The best shopping trips are the ones that don't stick to the list.

Some decisions take months. Others take one look at the right face. Anyone who spends time on Reddit's r/CatDistributionSystem subreddit knows the universe has a funny way of stepping in when you least expect it, and this kitten might be the perfect example.

After nearly a year of going back and forth about whether another cat belonged in the family, a quick trip to PetSense for cat shampoo turned into something completely different. Sitting in a wall full of adoption cages was one tiny kitten all by herself. She was the only one there, and one look at her sweet little face made walking away feel almost impossible.

My husband jokingly suggested flipping a coin to decide. Technically, that's exactly what happened. Realistically? That coin never stood a chance. The decision had already been made the second those eyes met mine.

Now her name is Meera, thanks to her adorable habit of standing up like a little meerkat. She's about 17 weeks old, already spayed and vaccinated, and has officially become the newest member of the family. Bringing home a kitten after living with two senior cats always comes with a few question marks, especially when those older cats have spent more than a decade ruling the house.

So far, the introductions couldn't be more fitting. The resident tabby has decided Meera is fascinating and has been following her from room to room, trying to figure out how to convince her to play. Meanwhile, the tuxedo queen of the house has made it very clear that her kingdom has been invaded by a tiny new peasant. Meera, thankfully, seems completely unbothered.

After almost a year of wondering if the timing was right, it turns out the answer was waiting in an adoption cage all along. Sometimes the hardest decision is only hard until the right little face comes along.