Do all cats hate water? Do cats prefer to be left alone to their own devices? Do all cats land on their feet? Can I be around “Fluffy” if I’m pregnant?
In today’s article we debunk 10 crazy cat myths and dive into the real truth and facts behind them.
Table of Contents
Cats Are Independent Animals
I can tell you from personal experience that this myth is insanely false. While it is true that cats may be a little more independent than dogs, the fact remains that your cat needs your attention much more than you think.
Cats can become extremely lonely if they are left alone most of the time. There are many signs that your cat is experiencing loneliness. They may follow you around a lot or become very vocal. They may even exhibit behavioral problems.
There are a couple of easy things that you can do if you suspect that your cat is lonely. Consider adopting another cat so that they have a friend to hang out with. Just make sure that you are introducing the two cats the right way.
You can also spend more time with your cat. Even spending just 15 minutes a day playing with them can make a tremendous impact on curing their loneliness.
Cats Always Land On Their Feet
Do all cats always land on their feet? The short answer is no. Some cats do not land on their feet. Cats are well known for their general flexibility and agility. So more often than not, a cat will tend to land on its feet. But not always.
According to the Animal Medical Center, there’s a season every year that’s known as high-rise season or High Rise Syndrome. There are certain times of the year that vets see a rise in the number of cats are hurt because they fell. The fall usually occurs from a tall building or high-rise apartment.
Declawing Your Cat Is Okay
You should never ever declaw your cat. Declawing is a very painful procedure for cats. It is equivalent to having all of your fingers amputated just above the first knuckle on each of your fingers.
Declawing your cat takes away its ability to defend itself in case it ever gets lost in the wild. This procedure also makes it harder for your cat to use the litter box. The tiny litter granules hurt when they get up into the wounds from surgery.
There are much better alternatives to declawing such as training, claw caps, and cat scratching posts. If you have a cat that is clawing up your furniture, I have some tips on how to handle that right here.
All Cats Hate Water
Some cats actually love water for some reason. Back in the day, I used to have a cat that would get super mad if he wasn’t allowed to be in the bathroom when I was taking a shower. He showed no fear of the water whatsoever.
Some cats prefer to drink water from the faucet, so they are not afraid of that type of water. In reality though, your cat probably wouldn’t appreciate it if you just threw a bunch of water on them.
All five of my cats tend to stay as far away from water as possible. They won’t go near it, unless it’s to actually drink the water. But running water is a no-go.
Cats Only Purr When They’re Happy
Some cats purr when they are in pain or distress. The vibration from purring helps to ease some of their pain. Purring has also been shown to help aid in the healing of pulled muscles.
One of my cats will purr on the way to the veterinarian’s office, and I know for a fact that he is not happy about going to see the vet.
In most instances of a purring cat, it usually means that they are content and happy as long as they have no other symptoms.
Pregnant Women Cannot Be Around Cats
There is a huge rumor that pregnant women should not be living in the same home with a cat because they could get toxoplasmosis. However, this is very unlikely to happen. According to the CDC, cats are the least likely to give you this rare disease.
You have more of a chance of contracting toxoplasmosis from just working out in your garden or eating raw meat than you do from your cat. So please don’t rehome your cat just because you are pregnant.
If it makes you feel better, you could always ask someone else in your home to be in charge of cleaning out the litter boxes each day.
Indoor Cats Are Sad and Unhappy
Indoor cats are just fine with being indoor cats. Always be sure that you are showing your felines lots of love. Play with them, pet them, and talk to them on a daily basis.
Remember that cats who are kept indoors tend to live longer than their outdoor counterparts.
Another reason this is a myth is because if a cat has never been allowed to roam outdoors on their own before, then would they really understand what it is that they’re missing out on in the first place? In my opinion, that’s a no.
Cats Are Low Maintenance
This one makes me laugh every time I hear someone say it. I’ve never ever had a cat that was considered low maintenance.
Cats should never be adopted with a set ‘em and forget ‘em attitude. Most cats have needs and preferences. They will let you know when things aren’t up to their standards.
For example, some cats do not like trying out a different brand of litter. They may decide not to use the litter box for awhile. Cats don’t handle change like us humans do.
Another reason that cats are not low maintenance pets is because it doesn’t take much for them to get sick or hurt. If your cat eats anything that could harm it, you would have to react pretty quickly to get them some help.
My cat once got a wood sliver caught in one of her paws. She was okay in the end, but it still required that I act quickly and bring her into the vet.
Cats Can Eat Our Leftovers
Please please never give your cats the leftovers from supper. This is an easy way to accidentally make your cats sick. There is also the danger that they may choke too.
Always give your cats food that was made to be given to cats. This will ensure that your cat’s digestive system stays on track.
Cats should be on a well-rounded diet with balanced nutrition that coincides with the age and health restrictions of your feline companion.
Cats Are Nocturnal
Many people think that cats are creatures of the night. It was not too long ago when I thought the same thing.
Cats are actually considered crepuscular, and not nocturnal. What this means is that cats are usually the most active during dawn and dusk, but not in the middle of the night.
However, this is not always the case. I have a cat who just loves racing up and down my wooden staircase every night. She also adds in a little bit of cat yowling into the mix. And this is the perfect recipe to wake mom up in the middle of the night.
