This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of The J.M. Smucker Company. The opinions and text are all mine.
Do you know why some people love dogs and the others prefer cats? As it turns out, our pet preferences are rooted in our childhood. For instance, my first pet was a cat so I’ve always preferred them to dogs. This holds true for many of my friends and family members who grew up with cats, dogs, horses, and even reptiles. This sense of familiarity is very comforting, and that comfort and joy of companionship is why most of us get pets in the first place.
When I moved to the US six years ago, I knew I had to get a cat. Mr. Glamorable and I lived in an apartment complex that didn’t allow pets, so as soon as we could afford a nicer place, “pet-friendly” was one of my main criteria for our new home. Luckily, our new landlord loves cats and allows the tenants to own up to 2, for a small additional fee. The next step was finding our perfect kitty, and that’s where things got tricky.
Mr. Glamorable is allergic to cats. You’d think this is where my dreams of owning a sweet purring bundle of snuggles would come to an end, but after some thorough research, we discovered that some cat breeds are either completely hypoallergenic or produce very little Fel d 1 [the main cat allergen], which causes minor discomfort at worst. First of all, we had to narrow down the breeds. There weren’t many to choose from to begin with, and even less if you consider that we live in a rural area, so our choices among local ethical breeders, sanctuaries, and shelters were very limited.
We eventually decided on a Siberian Forest Cat, a breed known for their vitality, loyalty, and friendly demeanor. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to find a purebred shelter Siberian to adopt, so we went with the next best option – a local certified responsible breeder [there was literally only one in our area]. A responsible breeder ensures that all kittens are properly vaccinated, house-trained, and used to socializing with humans before they are old enough to be adopted into their new families. When we first visited the breeder’s house, Luna immediately welcomed us with cheek rubs, claiming us as her own. At that point we pretty much knew she was the one, and the rest is history.
I won’t lie, Luna was expensive. Even though Siberian Forest Cats are very common in Russia where I’m from, they are still considered an exotic breed in the US, so the price is mostly due to scarcity. We needed a purebred kitten to ensure the hypoallergenic qualities. I am happy to report that Luna does not cause Mr. Glamorable any discomfort, nor does her presence bother any house guests that are normally allergic to cats. She is truly a miracle kitty!
We’ve had her for about 2 years now, and she is a true member of the family. I know all pet parents say this, but she turned out to be a very clever kitty, so Mr. Glamorable and I taught her a couple tricks. She can do “sit,” “touch,” and “hunt,” and she also responds to “over there.” It’s always fun to watch her investigate an object when I point at it! I know some cats tend to ignore their humans, but Luna loves company. She comes when called, and always greets Mr. Glamorable and I at the door when we come home. And best of all, she loves human attention. When we have people over, she just has to be in the middle of it. 🙂
Luna is very special to me [haha, can you tell?], so I collaborated with The J.M Smucker Company to talk about all the little things I do to spoil her. Last week I noticed that Ibotta had 3 different rebates for assorted Meow Mix products at Walmart, and I thought this is a great opportunity to stock up on some cat food and treats. Here are the offers I used:
Earn $1.50 when purchasing Meow Mix DryEarn $1.00 when purchasing Meow Mix WetEarn $0.25 when purchasing Meow Mix TreatsEarn an additional $1.00 when you redeem two or more of the Meow Mix rebates
Update: the Ibotta deal has ended!
Meow Mix cat food is made with high quality, wholesome ingredients and comes in many different varieties, so if your cat prefers one type of food over the other, there are still lots to choose from. On my last trip to Walmart I bought Bistro Rotisserie Chicken Flavor Dry Food, Tuna & Shrimp Lovers Wet Food, and Brushing Bites Made with Chicken Treats. Finding the products was easy – all three were conveniently located in the same corner of the cat food aisle. When I got home, I let Luna try a bite of everything, and she couldn’t get enough of those treats! Fun fact: did you know that giving your cat treats regularly helps strengthen the bond between you two? Contrary to popular belief, this won’t give the kitty just one more reason to see you as a source of food. Instead, it will remind her that being around you is pleasant, fun, and yummy.
As Luna grew from being a tiny kitten into a fabulous adult kitty, she slowly unveiled all sides of her fun personality. She is loyal, playful, mischievous, athletic, curious, and loves to sleep snuggled up against my leg. There are many ways to show how much I love her, but for any animal, yummy food is where it’s at. And from the looks of it, I may have to go back to Walmart to buy some more Brushing Bites. 🙂
Do you have a pet? How long did it take you to bond with him/her? Let me know in the comments below!
