Myth Busting Cat Legends

Cat owners know that cats are somewhat of a mysterious creature. Their mysterious behavior has been the catalyst for many cat myths down through the centuries, producing and perpetuating more myths, legends, old sayings and wives tales about cats than any other animal.

But which cat myths are fact and which ones are fiction? Let’s look at some of the more popular cat myths and find out.

Black Cats Are Bad Luck. Fact or Fiction?

The most popular cat myth is that black cats are bad luck. Many people believe this cat myth so strongly that they have a certain anti-bad-luck ritual they perform if a black cat crosses their path. A black cat is no more an omen of bad luck than a white cat, so this myth is fiction.

Cats Will Take A Baby’s Breath Away. Fact or Fiction?

Almost every new mother hears the cat myth warning her to not have a cat around a baby because a cat will take the baby’s breath away, smothering the baby to death. A cat can not take a baby’s breath away, so that myth is fiction. While a cat would not maliciously smother a baby, a cat would be and is attracted to a sleeping baby’s mouth full of formula or bottle nipple near the baby’s mouth. The potential for a cat to smother a baby under that circumstance is fact. A cat or any other animal should never be left alone with a baby or small child, for the safety of both.

Cats Need To Drink Milk. Fact or Fiction?

Most cats enjoy a saucer of milk, and it is a good source of protein and other nutrients, but it’s a myth that cats need to drink milk. Without human intervention, a cat would never taste of any type of milk after it was weaned from it’s mother’s milk, and the cat would do just fine. It’s interesting to note that some cats are lactose intolerant, just like some humans. If you give your cat a saucer of milk, note if there is any subsequent stomach upset, if so, your cat is lactose intolerant and shouldn’t be given milk.

Cats Purr Only When They’re Happy. Fact or Fiction?

Cats do purr when they are happy. Cats also purr when they are giving birth, when they are injured and even when they are dying. A cat’s purr is a sign of friendship, either the cat is glad you’re there or the cat is in trouble and needs a friend. It’s fiction that cats only purr when happy.

There are a multitude of other cat myths, most I suspect are just like the ones I have mentioned, purely fiction and not facts at all.