A woman has told of how she adopted the cat that nobody else would take after a trip to her local PetSmart store.
Peaches, a sickly gray and white cat, was the last one left at a PetSmart adoption center in Erie, Pennsylvania, when Abby Moyak stumbled upon her.
“On November 4th, I went into PetSmart to buy litter for my other kitten, and my boyfriend and I always like to look at the cats,” Moyak told Newsweek. “There were seven cats, including Peaches, at the time.
“I instantly felt a connection with her. She was sneezing, struggling to breathe, and seemed so weak. My boyfriend didn’t think it was a good time to adopt her, so we left. But I couldn’t stop thinking about her.”
@beemarie351/TikTok
After agonizing over her decision for five days, Moyak called the store and learned Peaches was still there. On November 11, she returned to find Peaches alone in her cage, still sick and unclaimed.
“I was very surprised no one adopted her, but I believe it was because she was sick and they didn’t want to bring a sick cat home. I adopted her right away. I knew it was meant to be,” she said.
When Moyak took Peaches to the vet, the kitten was diagnosed with a severe upper respiratory infection and started on antibiotics. “I felt so bad she had been sitting there sick without treatment for so long,” she said. But from the moment Peaches came home, she began to thrive. Abby set up a cozy room for her to recover in, and Peaches quickly showed her affectionate side, purring and rolling onto her back.
A spokesperson for PetSmart told Newsweek: “At PetSmart, the health and safety of all pets in our care is our highest priority. The pets available for adoption through in-store adoption centers are brought in and cared for by local animal welfare organizations. If a pet in an adoption center is reported to be in need of medical attention, our store team immediately notifies the adoption partner to ensure prompt care is received.
“In this case, when the team was alerted of Peaches’ health concern, the adoption partner involved was contacted and confirmed they have been in touch with the pet parent to ensure the cat has proper care.”
@beemarie351/TikTok
Moyak shared Peaches’ story on TikTok, where she has gained over 600,000 views.
Comments that the video received included messages like “How could no one want her? She’s so beautiful and sweet,” and “She’s the prettiest baby! How was she the last one there?”
Peaches is now thriving in her new home, adjusting well to life with Moyak’s other cat and showing her playful, gentle personality. Although Peaches’ vocal cords remain damaged from her illness, Moyak is optimistic that they will heal with time.
Moyak hopes that her story will encourage other people to consider adopting animals in need.
“There are so many pets waiting to be adopted,” she said. “You’d be surprised at the little friends you’ll come across.”
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our “Pet of the Week” lineup.
