The world has changed drastically during 2020, and COVID-19 as well as the quarantine applied all around the world made social interactions much more special (and rare) than they were before.
For that reason, a lot of people started to adopt pets to deal with their loneliness and depression, and it has been scientifically proven that pets do indeed aid us during these hard times since they provide a high level of company that is very personal and efficient at making us happier.
Now, cats are among the most popular animals to adopt as pets, and there’s a reason for that. Along with dogs, they are probably the easiest animals to manage, while also being very present in today’s society.
Still, there are a lot of features and factors deciding the actual personality of the cat and how it reacts to its new environment, and the overall level of maintenance required to make it a very happy pet. One of those factors is, of course, its breed.
In this article, we will talk about how it is to be a first-time cat owner, how to properly engage the adventure, as well as a very specific breed known as the Munchkin cat, one of the most popular indoor cats out there. If you are thinking about adopting a cat, but you don’t know how it might go, this article is definitely for you!
First of All, Be Responsible About It!
Being responsible is necessary, and I would dare to say that it is one of your duties as a pet owner. If you decide to adopt a cat, you have to be responsible for its needs, its wellbeing, and its happiness. If you are not willing to be responsible, you should never even consider adopting a pet, regardless of the type of animal, breed, age, and size!
This is especially important in today’s society since there’s was an uprise in adopted animals that were returned to their shelters just because a certain level of freedom was granted because of the vaccine being applied. People just didn’t want to be responsible for their animals anymore after knowing that they could engage in social activities, even if they were limited…
This is very sad, so if you are thinking of adopting a cat, please, make sure to be their family until the very end! Also, if you are thinking of adopting a single cat, understand that most the adopted animals tend to suffer from separation anxiety, as showcased over here. If you are commonly outside of your house, this can be a problem, so if your adopted cat suffers from separation anxiety, you might want to get another one to help both manage it better!
What to Be Ready For
Generally speaking, cats are much more independent than dogs, so it is easy for first-time cat owners to manage most of the aspects involved in owning them.
They are also very low maintenance since they don’t require to go outside to do their things, don’t require as much exercise, don’t actually need sunlight to receive vitamin D, can groom themselves, and can be easily trained to use litterboxes. Contrary to most dogs, cats might not require as much social interaction, but this depends heavily on each cat.
Still, you should be ready to own all the necessary amenities involved in the process of owning a cat. For example, cats need to have litter boxes, dry and wet food, brushes, playing grounds, toys, specific shampoos for their type of fur, a towel for when you decide to bathe them, and a collar and leash. These can be pretty affordable, so you won’t have to spend a huge deal of money to get them.
Besides that, you should also be ready to manage their diet, since overweight is known for affecting a lot of indoor cats. That is why they need a certain level of exercise, to avoid becoming overweight and also reduce the chances of suffering from diseases linked to overweight.
If you are interested in more information about the general things you should worry about, visit https://www.dailypaws.com/cats-kittens/cat-adoption/first-time-cat-owner
The Munchkin Cat Breed
Now, believe it or not, a cat’s personality, behavior, overall level of energy, and preference for an outdoor or indoor environment, if often heavily influenced by its breed. Some specifics breed like the Sphynx cat also need some special consideration when it comes to their care and needs, so choosing the right breed for you is definitely worth it.
When it comes to breeds, we have indoor breeds (which are known for being sociable, non-aggressive, calm and with lower levels of energy) and outdoor breeds (usually very predatory cats with lots of energy and strong instincts)
The Munchkin cat enters the first category. It is very playful and sociable, although it has a somewhat low or intermediate level of energy. It is also known for having very short legs, which is the reason why they are recommended for indoors since they can get dirty very easily because of their legs.
Also, because of their short legs, they don’t have a very representative jumping power, so you might want to prepare your house’s layout for them so they can move around the house without problems.
They can be very healthy but might have some problems with their metabolism. Also, the Munchkin cat lifespan is similar to other cats. They might also require more socialization than other cats, so you should make sure to provide them with attention from time to time. Ideally speaking, a munchkin cat should an animal partner to play with to avoid getting them depressed.