Just peachy

Since August, the Kauai Humane Society was home to “Peaches.”

Because the orange- striped tabby was eight years old and about 15 pounds — which made her old and overweight — few showed interest in adopting her.

“She just wasn’t someone that people were looking at,” said Penny Cistaro, KHS executive director. “They just kept passing her by.”

Until Friday.

That’s when Devi Town adopted her — and she’s not, in her own words, even a cat person.

“She’s a nice little cat,” she said Tuesday.

But the “true story” of the adoption, Town said, really starts with her friend and KHS supporter, Carol Ann Davis.

“I was having my arm twisted by Carol Ann,” she said, laughing.

Davis had posted pictures of a cat she wanted Town to adopt. Town, who was on the Mainland, said she would do so when she returned to the island. But before she did, that cat was taken in by another family.

Davis wasn’t done.

“She said, ‘I have another cat that needs a home,’” Town said.

So she went to KHS on Feline Friday when adoptions for cats are $5 and checked out Peaches. Town described her as “a big, fat, obese cat.”

“I felt sorry for the cat so I adopted it,” she said.

And it’s working out just peachy. Peaches is well-mannered and well-liked by Town, husband Chris, and their grandchildren.

“They’re all thrilled to hold the cat,” she said.

Davis said it wasn’t so much arm twisting, but pointing Town in the right direction. She mentioned how long Peaches had been at KHS, so she might adopt her, despite being older.

“People come in, they want kittens,” Davis said. “Nobody wants the older cats, and the older cats are really cool.”

Like Peaches, who had developed a reputation as a talker.

“She follows you around talking to you,” Davis said. “She’s a funny cat.”

Peaches was originally surrendered to KHS in 2014. She was adopted and returned again in August because she ran away.

Seems her days on the lam are over.

“She’s perfectly happy now,” Davis said.

Davis, who has rescued three dogs and three cats, said she’s always doing what she can to encourage people to adopt pets at KHS — and admits she doesn’t like to take no for an answer.

“My friends kind of cringe when I come over,” she said.

Cistaro said it generally takes several months or longer to find homes for older cats. Some, she said, end up at KHS for more than a year.

While Peaches was sweet and affectionate, her age and weight were red flags for many. But not to the Towns.

“People didn’t want to take a chance on her,” Cistaro said. “These people did.”

Peaches has a nice, cozy spot on the deck at Town’s Omao home.

“She seems very comfortable,” Town said. “She’s adapted really well. She likes it outside.”

And there’s an added benefit to Peaches enjoying the great outdoors.

“Maybe she’ll lose some weight,” Town said.