Sphinx is my special black cat. Special in the way that there is something awfully familiar about her, as if we have met before. Our paths are definitely not crossing for the first time, maybe the second or third. From the moment I held her in my arms that day my mother and I drove to collect her, I knew this was not her first time on Earth. She is an old soul, like me.

I had been thinking about adopting a kitten for a while before Sphinx found me. My doubts lay in the fact that the dynamics with my older cats would drastically change if I introduced a new cat in their lives. And it did. I tried to plant the seed in my one cat’s mind, but I don’t think it grew.

While toying around with the idea of adopting a kitten, my mom hopped on the train too. She began forwarding Facebook screenshots of certain kittens. I had reached out to one of the people, but I believe she was trying to take advantage of the situation by overcharging the adoption fee. I was immediately put off. I did not actively search until two Fridays ago, when I decided to ask at reception at the place I volunteer with horses (Society for Animals in Distress, i.e. SAID) if there were any kittens available for adoption.

The man told me that there was a ginger one during the week that came in but it had already found a home. Before I thanked him and went on my way, he told me to find a vet in the hospital who may have a black kitten looking for a home. He told me her name and brief description. I thanked him and walked out the way I usually come in.

I saw the vet he was talking about, and she was in one of the rooms on her phone, but I was hesitant to ask her.

I had walked past and reversed about three times before making up my mind to inquire about this black kitten.

The vet lit up with joy when I asked her about the available kitten. She was so eager that she told me I could collect her that same afternoon. She briefly explained that she didn’t want the kitten to be kept in a cage at the hospital, which is why she had her at her house where she could at least be engaged with.

We exchanged details and she sent a few photos and I drove home.

The next afternoon, after watching the brilliant “Michael” movie, my mother was driving me to fetch the little kitten of 10 weeks. The vet hadn’t really given her a name, but Mittens was the go-to in order to call her. When fetching her, the vet explained that a few people had got in touch to adopt her, but when they found out she was black, they didn’t want her. It broke my heart to hear that, but it solidified the fact that she was waiting for me. I was told that she was originally found on the side of the street by the vet’s mother, which is a miracle in my mind that she could even be seen by someone. I am so grateful that she was found and taken in.

The vet also added that the previous day was actually her last day working at SAID, which was then a neon sign screaming at me that this black kitten really did choose me.

When she was placed in my arms, she was not afraid, not panicking, not even meowing, simply looking at me with her big yellowish eyes that seemed full of wisdom. The way she looked at me felt as if she was asking me what took me so long to find her. She did not seem one bit sad to leave the home she had grown up in. I did not immediately fall in love with her, and I was still hesitant at the time to bring her home with me, but something in my gut whispered to take her.

Now, the awkward phase that hovered between us has disappeared over the last two weeks. It feels as if I have had her forever. She sleeps with me every night, she watches my laptop or phone with me if I put a tv show on, and she loves to play, as all kittens do. But I don’t believe she is like all kittens. Of course, when one adopts a new animal, certain boundaries need to be set up. My main boundary is food. I will not have my animals beg for food or even try their luck to steal off my plate. Sphinx, however, shouts back at me when I tell her off and often proceeds to hit me with her tiny paws. I have never had such a cat with attitude in my life. I love her to bits, but she is a bit of a brat. A brat that I am certain has been around the block before!

This evening I took a relaxing bath with candles, incense and bath salts, and I decided to bring Sphinx with. She was not very interested in hanging out with me while I was in the bathtub, but after half an hour or so, she became curious and inquisitive about what I was doing, as I knew she would. I stuck my hand out of the bath to try play with her which worked, and eventually she jumped up on the edge to play with the bubbles. It really was a sweet moment.

She is not like any cat I have seen before. She is feisty, brave, clever and so sweet. I am so glad that she is in my life, for the second or third or whichever number of times. We do argue a little bit, but most of the time we are friends. She knows I am safe; she knows I love her, but she also knows how to push my buttons. And the best thing is, I wouldn’t want to change a single thing about her. Ever since she has been in my life, I have had nothing but good things happen to me. She is my little guardian; my little, black crystal full of good luck.