Welcoming a pet into your family can be a wonderful experience, but it’s also a consequential decision.

There’s a lot to weigh as you commit to years of daily care and the lifestyle changes that come with owning an animal.

Because different breeds have different traits and behaviors, those factors should be considered as well.

veterinarian Ben Simpson-Vernon (or “Ben the Vet”) is sharing some food for thought that many people may not be aware of when it comes to cat breeds.

Not only are certain breeds harder for humans to care for, but some are also hard on the animals themselves.

In one TikTok video, he makes the case for not buying certain cat breeds.

(He clarifies that true rescue adoptions are a different story if you have the means to care for these breeds.

He’s specifically referring to not buying them as kittens from a breeder or pet store.) “This is just my opinion as someone who sees a lot of cats with health problems,” he said.

“It’s not intended to cast judgment over people, but sometimes you have to say it like it is.” Here are five cat breeds he wouldn’t get as a vet: 1.

Sphynx cat Sphynx cats, also known as hairless, bald, or naked cats, have gained popularity in recent years.

But Simpson-Vernon says that breeding them has basically “removed the essence of being a cat.” For one, they have either no whiskers or tiny, stubby ones.

“Whiskers are an integral part of being a cat,” he said.

“They use them to navigate in the dark, to sense vibrations, to communicate their emotional state.” “Also, no cat should have to wear clothes to avoid being cold,” he added.

He pointed out that Sphynx cats tend to have heart problems due to their genetics, and that their life expectancy is much lower than that of most cats—just six and a half years on average.

“Yes, they’ve got great personalities,” he said.

“But why make life hard for your cat?” 2.

Munchkin cat Munchkin cats have extremely short legs, often compared to the cat version of a Corgi or Dachshund.

The breed is relatively new, first proposed as an experimental breed in 1991.

While a few associations have accepted it, most have not.

Three of the largest—the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA), the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF), and the Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe)—refuse to grant Munchkins official breed status, citing the short legs that make them unique as a congenital condition.

“Please, let’s not let it become socially acceptable to deliberately breed cats with dwarfism,” Simpson-Vernon said.

“A pet should not....