Can you show this cat that looking a little different doesn’t make someone any less worthy of love?

Ele is a tortoiseshell cat with a fungal disease called cryptococcus.

This causes severe inflammation and swelling, and because Ele’s had been left untreated, the disease has caused her face to warp, leaving her with a misshapen nose.

The good news for Ele is that she was taken in by Stray Rescue of St Louis, in the US, who were able to start giving the treatment she desperately needed.

The swelling caused by her fungal disease had left Ele struggling to breathe, so she’s lucky she was rescued in time.

Ele’s swelling is now starting to go down, but the rescue centre say she will ‘never look like a normal cat’.

The shelter is asking for donations towards Ele’s care, and the team now hope to find her a foster home where she’ll get all the love and attention she deserves.

They wrote on Facebook: ‘Our sweet girl, Ele, has a fungal disease called cryptococcus.

‘Her face has been inflamed for so long, that scar tissue has grown so she’ll never look like a normal cat.

‘The swelling should definitely go down now that she is getting the treatment she so desperately needed, so breathing will much easier for her.

‘Even though she’ll never look “normal,” she is the sweetest kitty and so easy to take care of.

‘She’s perfect just the way she is, and we’re so happy we can make her comfortable and help her feel good!!

‘This little angel would prefer to be in a foster home where she can get even more love!

‘Thank you to everyone who is making a donation for her continued treatment plan! She deserves it!’

The Facebook post about Ele has been flooded with comments from people sending love to the sweet kitty.

One person wrote: ‘As a very young girl put it years ago, “you have a crooked face!” And when I agreed, she said with astonishment, “you have a crooked voice, too!” She was simply observing and not being mean. Love to you, Ele, from another crooked face. You are beautiful.’