Mia, my beautiful, chonky, kind 11-year-old cat, changed my life, and I am forever thankful to her. One day, back when I was 17 years old, going through one of the worst periods of my life, this itty bitty kitten found me. It was Independence Day, it was dark out, she followed me home, and I wasn't planning on adopting a cat. But as every cat owner knows, cats adopt their humans, not the other way around, and Mia chose me.
I've always been a cat person, but I did not grow up with pets, and neither did my parents. I never thought I had the knowledge or the skills to have a cat. But this little one believed in me, and she was not going to take no for an answer. The moment I adopted her, my life changed. Every day was suddenly a little brighter. There was always something to smile about.
Living with an actual cat taught me so much - about cats, about myself. I've been with her nearly every day for the past 11 years. In fact, she's sitting next to me as I type this. She has been with me through everything. She was there for me when I was in high school, then university, when I moved out for the first time, when I met the love of my life, when I moved in with him, and when I got married. And although she will always be my first baby, hopefully, she'll be with me long enough to meet all of my future babies.
I can confidently say that she is one of the best things that have ever happened to me, and I cannot imagine life without her.