Ozzy’s introduction to peaches marked the beginning of an enduring love affair. “He found them on the table and immediately started rubbing on them the first time he was around them, so we think it’s probably the feeling of the peaches that he likes,” Coutré said.

However, Ozzy’s peach passion comes with its fair share of humorous challenges. The peaches, left to ripen on sheets of newspaper, invite Ozzy to snuggle. To keep their fruit free of cat hair, the family once tried hiding the peaches. “That didn’t stop him. He sniffed them out, leaving behind a perfectly cat-sized hole amid what used to be neatly aligned rows of peaches,” Lydia said, laughing. What makes Ozzy’s affection even more amusing is his selective fruit cuddling.

Ozzy and his peaches. Photo courtesy of the family

Ozzy hates clementines,” Coutré said. “He smells them, makes a face, turns up his nose and runs away. Ozzy doesn’t cuddle any other fruit — just peaches.”

The story of how Ozzy joined the Coutré family is just as heartwarming. Lorraine Coutré and her mother stumbled upon him while volunteering. “I saw Ozzy in the main lobby at the very beginning (his name was Blaze at the time) and couldn’t keep my mind off of him,” Lorraine said. “When I finally got to meet him right before we were leaving, he just completely melted in my arms. Mom couldn’t say no, partially because I was begging, and partially because it was ‘Free Kitten Friday,’ and we brought him home!”

The internet has warmly embraced Ozzy’s peach-loving antics, with Lydia’s Twitter post quickly going viral. The photos of Ozzy among his beloved peaches have charmed over 100,000 likes, turning him into an overnight sensation. Yet, Ozzy remains blissfully unaware of his fame, his thoughts presumably on his next peach cuddle session.

As the family contemplates how to keep Ozzy happy without his beloved peaches, Lydia mused, “His happiness is our happiness. If it takes buying peaches out of season to keep him content, so be it. The joy he brings us—and now, apparently, the internet—is immeasurable.”

Ozzy’s tale is a reminder of the simple pleasures in life and how sometimes, happiness can be found in the most unexpected places—or in this case, a pile of peaches. Watch below for a look at this peach-loving cat!