Let me tell ya something bout my friend here. This is Salem. He is a stray cat who has adopted me. Now thats not uncommon but let me tell you a story.
A year ago i was in a bad spot. Money was tight, i felt my relationship was crashing, we were moving, my mental health was all kinds of fucked. It was hard. And one of the crazy moons was coming up (red moon, blood moon, I cant remember.) Now ive drabbled in wicca and witchcraft. I've occasionally lit a candle, charged a crystal, burned some sage, done a mantra/chant/prayer. But I really felt i needed guidance. I also know I have a special bond to cats. Ive always loved them. Always felt drawn to them. So when the moon came around I went to my yard, lit a candle, made an offering, and sent out a plea to Lady Bast (Bastet) (the Egyptian goddess who represents protection and cats) for some simple guidence.
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A few days later I was at our new apartment burning sage and getting things ready for move in day when this beauty showed up. He was in the parking lot and i called out to him and he bounded right up to me. He followed me to the door and when I opened it he walked right in. He walked into every room in the house. I left the door open so he could leave when he wanted and when he finished he sat on the porch and watched me through the door for several more minutes before he left. I wasnt sure what to make of it really, but personally it felt like he was checking out the house for me.
I figured that was the last id ever see him until a few weeks later he showed up again. I gave him a bit of food and told him hed always have a meal if he needed it. Now when you feed a stray they usually glue themselves to your house knowing theres food. But it was MONTHS til I saw him again. I fed him and sat on the porch until he wondered off.
And this has only happened maybe 5 or so times in the year and a half ive been at this building. I have also fed a little orange tabby once. And ive seen a grey kitty watching from the bushes a few times.
Now. I'm not saying its magic, or a goddess, or even related at all. But it makes me feel happy when I see this little fur guardian on my porch when I get home. I have fur babies of my own and they are my children. But theres something beautiful about a wild creature trusting me, maybe watching out for me? It just makes me smile.