When I was young, I didn't really like cats. No, to be precise, I was a bit scared of them.

They looked prickly, seemed unapproachable, and I always kept my distance, not knowing when they might scratch me. Cats were the animals I avoided.

For me, dogs were the number one choice, while cats felt aloof and cold, lacking any warmth.

Now, I am a cat owner in my third year. In my sunny one-bedroom apartment in San Diego, my cat 'Lulu' and I live together almost like roommates.

I first brought Lulu home in the winter when I was 27. At that time, I had just moved in and it was my first time living alone, and the quietness felt heavier than I expected. While scrolling through Instagram as usual, I came across an adoption notice for Lulu posted by a local animal shelter. With her small gray fur, yellow eyes, whiskers sticking out sideways, and a face that seemed to say 'I'm bored,' I was strangely drawn to her. I impulsively contacted the shelter, and that's how Lulu came into my life.

To be honest, the first month made me question if it was the right choice. Lulu was very shy and would quickly hide whenever I approached. The happy nights I had imagined, where 'the cat would curl up on my lap and we would watch dramas together,' never happened. But as time passed, Lulu slowly opened her heart to me, and I learned how to communicate with this aloof creature.

The charm of cats lies in their reluctance to approach you forcefully. While dogs give unconditional love, cats express affection selectively, as if to say, 'You're okay today.' At first, I felt a bit disappointed, but later, those small daily advancements felt much more significant. For example, the day Lulu first sat on my lap. She sat down as if it were nothing, but I remember being deeply moved inside.

Lulu doesn't speak, but she strangely reads my feelings well. After a tiring day at work, when I sit silently on the sofa, she comes and lies quietly next to my legs. She still dislikes sleeping with me, but the sight of her curled up quietly near my feet until I fall asleep is incredibly reassuring.

And cats are really funny. You understand why cat memes are popular once you raise one. They jump into boxes and play excitedly by themselves, look up at the sky and suddenly leap into the air, and meow at the wall when no one is around, making you laugh uncontrollably. All the furniture in my room has become Lulu's playground, and I live like an 'audience of one' enjoying the show.

Life with a cat is quiet yet profound. Unlike dogs, we don't go for walks every day, but we create the flow of the day together. In the morning, she wakes me up before my alarm, and at night, when I turn off the lights and lie down, she quietly goes to her spot. At first glance, it seems like we live separately, but in reality, we are subtly adjusting to each other.

Now, I can't imagine life without Lulu. She taught me that 'being alone doesn't necessarily mean being lonely.' Just knowing there is a living being waiting for me when I return to an empty house is a great comfort.

These days, I wonder why I misunderstood cats so much when I was young. The warmth hidden behind their aloofness, the desire to be close to people despite appearing independent. I find it a bit funny that I only now recognize the charm of cats, and at the same time, I feel grateful.

As the sun sets in San Diego, when the orange light comes through the window, Lulu always moves towards that light. When I call her, she slightly moves her ears and sometimes turns her head to look at me. In that brief moment, I feel all the fatigue of the world melting away.

Cats quietly but surely change people's hearts. Like me, there are probably many who didn't know this when they were young but have now completely fallen for cats.

Lulu has made my home not just a place to stay, but a true 'my space.' And today, I find comfort in her warm gaze once again.