Popular Cat Myths Debunked

By HollywoodPet.net | Thu, 7 Dec 2006

Cow's milk is good for my cat.

Cow's milk is hard for cats to digest and can dehydrate small kittens. Give a minimal amount of cow's milk to your cat.

Cats always land on their feet.

This one has been around for a long time. While cats do have a great sense of balance that is aided by having a tail, they don't always land on their feet. This is especially true with short drops. Short falls don't allow enough time for the cat to right itself

Cats purr when they are happy.

Purring is an expression of emotion. Purring most of the time is a sign of contentment, but can also be an expression of other emotions.

All cats hate water.

Most cats hate water. Some cats love water but they are in the minority.

Cats cannot be trained.

Cats can be trained, but they choose sometimes not to act upon their training.

Indoor cats don't get diseases.

Indoor cats get diseases. Many diseases come into the home through the air and from our shoes.

If you put a cat back into the wild it can fend for itself.

Cats who are accustomed to being in the home have a hard time time surviving in the wild. Many of them starve, get diseases or get hit by cars. Never let a cat back into the wild.

Black cats are bad luck.

Black cats are no more unlucky then any other pet. It's a shame this one got started.

Cats have homing instincts that help them find their way home.

Although some stories have been told of cats finding their way home over long distances, many cats get lost every day. Like other pets, they wander off and lose track of where they have been. Distractions and new surroundings can keep them from remembering.

Putting butter on your cat's paw will keep it from getting lost when moving into a new home.

This is an interesting tale. Butter on the paw won't keep your cat from getting lost when moving to a new home. The best way to keep your cat from getting lost is two wait a few weeks after moving to give your cat some time to get used to the new surroundings. Then cautiously let your cat out for short periods of time.