Lockdown meant different things to different people. And to animals, too. While dogs have been enthusiastic about having their pet parents at home, the same can’t be said for cats. “Cats are independent animals with a different personality. Most cats are fine by themselves as long as they’re fed. They don’t like the 24/7 attention,” says Dr. Shariva Dandge, veterinarian and cat parent to six-year-old Toothless. 

During the initial days of the lockdown, many clients had reached out to Dandge to seek answers on why their cats were behaving differently. “Owners were wondering why their cats seem stressed. Many cats even put on weight because owners were over feeding them. In the case of cats born during the lockdown, if they’ve constantly been around humans, they can be clingy and are more likely to vocalise their needs.” Three Mumbaikars share with us their experiences of living with cats during the lockdown.