“He always comes to visit when you’re not home,” Helen said softly, stroking his back like they were old friends. “I thought you knew.”

I didn’t know. I couldn’t even speak.

Whiskers purred in her arms—deep, loud, content. The same purr I thought was just for me. My heart felt like it cracked a little. I raised him. I nursed him when he got sick. I canceled vacations because I didn’t want to leave him with strangers.

And now he had a secret life… with Helen.

Helen must’ve seen my face because she stood quickly. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to—he just kept coming over. I didn’t feed him or anything. Just… gave him some love.”

I managed a smile, but it didn’t reach my eyes. That night, Whiskers came home like nothing had happened. Curled up in my lap, purring as usual. But something was different.

I realized loving a cat means accepting they’ll love you in their way. Sometimes, they choose more than one lap. It doesn’t mean you’re not special. It just means their heart is big enough to share.

Lesson: With cats, loyalty isn’t always loud—but their love is real. Even if it surprises you.