The team at the Dekalb Humane Society in Auburn, Indiana, have seen it all big rescues, tiny rescues, the miraculous and the heartbreaking.
But every so often, a newcomer shows up who feels a little different. Someone you just can’t forget.
That someone was a scruffy little kitten who looked like he had just rolled out of a haunted attic.
He was small, rough-looking, and definitely not the polished picture-perfect kitten you’d expect to see on a calendar.
And yet, he had that spark, the kind that makes people stop and stare.
They named him Sewer Rat. And somehow, the name just fit.
Sewer Rat had been found all alone in a trailer park with no sign of a mother or littermates.
No one knows how long he had been fending for himself, but by the time rescuers got to him, it was clear he had been through a lot.
His fur was patchy, his skin looked raw, and he was exhausted. Still, even in that rough state, he didn’t hiss or swipe.
He just sat there, tiny and patient, waiting for someone to help.
When the team brought him to the shelter, the mystery started to make sense.
He wasn’t just scruffy, he was battling one of the worst cases of ringworm they had seen in a long time.
The contagious fungal infection had left his skin irritated and his fur growing in uneven patches.
The staff shared on Facebook that he “looked like he crawled out of a haunted crawlspace,” but despite how rough he looked, they knew this kitten was special.
What surprised everyone was his personality.
Most kittens that young would be scared or skittish in a strange place. But Sewer Rat was calm and sweet from the start.
He purred when people picked him up. He let the staff handle him during his check-up without a fuss.
Even while fighting off an infection, he just wanted to be near people.
The more time they spent with him, the more his personality shone through. Sure, his fur made him look like a little gremlin.
Yes, he might have looked like he had just crawled through a sewer pipe.
But none of that mattered because his spirit was so warm. He was playful, curious, and affectionate.
Soon, everyone at the shelter was completely smitten. He wasn’t just a rescue, he was the rescue that reminded them why they do this work in the first place.
Sewer Rat is now with a foster family where he’s getting the medical treatment he needs and slowly growing healthier every day.
Ringworm takes time to treat, and he still needs to be careful not to spread it, but he is safe, cozy, and finally able to be a kitten again.
The shelter says he is making great progress and getting closer to being ready for adoption.
They also know he is going to need a very special family, someone patient, kind, and willing to see past his rough beginning.
“He may not look like everyone’s idea of a perfect kitten, but that’s what makes him so lovable,” the team shared. “He’s healing, sweet, playful, and getting closer to being okay every single day.”
What makes Sewer Rat’s story so special is that it shows what happens when a vulnerable animal is given a chance.
A kitten who might have been overlooked is now on his way to finding a forever home.
And somewhere out there, there’s a family who will see him not as scruffy or imperfect, but as the lovable, one-of-a-kind cat he truly is.
Every day, he grows a little stronger and a little fluffier.
And soon, when his fur has fully grown back and his infection has cleared, he will be ready to walk into his next chapter.
The one filled with love, warmth, and never having to wonder where his next meal will come from.
Sewer Rat might have started out as the scrappy little kitten from a trailer park, but now, he’s proof that even the smallest, crustiest cats can have the biggest hearts.