Warning: Some of the images below may be disturbing for some readers.

Some cats are abandoned long before they’re actually turned out on the streets. According to a post by Animal Advocates Rescue Society, Ozzie’s owner gave up on him while he still had a roof over his head. Although he lived in the house, the cat was a portrait of neglect — mostly skin, bones, rotten teeth, and pieces of a broken heart.

He was a homeless cat who, at least physically, had a home. That is, until his owner decided to take that away from him, too, writes iheartcats.

At some point, the 15-year-old was left on the streets of North Vancouver, British Columbia to fend for himself, Animal Advocates Society notes.

But Ozzie’s fur was so matted, every step was painful. Eventually, he just curled up under a porch. That’s where rescuers found him.

“It was so tight between his legs that walking was painful for poor Ozzie,” the group notes in a Facebook post. “Who knows how far the poor old boy struggled to walk until he gave up and huddled on that porch?”

“We found out that Ozzie had been missing only a few days, meaning he had reached this state while in his owner’s ‘care,’” the group adds. “His owner hadn’t bothered to try to find him.”

And then, maybe for the first time in his life, Ozzie took center stage.

The organization brought him to a veterinarian, where he underwent a battery of tests. Ozzie was shaved, freeing him at last from his crippling coat. He got much-needed dental work.

The final, most crucial treatment was for Ozzie’s battered heart. A woman stepped up to foster the cat — and, it didn’t take long before his most vital organ was healed.

“He follows me everywhere and talks the whole time,” his foster mother told the Animal Advocacy Rescue Society. “He sits with me on the couch and loves the blanket. If I stop patting him, he touches my cheek with his paw, being careful not to claw. He is so sweet.”

In fact, Ozzie proved too sweet to ever be alone again. His foster family became his forever family. And, although it took 15 years, this cat finally knew what it meant to be wanted.

Ozzie’s permanent foster colleague told us that he is a very social boy. “He follows me everywhere, and talks the whole time. He sits with me on the couch and loves the blanket. If I stop patting him, he touches my cheek with his paw, being careful not to claw. He is so sweet.”

This story originally appeared on iheartcats.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.