20. Living Alone in the Dark
For one poor cat, life wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Living on the streets, blind and scared, all he wanted was a loving home with a great owner.
Thankfully, a good Samaritan decided to do the right thing and changed this little furball’s life forever.
19. Wandering Outside
The first person to take notice of poor Cotton was Joe, a homeowner in Royal Palm Beach, FL.
At first he didn’t know what the dirty little ball fur was, but on closer inspection he realized it was a cat in pretty bad shape.
18. Lost and Hungry
Cotton didn’t have a collar or any form of identification and according to Joe was very hungry.
He revealed that the cat seemed to appear out of nowhere and started to eat the food he had set out for his own cat. From what Joe could tell, little Cotton hadn’t eaten in a very long time.
17. Eyes Wide Shut
Looking closer, Joe discovered that the poor cat was blind. The hair around his eyes had become so dirty and crusted, that his eyes were stuck shut.
However, Joe soon would find out the situation was worse than he feared.
16. Riddled with Mange
Joe identified the crusty growths all over the cat to be mange. The poor cat was completely infested.
Realizing the cat would need his help or die, Joe knew what he had to do. Cotton needed medical treatment ASAP.
15. Mange
For those of you unfamiliar with mange, it is a skin disease that is caused by parasitic mites that burrow into the skin of cats and dogs (although some cases of humans catching it have been reported).
These mites continue to spread over the animal, causing itching, hair loss and eventually form scabs and lesions.
14. Treatment for Mange
The most common treatment for mange is a medicated shampoo that you can obtain from a vet.
This usually includes daily washings and rinses, which eventually kills off all the mites. However, there are home remedies that can be used as well.
13. Home Remedies for Mange
There are several home remedies that can be used for mange if you aren’t keen on taking a trip to the vet. One remedy involves rinsing the animal with apple cider vinegar after a bath. You then gently scrub the cats body with a soft-bristled tooth brush.
Another remedy is to soak the animal in a solution of warm water and borax, which has been known to kill the mites. Unfortunately, little Cotton’s condition was far too extensive for a home remedy.
12. Reaching Out for Help
Knowing that time was of the essence, Joe reached out on Facebook for help.
While no one could come to his aid, Carmen Weinberg , founder of Animal Friends Projects, took notice of his plight. Could she possibly help out poor Cotton?
11. A Good Friend
Carmen reached out to a friend who had treated cats with the same condition and he knew he had just had to help.
Things were finally looking up for poor, sweet Cotton.
10. Catching Cotton
Meanwhile, Joe grabbed one of his cat carriers and attempted to coerce Cotton inside.
Thankfully, it wasn’t much of a struggle since the cat was so hungry and tired. Now all they had to do was wait for help.
9. Help is on the Way
The next morning, Carmen went to pick up Cotton. This is what she had to say regarding the situation. “Early the next morning, I drove to pick him up.
I took him immediately to my vet, Justin Bartlett Animal Hospital, and they confirmed that he was suffering from mange, was very dehydrated and malnourished.”
8. Trapped in the Darkness
Due to the skin disease, poor Cotton’s eyes were completely crusted shut.
It could not be determined how long he had wandered outside without the ability to see, but based on how malnourished he was, they expected it was quite some time.
7. Beginning Treatment
According to Carmen, the vet pumped the cat full of antibiotics, gave him a dose of Revolution and some IV fluids.
Since Carmen had a spare bathroom, she decided to take Cotton home so he could recover.
6. Showered with Love
After settling into his new space, Carmen and her family began to shower the little, sick cat with love.
Knowing love is the best remedy, Carmen was thrilled to see Cotton respond well. He loved to be touched and purred all the time. He was a truly happy cat.
5. A Few Days Later
As the days passed, Cotton’s health quickly began to improve.
The crust on his ears began to fall off and his eyes were slowly beginning to open. It seemed this little cat was finally on the mend.
4. Little by Little
“We put Coconut oil to soothe his skin and gave him lots of water and canned food to keep him hydrated. Cotton stayed hunched over for days and days and seemed very uncomfortable.
It was hard seeing him in that condition, knowing only time would heal him,” Carmen told the local media.
3. One Sweet Boy
As Cotton’s condition improved greatly, his personality began to shine through.
According to Carmen, Cotton was very vocal and loving. He loved everyone he came in contact with and always desired attention.
2. Healed and Whole
After a few months passed, Cotton was completely healed and back to being a playful and mischievous cat.
Can you believe how amazing he looks? You wouldn’t believe it was the same cat!
1. A Forever Home
Despite his recovery, Cotton still waits on finding his forever home. Until then he is living like a king with Carmen.
We hope this little one ends up loved and adored for many years to come! We’re routing for you, Cotton!