You might be surprised to learn...

That the gorgeous black fluffy cat in this photograph isn't Nova.

This is Nova's younger brother, Onyx. We came across him at the same Petsmart where we met Nova. This is the same meeting room we met Nova in, a little over a year after meeting Nova. Nova was a year and a half old, Onyx was six months old.

Nova and Onyx didn't get along, otherwise we probably would've adopted Onyx.

Onyx was almost identical in personality to Nova, only it was my shoulder he climbed up onto.

His fur was so nasty that we bought a brush in the store and brought it back to brush him. Cat bath wipes are more costly than a brush, or we would've gotten those and wiped him clean.

The Petsmart employee was so touched by how much we cared about Onyx being cared for and adoptable, that we believe he's the one that ended up adopting Onyx.

Several months later, a large black cat that sounds very similar to Nova in voice showed up at our back door with a bright red collar on it and 'Onyx' written on the tag.

I haven't seen him for a couple months, but that's also because I haven't been leaving the back door open and it's been cold off and on.

While he is allowed outside to roam, he is clearly very well cared for and very loved.

He and Nova get along when outside in the backyard, or with the security door between them. Onyx asks to come inside our house, but I don't let him, as much as I want to sometimes.

I don't want him getting too comfortable over here. It would be far too tempting to keep him and I know he has a loving home. I also think he'd be tempted to stay, given that he loves Nova even though Nova isn't as attached to him.