How a Cat Named ‘Peaches’ Won Our Hearts and Our Home

You really don't have to travel far to find a feline companion to add to your family. In our case, we didn't have to travel at all. Meet Peaches.

READ MORE: Check Out the VHS Pet of the Week!

I've always had a soft spot for cats. Those that know me well know I've had a cat, named "Ashy," for about 13 years. He's truly the best, and it makes me wonder why anyone would avoid adopting one of these animals. In my lifetime, I've heard several folks say they "hate cats," and it's probably one of the more painful phrases to ever hit my ears. The truth is, cats are actually very affectionate animals; they just show it differently than dogs. Cats deserve love too, and perhaps that's why one stray kitten just so happened to plant itself at my doorstep.

Caring For a Sick Cat

I was driving home from work on a Monday this past June when I received a call from my wife. The first thing she said to me when I picked up the phone was, "This one found me." I immediately knew she had run across a stray animal, which wasn't the first time. When I got home, there was a very tiny kitten sitting in our old pet carrier, shaking. My wife informed me she found the animal being quite vocal on our front porch, perhaps calling for help.

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I immediately began investigating the animal, as I wanted to protect our dog Luna and other cat Ashy from any potential dangers. It was clear the kitten was not well, and we later learned the poor thing was infested with fleas and ear mites. Additionally, the kitten had a double-ear infection, a double-eye infection, and a very bad sore on its left foot. To keep our other animals safe, we placed the kitten in a locked pet carrier after a good flea bath. We then got the kitten some much-needed medicine and formula. I had never worked so hard to keep something alive.

I took to Facebook to see if anyone was missing a kitten or wanted to adopt one. No takers. I told my wife we would care for the animal until we could find a proper home, as I wasn't ready to take in another stray. We avoided naming the kitten to avoid attachment and simply referred to it as "The Kitten." This went on for several weeks, until the little fighter seemed well enough to start running around and burning off some built-up energy. It was around this time we learned the kitten was a female. My wife thought she deserved a name, and I finally caved.

'Peaches' Makes Herself at Home

We played around with several names for about a week before landing on "Peaches," given her original peach fuzz appearance. She's now made a full recovery, and it honestly melted my heart to see that happen. She's done a complete 180-degree turn and is now a totally new and happy cat. Our dog fell in love with Peaches, and I even caught Ashy giving her a bath recently. It was clear she had made herself at home, and we were excited to officially welcome her as a new member of the Foster family.

Peaches is now a fully adapted indoor cat and will soon be spayed. A few weeks ago, I looked around our neighborhood to see if I could find any other members of her litter, but was only able to find one. Unfortunately, by the time I got there, it was too late. There are still several felines out there just waiting to be adopted, and if you feel inspired by this story, I highly encourage you to take a trip to your local shelter. In fact, you can see a full list of adoptable cats from the Vanderburgh Humane Society (VHS) by clicking HERE.