A cat with the sweetest face is so happy to be on the mend after being found abandoned on the streets, writes lovemeow.

A kind couple from Northern California came across a cat that had been abandoned in a neighborhood. When they began to feed him, they noticed that his nose was starting to swell.

The cat’s condition quickly worsened. He lost his appetite and was in desperate need of medical attention. They rushed him to the vet and discovered that he had cryptococcus, a fungal infection caused by inhaling the fungus outdoors.

The couple knew that they could not provide the specialized care he needed, so they reached out to a rescue for help. Milo’s Sanctuary was then contacted, and sprang into action to bring the little guy (named Khy Shadowstryder) into their care in Los Angeles.

“When he arrived at Milo’s, he was very sick, emaciated and felt so bad physically and mentally. It was hard to tell his true personality. The entire left side of his face was so ulcerated and infected that he just sat curled up,” Michele Hoffman, president and founder of Milo’s Sanctuary, told Love Meow.

They immediately started him on treatment for both cryptococcus and the left side of his face. Despite being so frail, Khy hung in there with all his might and showed so much gratitude whenever he was being cared for.

“His will to live was amazing. He had that spark in his eyes that told me he wanted a change, and he wanted to live. So I told him that I would be by his side and fight right along with him.”

With painstaking care and plenty of love, Khy perked up and began to heal and gain strength. Once he was ready for surgery, they had his wound properly debrided and treated.

“After a visit to the vet, medications, lots of love and TLC, he started to feel better. We kept telling him how handsome he is and that he is loved and safe,” Michele shared with Love Meow.

As Khy continued to improve each day, his personality emerged. He became more active and curious, and insisted on giving everyone he met some snuggles.

As it turns out, Khy is quite the love-bug. “He loves to cuddle with other cats, humans, or even a pillow. He loves his food and treats and is slowly learning how to play with toys.”

Watch Khy in this sweet video:

While he is doing much better, Khy will need life-long care, treatment and support to ensure the best quality of life.

“He still isn’t healed and has a ways to go. We don’t know if his nose will ever go back to cat-sized, but that’s okay, because we love him just the way he is.”

Khy has joined the Lifetime Care program at Milo’s Sanctuary and befriended many other long-term feline residents. He has been showering everyone with his signature kisses.

If there is a cat right in front of him, he will walk up to give them some face rubs. He comes running if his caretaker calls out to him. The sweet boy is eager for love and never wants to miss out on any pets and head snuggles.

“He’s super sweet and gentle, loves tummy rubs and kisses. He’s still a little shy and reserved but we have no doubt that he will be begging for treats and attacking catnip toys very soon,” Michele told Love Meow.

Despite what he has gone through, Khy continues to love and has so much to give. “We couldn’t explain how amazing, sweet and gentle he is.”

This story originally appeared on lovemeow.com

Cats are good at self-maintenance. But even your fastidious feline can't prevent some of these more common cat diseases and health issues.

1. Vomiting

Vomiting is a very common problem with cats with a multitude of causes. They range from eating something poisonous or inedible (like string), to infection, urinary tract disease, or diabetes to hairballs.

Symptoms are usually obvious, and include drooling and abdominal heaving. Vomiting can quickly leave your cat dehydrated, so if kitty continues vomiting or acts ill, call your vet right away. It may help to collect a sample of your cat's vomit and take it with you to the vet.

2. Feline Lower Urinary Tract Diseases (FLUTD)

Some estimates say as many as 3% of cats seen by vets have feline lower urinary tract disease ( FLUTD), which is actually a group of feline diseases with multiple causes.

Female and male cats can get FLUTD, and it often occurs in cats that are overweight or unfit or who eat dry food. Stress, a multi-cat household, and sudden changes can all raise a cat's risk of FLUTD, and treatment depends on the type of FLUTD your cat has.

FLUTD symptoms include:

• Straining to urinate
• Bloody urine
• Urinating in unusual places
• Crying when urinating
• Licking around the urinary area (often because of pain)
• Depression
• Dehydration
• Lack of appetite
• Vomiting

It's always an emergency if your cat can't urinate. Call your vet immediately if you suspect your cat has a urinary tract problem.

3. Fleas

Fleas are a very common external feline health problem. But it's one you can easily treat. Signs your cat has fleas include:

• Flea dirt on its skin (they look like tiny black dots)
• Constant scratching
• Frequent licking
• Red or irritated skin
• Hair loss
• Skin infections or hot spots

Fleas can live for more than a year, and your cat risks anemia if the problem becomes serious, so be sure to treat your cat's flea problem and prevent future infestations.

Talk to your vet about which flea control would be best for your cat. Treatments include oral medication, powders, foams, and topical medication. Fleas are uncommon in Utah. If you adopt a pet from a region outside of Utah or are housing a pet that recently came from another state, please be aware of fleas.

4. Tapeworms

One of the most common feline health problems inside your cat, tapeworms live in kitty's small intestine and sometimes grow as long as 2 feet.

Symptoms of a tapeworm infection can be subtle but may include vomiting and weight loss. The easiest way to tell if your cat has tapeworms is to look at its feces and around its anus. If you see small white worms or what look like grains of rice or sesame seeds, your cat likely has tapeworms.

Treatment options include injection, oral, or topical medication. But because cats almost always get tapeworms as a result of swallowing a flea, be sure to handle any flea problems your cat has before tackling tapeworms.

5. Diarrhea

Many things can cause diarrhea in cats, including spoiled food, allergies, infection, liver disease, cancer, and more.

Symptoms of diarrhea are loose, watery, or liquid stool. Depending on its cause, diarrhea can last for a day, a week, or months.

If your cat has diarrhea, offer kitty plenty of fresh, clean water to prevent  dehydration. Then remove kitty's food for no more than 12 to 24 hours. Take your cat to the vet if he or she still has diarrhea after a day or immediately if you notice vomiting, dark, or bloody stools, fever, lethargy, or loss of appetite or if your cat is straining to defecate.

6. Eye Problems

Eye problems in cats can be caused by a number of things, including  conjunctivitis, cataracts, glaucoma, trauma, viruses, inflammation, and retinal disease.

A few symptoms that may mean your cat has eye problems include watery eyes, tear-stained fur, cloudiness, red or white eyelid linings, gunk in the corners of the eye, squinting, pawing at the eye, or a visible third eyelid.

Unless you know what's causing your cat's eye problems, there isn't much you can do other than wipe away any gunk with a damp cotton ball. After that, call your vet.