I nervously walked into the kitten shelter at the age of 20. Sure, I’ve had several pets growing up, with all of them being special and unforgettable in their own way, but never had I adopted one on my own, as an adult. Never did I understand what it was like to have a living being’s life in my hands until I saw what at first glance appeared to be a small, gray dust ball. Little did I know that this small, gray dust ball would soon change my life, melt my heart and be the best friend I ever had.

Smokey, a Russian Blue, came home, crept around my apartment, and managed to find the smallest hole to hide in below my kitchen counter. Putting myself in his position, I sensed that he must have been scared and confused. Leaving both the only place he ever knew and his blood brother behind must have been a tough adjustment. I knew I had to do something to get him out of the hole. At that moment, I had to choose whether I was to be his owner or be his parent and friend. I chose the latter, and he chose me.

A month went by and Smokey had shown me the ropes of parenting. I felt so delighted by just doing simple tasks for him, such as feeding him his favorite kitten food and playing hide and seek with him. However, it seemed that whenever I tried leaving the house, he would run after me and try his best to stop me. Looking down at his fuzzy coat, I felt bad for leaving such a small kitten alone in, what appeared to him, a deserted and gigantic confine. As the days went by and this behavior continued, I deeply contemplated finding him a feline companion. Even though I felt that he was all I needed, something inside me told me to think of what he needed instead.

A week later, I found myself at the local Humane Society. I could hear my parents’ voices in my head, “Another cat?” Yet, as an adult and new parent, I knew I was doing the right thing for Smokey. After looking around at the cats, all of whom I wished I could bring home, I knew my college-student budget could only afford one more. Once I approached the section where the kittens were, I noticed they were all playing together, except one. Somehow, I managed to catch the attention of a short and petite, orange Tabby cat. There he was, through all the frantic madness, staring at me with his small, almond-shaped eyes and meowing. I could hear him saying, “Please get me out of here!” Right then and there, Frisco had won over my heart.

A year and a half, 400 cat treats and three scratching posts later, a typical evening for Smokey and Frisco involves chasing each other around the apartment, sleeping, eating and cuddling. The two troublemakers, who have been the best of friends since the day they met, never fail to catch my attention. For some mysterious reason, Smokey seems to have a fascination with water, whether it’s playing in his water bowl or jumping immediately into my sink the moment the bathroom door opens. Frisco, on the other hand, favors the endless pursuit of the glow that is my laser pointer. Despite this typical cat behavior, I have noticed human characteristics in them as well. Allow me to explain.

Like everyone else in the world, I have seen my fair share of bad days. On one day in particular, I happened to be extremely sick due to food poisoning. While I laid there on my bed, miserable, with a trash can ready in my left hand, Frisco suddenly rushed into my room just as a nurse would and kept me company for the rest of that long day. In between my intermittent vomiting, we would talk about school, friends and politics, and he would agree with me completely on every subject.

On another rough day, I was buried in books, studying for my LSAT, when I suddenly had a breakdown. As I laid on my books, crying in frustration, Smokey pounced up to lay on them with me as he comforted me and purred to me, letting me know everything would work out. Even on days when taking a break from my studies didn’t seem like an option, he would jump onto my desk, lie on my books and tell me that it was time to relax for a bit.

Since having my two sons, I have found myself becoming an overprotected parent due to a couple of close calls I have experienced. Being the inside cat that he is, it’s natural for Smokey to have a curiosity for what lies outside the door that separates him from the outside world. One day, as I was leaving, he found out. “Smokey! No!” I shouted, as he ran out the door, went down the stairwell, and found himself caught between running away into a new world or staying in mine. While many cats would choose to run away, something inside him made him listen to me and stay. At that moment, I realized the hurt I would feel if I were to lose him. I truly realized how much I needed these cats in my life; maybe more than they needed me.

Aside from becoming the worried parent, I have also become the bragging parent. Anytime the subject of cats or kittens is mentioned, I make sure that everyone knows I am the proud owner of a smart Russian Blue and a loving, orange Tabby. Just as parents pull out photos from their wallet to show others their ‘flawless’ children, I whip out my cell phone to show everyone a picture or two, or three, or four of my two stunning cats. I also bore people with stories I find to be remarkable, and can’t help but take offense when others don’t seem as interested in the fact that Smokey can open doors and play fetch or that Frisco can hunt house-insects as if he were a lion and sleep next to my pillow all night as if it were hibernation season.

I suppose it is hard to fully understand what it is like to be a parent, whether it’s for a child, kitten, or hamster, until you are one. Coming home to my two boys puts a smile on my face no matter how stressful or sad of a day I’ve had. Having them there through the good times and the bad is something I can always depend on, and is also something I will always want.

While it is true that my friends tease me of becoming an old cat lady one day, I wonder to myself what is so wrong about that. Since adopting Smokey and Frisco, I have found two of the most loving, fair-minded and entertaining friends I could ever ask for. While many people refrain from seeing themselves as a parent and friend to their pets for whatever reason, I have fully embraced it and will never look back.