Anyone who is a cat tutor knows: people make up myths about cats, simply because they don't really know this fantastic animal. Throughout recent history, since cats became present in human homes, some feline behaviors have been misunderstood.

This generated myths about cats that, in practice, we know are not true – that cats have 7 (sometimes 9) lives, that they always land on their feet, for example. Other myths even merited studies by veterinarians – has anyone heard of the (absurd) story that cats steal babies' air?

But are all these myths about cats a lie? Is there any truth in them? With that in mind, we went after answers. Do you know what is true and what is legend? Check out our list, and find out a little more about your cat's "superpowers"!

One of the most well-known myths about cats is that dogs and cats are enemies, and there is no shortage of examples in movies and TV. Anyone who likes animals knows that this is Lie.

Part of the myth is due to the fact that cats have an introspective and solitary style. They like to explore their surroundings. Dogs, on the other hand, have the community in their genetics. So, they became more aggressive if they understood that the cat is an “invader”.

Cats can get along well with all the animals that their tutors have. Including birds. What will be needed is a series of care and socialization training between the animals.

Which brings us to the myth:

a huge Lie! Cats, like dogs, can and should be taught, otherwise they will act according to their instincts – that is, they will mess with what they want, do their business where they want.

What happens with cats is that they don't have, in their genetics, the sense of a pack, like dogs do. So they won't want to learn a silly trick just to get a cookie.

Cats can be taught to do tricks. But, some things that for dogs may seem a bit obvious (doing a zigzag, for example) – for a cat it won't make much sense – it just goes jump over of the way.

To train a cat, you need patience and an understanding of how a cat acts and thinks.

Another myth widely spread by TV and cinema. Cats YOU CAN NOT drink milk and derivatives. Only the pups – and even then, only the mother's milk.

Because it's a domestic animal, it probably won't refuse a saucer of milk offered by the tutor. However, you will not be healthy for him. Cow's or goat's milk is suitable for bovine and caprine biotypes. In the same way that the cat's milk is suitable for the kitten's biotype.

Cow's milk contains proteins and fats that can be extremely harmful to feline kidneys and livers. This can cause kidney failure, cholesterol, diabetes, gastritis...

So, you already know: Cats don't drink milk!

Pregnant women need a lot of special care. Fact. They cannot live with people with certain diseases, they cannot eat some foods, and they must avoid the presence of some animals at home.

Although: women who want to get pregnant can be cat tutors.

What is not recommended is a pregnant woman having contact with unknown animals. It is not possible to guarantee that a stray cat, or even a neighbor's, is vaccinated, healthy, trained...

Thus, it is better for the expectant mother to avoid unfamiliar animals. And as for the cat (and other animals that already live in your house), during pregnancy, the rule is clear: increase the frequency of visits to the veterinarian.

One of the biggest injustices in the world is to say that cats are “bad”, “cold”, “insensitive”. Cats are pure love. But in their own way.

The cat won't jump into your lap, like a dog, and belly tickling is one of the things they HATE the most - that, for a cat, is a sign of attack.

Your cat will show you love. But in cat style.

He'll rub himself on your legs and clothes (to get his scent on you), he'll jump on your bed and stuff (as if he's saying hi, I'm here because I love you), and he'll bring home dead animals ( to show he cares that you're eating right).

These are things that in the human world are strange. But in the feline world it's pure love!

In Brazil, they say cats have 7 lives. In the United States, they have 9. And actually, cats only have 1 (one) life.

Why does popular wisdom say otherwise then?

Because cats know how to handle themselves.

A cat's musculature is made for it to withstand more severe falls, its whiskers and fur are extremely sensitive to sudden changes (it "feels" when something is coming towards it). His smell and taste are more refined (he won't eat food if he's not sure it's healthy).

This does not mean that your cat will withstand falling from the second floor of your building or anything like that. It's just that he has a better resistance to certain impacts. However, resistance does not mean invincibility.

Lie! Cats need water to cool off and stay hydrated. In addition to water consumption, bathing is also very important, either to clean the hair from the week's dirt particles (pollution, dust, soil), or to avoid parasites.

What happens is that you can't look like you're threatening the cat.

Throwing the cat in the bathtub, or even placing it roughly, is threatening. He doesn't know what he'll find there, if he'll survive the fall, if he'll be able to swim...

The ideal thing is that the hygiene moment is a moment of fun between the cat and the tutor. A relaxation, a massage. Warm water, toys, a calm tone of voice…

You will see how your cat will love the baths.

On the contrary. A curious study by the National Institute of Health in the United States accompanied some cats, and saw that those with completely black fur were luckier (fewer illnesses and accidents).

In some cultures, such as ancient Egypt, the black cat was seen as an earthly incarnation of a mystical being.

All the bad luck of black cats (which, it is worth noting, is not a breed, but a coat pattern that can be found in several breeds) goes back to the Middle Ages (10th to 14th centuries).

At that time, when intolerance and religious fanaticism grew, the completely dark coat was seen as a “diabolical” sign (as opposed to divine “light”). But it's all prejudice and misinformation.

Black cats are pure love, when they receive love from their guardians!

One of the worst cat myths that, if tested, could lead to your cat suffering serious injury or even death. Sometimes cats fall on their backs, on their sides, on their hind legs only...

The myth about falling cats is due to the flexibility and agility of cats. Thus, falling on all fours (on all four feet) causes the animal's bones and musculature to absorb the impact of the fall – therefore, it is less injured.

This, however, does not always happen. It is not always that the cat will be able to deviate and rotate its body to this “safety” position, so to speak.

When in doubt, do the safest thing: prevent your cat from exposing itself to dangerous falls!

One of LIES cruelest and shameless that can arise. Anyone who has a cat knows: #gatoéamor! In their own way, of course.

What can happen is that the child has symptoms of asthma, happiness with cats, or rhinitis. But, in this case, it is something very specific from person to person, and only a pediatrician will be able to guide you better.

Cats will shed fur, go into the darkest corners of the house – and come back all dusty – and eventually lick or claw at you. It's in their nature.

In that case, what should be done is extra care of the cat with a very young child. The cat will be curious, and will “touch” the baby, and the baby will be able to be curious and tug on the cat's whiskers.

But to avoid this is the adult human's mission in the story. With the right training, if the pediatrician allows it, the cat will be your baby's best friend - and vice versa.

And you, do you know any myths about cats that we don't treat here? Did you miss any information? Do you have any curious stories? Tell us!

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