Many people keep cats in their homes and will do anything for their pets, but even they don’t know the real truth about their furry friends.
We will debunk the most common facts about cats that the vast majority of cat owners believe.
Cats are nocturnal
This is actually not true. We only think that because cats like to run around the house at 3am. But in reality, cats live at dusk, which means they wake up in the morning and in the evening, said a well-known American expert on cat behaviour and health. Over time, you can train your cat to sleep at night and stay awake during the day to suit your biological rhythms. It is advisable to feed her at around the same time every day to help her adapt to the right rhythm.
Cats are untrainable
Cats are as trainable as dogs! Many people just don’t try to train their cats and don’t know how to do it,” says a certified biobehaviorist and dog and cat trainer. In fact, cats love to be trained and trained just like dogs!
No wonder you often see trained cats in modern circuses.
Cats don’t need to be groomed
Another myth, believed by 90% of the world’s population, is that cats can live on their own and do not need to be looked after.
Cats that are confined indoors need serious care to stay happy and healthy, say cat experts. They need constant attention, good quality food and a clean litter box.
Cats are not as attached to their owners as dogs
When we compare their behaviour to that of dogs, we often describe cats as loners, too independent and even unfriendly. This is unfair. Cats do not so much avoid their owners as express it differently from dogs, but this does not mean that they love their owners less. Cat love just looks different from what we get from dogs.
Milk is the cat’s favourite drink
Like some humans, cats can be lactose intolerant. Even if you associate cats with milk, they do not need to be fed this product regularly.
All mammals are born with the ability to digest their mother’s milk and have the enzyme lactase in their bodies, which breaks down lactose proteins. However, after a certain age, the cat’s body stops producing this enzyme, which is why milk can cause upset stomachs, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Cats can be left home alone for the weekend
Many people mistakenly believe that cats are lonely and think that everything will be fine if you leave them at home with just enough food and water. However, it is actually a bad idea to leave them alone for a few days. Just like dogs, cats can suffer from panic attacks and depression. They crave attention and want to live in a human family, although they often do not show it.
A purring cat is a happy cat
If your cat is lying down next to you, purring, it is usually a sign that the animal is happy. But this is not always the case.
Cats also purr when they are scared or threatened. This is how they can express pain when they are injured, in labour and even when they are close to death.
Cutting the claws is not harmful to the cat’s health
Another myth created by cat grooming salons. In essence, you are saving your furniture, to the detriment of your cat’s body. Cut nails can cause inflammation and permanently damage your cat.
Cats hate water
It’s true that many cats don’t like bathing, but not all cats hate water. Cats are less fond of water than dogs, and their fur is thinner than a dog’s, so if they get wet they can easily catch a cold. But at the same time, many cats and kittens love to play with water, run around, drink from the tap or put their paws in the bath.
The only breeds of cats that really like water are the Turkish Van and the Bengal.