Scruffy Kitten Wins Hearts At Indiana Rescue While Waiting For Love
At the Dekalb Humane Society in Auburn, Indiana, the team has witnessed every kind of rescue story — from the deeply touching to the truly unusual.
Still, nothing quite compared to the arrival of one small, scruffy newcomer who instantly became unforgettable.
He wasn’t sleek or polished, and his fur certainly wasn’t soft and fluffy. In fact, with his wild tufts and quirky expression, he looked like he’d stepped straight out of a cartoon. And yet, there was something about him that felt just right.
This is the tale of Sewer Rat — a tiny, unkempt kitten discovered alone in a trailer park — who, against all odds, managed to capture the hearts of everyone he met.
There was no sign of a mother or littermates, and no way to know how he’d ended up there. The DHS team didn’t hesitate — they scooped him up and brought him to safety.
He looked as if he’d just been through a tough battle and come out worse for wear. His fur was dirty and uneven, his little body worn down, and it was clear he wasn’t feeling his best, as the shelter later shared in a Facebook post:
“This is Sewer Rat. He’s a kitten. Allegedly. He currently looks like he crawled out of a haunted crawlspace.”
But even then, there was something oddly adorable about him. Once they got him inside and gave him a proper checkup, the mystery started to make sense…
Poor Sewer Rat was fighting off a major skin infection – ringworm, and not the mild kind either.
His fur was growing in strange places and his skin was so irritated, as the shelter shared in an interview:
“He came in with one of the worst cases of ringworm we’ve seen in a long time: a severe, contagious fungal infection that affects the skin and fur.”
But through all of it? He never hissed. Never swatted. He just kept purring. It turns out, this little dude was as sweet as a cinnamon roll.
At barely 7 weeks old, most kittens would be timid or wary in a new environment — but not this little guy.
From the moment you meet him, you can tell he’s different. A bit scrappy, a bit crusty, yet overflowing with affection.
Sure, right now he resembles a tiny gremlin more than a picture-perfect kitten. His fur is patchy, and he carries that unmistakable “just crawled out of a sewer pipe” look.
But somehow, it suits him. He’s got charm, character, and an offbeat spark that makes everyone grin. It didn’t take long for the entire staff to be completely smitten.
Now, Sewer Rat is staying with a foster family, getting cozy and healing up while he continues his treatment.
He still needs a bit of time as ringworm takes patience, and he’ll need a safe space to hang out where he won’t accidentally share his fungal flair. But his spirit? It’s already glowing.
Sewer Rat might not be a typical picture-perfect kitten, but that’s what makes him so special. He’s got grit, heart, and the sweetness that sticks with you. The DHS shared:
“We know Sewer Rat isn’t everyone’s type. He’s patchy. He’s fungal… But he’s also healing, sweet, playful, and so much closer to being okay.”
The team at DHS is certain that somewhere out there is the perfect match for Sewer Rat — someone with a gentle heart, a cozy space, and an appreciation for the charm of an underdog… or in this case, an undercat.
For now, his story is making its way into hearts across the community, proving that pets with medical needs can be just as endearing, if not more so, than their perfectly groomed counterparts.
Every animal is worthy of a chance at joy, even those with scruffy coats and imperfect ears. Sewer Rat might look a little rough around the edges today, but with each passing day, he’s growing healthier and stronger. Beneath that uneven fur is simply a young kitten longing for affection and a place to call home.
