluable as a result of pet care providers in underserved communities are sometimes unaffordable or geographically inaccessible—a problem that can lead to pets being rehomed or relinquished.

“A pet’s grooming wants may be an necessary side of their health-related care,” says Crystal Jordan, NYC Neighborhood Veterinary Middle Director. “Higher entry to primary veterinary care providers, together with grooming, can maintain pets and folks collectively.”

Our clinic gives grooming providers solely when the scenario crosses over right into a medical concern, because it had with Tailz.

“We acknowledge how necessary it’s for our sufferers to have fast aid and a preventive plan their homeowners can observe,” says Jocelyn Kessler, Vice President of Neighborhood Medication for the ASPCA.

Completely happy at House

Not solely is Tailz Monique’s finest good friend, however he additionally serves as her emotional assist cat.

“He’s helped me by despair and nervousness,” she says. “If he sees me crying, he’ll head butt me. He’s very lovable and affectionate. I couldn’t stay with out him.”

Monique additionally has a feminine cat, Tigress, whom she present in her basement when she was a kitten.

After eradicating mats and useless hair from Tailz, the CVC group spelled out his identify.

“She may be leery of different folks however is affectionate towards household,” Monique says. “We wait to obtain her love; Tailz is extra like a cheerful pet. Cats talk very clearly.”

Along with Tailz and Tigress, Monique’s two daughters, Sariya, 16—who introduced Tailz dwelling—and Melody, 10—with whom Tigress is shut—stay at dwelling.

Within the weeks since his appointment, Tailz has misplaced weight, making it simpler for him to groom himself. Monique additionally utilized the CVC to have each of her cats fastened; Tailz was neutered quickly after his grooming, and Tigress was spayed.

“I’ll by no means let this occur once more, now that I do know what I do know,” Monique says. “I respect you guys a lot.”