There are so many stories 
and mysteries surrounding the fascinating feline, it’s hard to know what’s fact and what’s pure urban kitty legend. But I recently came across a survey of America’s top veterinarians and animal behavior consultants in which they set the ricord straight on six of the most common cat myths.
1. Cats can’t swim and hate getting wet. – Not entirely true. The Bengal and the Turkish Van are two breeds of cat that are eager to join their humans in showers or bathtubs. They love to play in the water! Some will even do dog-like tricks in the water, jumping in to fetch, etc. Their guardians have to be warned to keep bathroom doors shut and toilet lids down to avoid incidents.
2. Poinsettias are deadly for cats. – This has been greatly exaggerated according to expert vets. The leaves of poinsettias do contain a thick white sap that may cause mild signs of stomach upset if your cat chews on them, but they are not lethal. Lilies on the other paw are the most lethal plants for cats – several kinds of Lilies can cause severe poisoning in a cat even if they ingest a very small amount. Please take them to a vet immediately if your cat eats a Lily, to avoid kidney failure.
3. Milk is good for cats. – False. Most cats in fact are lactose intolerant, so even if they like it it will cause stomach upset, diarrhea and vomiting. In general, vets recommend not giving your cat any kind of people food.
4. Cats purrrrr only when they’re content. – While cats may purr when they are relaxed and content, they also use it for other communication purposes. A mother cat will purr to orient her newborn, blind kittens and draw them towards her for nursing. They may also purr if they are sick or even dying as a means of self-calming.
5. Cats can’t get heartworms. – False. Just this year an educational campaign conducted by the American Heartworm Society and the American Association of Feline Practitioners, served to educate Veterinarians about this myth. Heartworms in cats is frequently misdiagnosed because it affects them very differently than dogs, and 28% of the cats that contract heartworms are never outdoors. However, just like with dogs, this disease is completely preventable so please put your cats on a heartworm preventative.
6. Cats can be treated like small dogs. – False. Especially when it comes to medications. Many topical insecticides and parasite preventatives are labeled for use on dogs only because they can be harmful to cats. Also, over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen are particularly dangerous for cats. As a general rule, do not give your cat any medication, inside or out, that your vet did not prescribe or recommend.
This is all very interesting and informative, but personally I think they forgot something very important from this list.. Cats always land on their feet. Is that true or just an old wives tale? If anyone has any facts about this legend, please let us know!
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