Cat Care Tips
- 1. General Cat Care
- 2. Benefits of Cat Massage
- 3. Keeping Your Cat from Getting Bored
- 4. Living With More Than One Cat
- 5. 9 Feline Myths
- 6. How to Choose a Cat Litter
- 7. Cats Are Meticulous By Nature
- 8. Keeping Your Cat Calm at Night
- 9. Should You Let Your Cat Go Outdoors?
9 Feline Myths
Jacque Lynn Schultz, C.P.D.T., Companion Animal Programs Adviser. National Outreach
Myth: Cats steal the breath of babies.
Fact: Cats are heat-and comfort-seekers. Curling up next
to a newborn in a crib meets both of these needs. However, if the
cat chooses to press up against the face of a bundled infant who
is too young to turn away on her own, her breathing may be
hampered. Keep cats out of the nursery at naptime/bedtime.
Myth: Pregnant women must give up their
cats.
Fact: While toxoplasmosis is a risk for fetuses, a woman
is more likely to catch it from handling raw meat or digging in
the garden than from her cats. Cat guardians can protect
themselves from cat-related exposure by emptying the litter box
daily, having someone else clean the litter box or wearing rubber
gloves and a mask if the litter box task can't be foisted onto
anyone else.
Myth: Black cats are bad luck.
Fact: There are nearly as many superstitions about black
eats bringing luck as there are about them being harbingers of
bad luck. In different cultures around the world, other colors
and coat patterns are seen as lucky - or not. However, in one
2000 study of 321 patients reported in the Annals of Allergy,
Asthma and Immunology patients with dark-colored cats were up to
four times more likely to suffer a moderate to severe allergy
attack than those with light-colored cats. Researchers speculate
that darker cats produce more fel d 1 allergen in their skin and
saliva. So if adopters are mildly allergic to cats, it may be
smart to steer them to lighter colored ones, leaving all the
terrific black cats to those lucky folks with no cat
allergies.
Myth: Cats have nine lives.
Fact: The myth most likely originated from Egyptian gods
and religions, where sun god Atum-Ra, one of the Ennead, or the
Nine would assume the form of the cat when visiting the
underworld. Throughout the ages, cats continued to be considered
magical and otherworldly, and their resilience in surviving falls
from high places and long confinements without sustenance
continue to amaze us.
Myth: Cats always land on their feet.
Fact: As a tree-climbing species, the cat's survival
depends on its ability to survive falls when possible. The feline
vestibular system and vision work together with the cat's
flexible spine to allow the cat to right itself and, when there
is enough time, to "parachute out" in a manner similar to the
flying squirrel. While they can usually right themselves, they
can still sustain serious injury to limbs, jaws and the thoracic
region which may result in death.
Myth: A cat purrs when it is happy.
Fact: Purring is one of the first sounds kittens can make.
They can purr by the time they are 48 hours old. While nursing,
both mom and kittens can be heard to purr. But while purring is
often heard at times of contentment, cats also purr when in pain
and in the throes of death.
Myth: Cats hate water.
Fact: While most cats hate baths, many find running water
fascinating and spend time pawing at dripping faucets or
demanding their guardians turn on the water for a fresh, cool
drink. Kittens, in particular, find sinks and showers a source of
amusement, although for most the thrill lessens with age. One
breed, the Turkish Van, is nicknamed "the swimming cat" for its
swimming prowess and love of all things wet.
Myth: Cats are nocturnal creatures.
Fact: Cats are crepuscular most active at dusk and dawn
when prey abounds and the hunting is best. The construction of
their eyes allows them to see well in low light. Cats only need
1/6 of the light humans do in order to decipher shapes. However,
they cannot see in absolute darkness.
Myth: Cats are loners.
Fact: Outdoor cats are solitary hunters, but most will
choose to live in a colony near a food source. Unneutered males
will roam the farthest, in search of food and females in heat.
Studies of barn cats showed matrilineal groups were created by a
founding female, her daughters and their kittens. When males
reach approximately eighteen months of age, they leave the area
and strike out on their own. The kittens of domesticated house
cats are best prepared to fit into a multi-cat household when
they are kept with their littermates until at least eight- to
ten-weeks of age.
