Scruffy ‘Gremlin’ Turns Into A Handsome Tuxedo Boy After A Bit Of TLC

One day last June, Kendra and her family’s life changed forever — and along with it, so too did the fate of a bedraggled little “gremlin.”

“We had just gotten back from running errands, and my husband saw him outside through the window. He was so tiny,” Kendra told The Dodo. “I ran out to see if I could scoop him up. But as soon as he heard our door open, he ran up to us!”

There at their feet was the scruffiest stray kitten.

Kendra was quick to offer food to the hungry visitor, who ate it up ravenously as she examined his body.

“His condition was absolutely shocking. We initially thought he might have mange,” Kendra said. “He was in such poor shape, we often wonder how the heck he survived as long as he did on his own!”

Kendra and her family knew they had to help.

“We couldn’t just leave him,” she said.

After taking the kitten to the vet, Kendra and her family were informed that the cat had a severe case of ringworm — a painful, contagious fungal skin infection that caused his hair to grow patchy.

“The vet said it was the worst case of ringworm he’d ever seen,” Kendra said.

Back at home, Kendra and her family began treating the kitten with medicated baths to fight off the infection. He’d need one every three days going forward.

“It was a slog,” Kendra said.

Meanwhile, the family named the cat Cosmo — but Kendra grew fond of calling him “the sweetest little gremlin.” He’d be a part of their family forever.

And after many medicated baths and rigorous cleaning of everything he touched, the cat’s condition slowly started to improve.

“His fur started growing back in after a few weeks, and he definitely looked better than before,” Kendra said.

Throughout this process, Kendra and her family also got ringworm — but they, like Cosmo, continued to press on.

“We thankfully kept it from our other cats,” Kendra said. “But I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.”

Once Cosmo started oral medication, his healing really took off.

Despite not being fully back to health, Cosmo’s personality still always shone through.

“[He’s] super spunky, super lovey and super mischievous,” Kendra said.

And after a while, Cosmo’s coat of fur looked almost normal.

Months after being rescued and receiving treatment for ringworm, Cosmo had overcome the infection — thanks in no small part to the love of his family.

“It’s wild looking back and seeing him now,” Kendra said.

Best of all, Cosmo was quickly embraced by the family’s two other cats, from whom he had to be kept apart during his treatment.

“All three of the cats are besties now!” Kendra said.

Although it had been a long and difficult road to recovery for Cosmo and his family, Kendra and her husband say they would do it all over again for the little “gremlin” who ran to their feet for help last year.

“My husband said once, ‘Well, hopefully we can find him a good home once he’s better,’” Kendra recalled. “But I knew we’d keep him.”