PDSA Vet Nurse Shauna Walsh debunks six cat myths, from whether they should drink milk to whether they can forecast the weather <\/p>
There are many myths that people still believe about cats, says PDSA Vet Nurse Shauna Walsh<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p> From drinking a saucer of milk<\/a> each day to seeing ghosts, cats are associated with all manner of strange beliefs and superstitions – but it\u2019s safe to say, don\u2019t believe everything you hear.<\/p> Here, Shauna debunks six common feline myths…<\/p> Quite why we say they have nine lives is unclear but the idea is expressed in an ancient proverb: “A cat has nine lives. For three he plays, for three he strays, and for the last three he stays.”<\/p> Obviously, cats have only one life. What they do have, however, is a remarkable ability to fall from a height and land on their feet often unharmed, which can be quite shocking to witness. And while they might seem lucky, they definitely do not die and return to life again. They manage to get out of some \u2018sticky\u2019 situations, but they are not invincible.<\/p> Instead they rely on their athletic abilities, flexibility, strength and their tail, which they use for balance. Having said that, it is always best to make sure your second-floor windows or balconies are securely closed or covered with mesh so that they don\u2019t cause themselves any injuries.<\/p> For years, we have seen cats enjoying a saucer of milk on TV and other media, so a lot of owners often think that cats need milk to be healthy – but this isn\u2019t true. In fact, milk might actually do more harm than good to your feline friend.\u00a0<\/p> Your cat may seem to like the taste of milk, but we would always advise steering clear of giving it to them. Most cats are actually lactose intolerant as they don\u2019t have the enzyme (lactase) in their intestines to digest the sugar in milk (lactose), meaning milk containing lactose can make them poorly. They can get vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach pain from drinking it, just like lactose intolerance in humans.\u00a0<\/p> Not just that, but a saucer of milk can be loaded with fat. One saucer of milk for your cat is like you eating an entire 12-inch pizza. That might not sound too bad on its own, but imagine eating that on top of all your usual daily meals. Suddenly that pizza seems like a lot more. Giving your cat milk can not only make them poorly but it can also lead to weight gain and obesity. It\u2019s best to avoid.<\/p> All cat owners have probably experienced their feline friend running crazily from room to room \u2013 but despite what you might have been told about cats seeing ghosts, there\u2019s no evidence to support this.\u00a0<\/p> Cats can sense things that we can\u2019t \u2013 for example, their hearing is much more sensitive than ours, but this doesn\u2019t necessarily mean they\u2019re sensing anything paranormal. They\u2019re just picking up on things that are happening around us that might be too quiet for us to hear.\u00a0<\/p> If your cat is running around like something possessed, the likelihood is that they\u2019re having a funny five minutes (zoomies!) to get rid of the excess energy they might otherwise burn when hunting \u2013 or they\u2019re trying to convince you to play with them.<\/p> We\u2019ve all heard of the term \u2018scaredy cat\u2019, but sadly when a cat is scared, it\u2019s more than just a phrase. Cats can be afraid of lots of different things and, for many owners, finding the cause of the problem and knowing what to do next can be a challenge. Unfortunately, if your cat is left without any help, their fear can lead to stress, anxiety and even illness, especially as fears tend to get worse over time. If you think your cat is acting out of sorts, hiding away, or generally more stressed, it\u2019s always best to speak to your vet for advice.<\/p> Some believe that if a cat licks their fur more, it means it\u2019s going to rain. However, as helpful as that would be, our pets cannot predict the weather. Generally, cats are very clean animals and like to groom themselves, so unless it\u2019s going to rain every day, this superstition is completely false. <\/p> If your cat is licking themselves a lot more than normal, it\u2019s always best to contact your vet for advice as this can be a sign of illness such as stress, parasites, or skin allergies.<\/p> It\u2019s often thought that cats are a lot less friendly compared to other popular pets such as dogs \u2013 but again this isn\u2019t true. All animals are different, regardless of type of pet or breed, and they have different personalities, just like humans. <\/p> Cats make lovely pets, and with the right home life environment and positive training, they are often great, loving companions. Cats show their emotions and display affection in a different way to dogs and usually like things to be on their terms. We\u00a0just need to learn their language to understand them.<\/p> Love cats? Check out our\u00a0pets<\/a>\u00a0section for advice on cat care from\u00a0How to take your cat to the vet without stress<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/strong>how to get rid of fleas<\/strong><\/a><\/p> About the PDSA<\/strong><\/p>Cats have nine lives<\/strong><\/h2>
Cats should be fed milk<\/strong><\/h2>
Cats can see ghosts<\/h2>
Scaredy cats\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>
Cats can tell the weather\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>
Cats aren’t as friendly as dogs <\/strong><\/h2>