“But I don’t want a sixth cat!” I told my boss, Don. I already had five at home, and adding another to my kitty family was the furthest thing from my mind.

“I know that one of these kittens has your name on it, Rita.” he would tell me over and over again. He had recently taken in a pregnant cat and her kittens were due very soon. I just thought he was trying to unload one on me, and I didn’t want to encourage this idea.

A few weeks went by, the kittens were born and I . . .