Common myths about cats, debunked -

Many people still believe in these misconceptions, but it's time to set the record straight and speak out for our feline friends!

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Cats prefer food to people - A study found that cats actually prefer socializing with a human over having food or playing with a toy.

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Cats always land on their feet - While their spine allows them to do so, this doesn't happen every time.

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Purring just means they’re happy - Cats don't just purr when they're with humans, they also do so when they're on their own or with other cats. It's a complex form of communication that we're still trying to understand.

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Cats can be dangerous for babies - Cats might not be particularly thrilled with the arrival of another human, but they're hardly a threat to a newborn baby. The feline will eventually get used to it and the baby will grow up near an animal, which is great!

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All cats love catnip - Most cats go crazy over catnip, but not every animal likes it. In fact, VetStreet estimates that 30-50% of cats don't react to catnip at all.

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Cats love milk - Although they drink milk as kittens, cats then become unable to digest regular milk. They're essentially lactose intolerant, so feeding your cat milk on a regular basis is not good for their digestive system.

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Cats are nocturnal creatures - Cats seem to get up to all sorts of things at crazy hours. This is because they're crepuscular animals. Meaning that they are more active during dusk and dawn, as this would be the time they'd be hunting.

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Cats cannot be trained - Cats are not dogs, but they are definitely trainable. You just need to know how, and have reasonable expectations.

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They use their whiskers for balance - Their whiskers are actually used for navigation and sensory perception.

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Cats are anti-social - Contrary to popular belief, cats are in fact social animals.

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Color and personality - Judging a cat by the color of its coat is yet another myth. There is no evidence linking color with personality traits.

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Cats don’t like to show emotions - They might seem a bit aloof, but cats simply express their love in different ways. When they rub against you or purr while you're petting them, that's their way of showing affection.

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Cats sleep a lot because they’re lazy - It might seem like cats sleep all the time, but in fact, most times they're not deep asleep. They stay in a relaxed state, but ready for action if needed—it's their predatory instinct.

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All cats are hunters - Unlike their feral or stray counterparts, house cats do not need to hunt, so some simply don't.

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Stray cats and feral cats are the same thing - Feral cats do not have a good relationship with humans, whereas stray cats are simply pet cats who've ended up on the streets and know that humans can be kind, so they're approachable.

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Black cats are a bad omen - In 1232, Pope Gregory IX wrote a letter called Vox in Rama ("A Voice in Rama") to the king of Germany. The letter voiced his concerns about witches in northern Germany. The letter described the bizarre rituals, which obviously included a black cat. Black cats have been demonized ever since.

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Indoor cats are unlikely to get sick - Outdoor cats are more susceptible to contracting certain diseases, but indoor cats also get sick. From diabetes to cancer and arthritis, indoor animals can also fall ill.

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Cats should live outdoors - Keeping cats indoors also has its benefits. They're less likely to be hit by a car, catch certain diseases, or be poisoned. Indoor pet cats can live perfectly healthy and happy lives.

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Domestication of cats first occurred in Egypt - Although cats were worshiped in Ancient Egypt, there is evidence of humans having cats as pets way before the Egyptians, from Neolithic paintings to buried animals with their owners.

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Cats hate water - Not all cats dislike water. Some might due to trauma, but there are breeds, such as Bengal cats, that absolutely love water.

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Cats like to be fed like dogs - Cats actually like to work for their food, rather than having it readily available like most animals do.

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Declawing is a quick fix - Declawing a cat can seriously damage the animal's paws. It's not the solution to behavioral problems and it's not healthy.

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Cats are fine with a vegetarian diet - Cats need more protein and more meat-based nutrients in their diets than other mammals. Taurine, arachidonic acid, and vitamin B12 are just a few examples of these.

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Blue-eyed white cats are deaf - Inherited congenital deafness predominantly affects this population of cats, but not every single one of them. It's estimated that anywhere from 60-80% of white cats with blue eyes are deaf.

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Cats are colorblind - Cats are actually not completely colorblind. They can pick up shades of blue, violet, green, and yellow.

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Cats can see in the dark - Well, not quite. Their eyes do process information a lot faster than human eyes do, so they can see much better than we do in low light conditions. But cats still have difficulties seeing in complete darkness.

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Cats are smarter than dogs - Cat are intelligent animals, but to say they're more intelligent than dogs is not accurate. Their brain just works differently.

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Cats are dumber than dogs - Most "dog people" will tell you that dogs are smarter than cats, but science says otherwise.

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See also -

Why do cats hiss, and what are they trying to tell us?

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