17 Cat Myths You Need to Stop Believing

By far the most widely shared myth about cats is that they have nine lives. Thankfully, people don’t actually believe that it’s fine if their cat dies because they have more than one life! At least I hope no one believes that. 

But there’s a host of other cat myths out there that people really do believe. They range from simple misconceptions to potentially harmful misinformation. 

The harmful ones can lead to poor care choices, create unrealistic expectations, and could even be dangerous to your cat’s health and safety. 

Here we examine some common and stubborn myths about cat health, behavior, care requirements, and safety – separating fact from fiction to help you provide better care for your feline fuzzbutt.

Here are the 17 Myths.

1. “Cats Always Land on Their Feet”

While cats have a natural righting reflex, they can and do suffer serious injuries from falls. High-rise syndrome, where cats fall from heights, often results in severe trauma or death.

2. “Cats Don’t Need Much Water”

Cats need consistent access to fresh water. Chronic dehydration contributes to kidney disease and urinary problems. 

An all-kibble diet significantly increases the chances of complications developing from dehydration, so be sure to include wet food in your cat’s daily diet.

And while cats do get some moisture from wet food, they still need plenty of drinking water. 

3. “Milk is Good for Cats”

Most adult cats are lactose intolerant. Milk causes diarrhea, vomiting, and digestive discomfort. 

Also, it can be hard to tell when a cat is in pain, so it’s not safe to assume your cat isn’t lactose intolerant just because it doesn’t make them throw up. 

Provide fresh water instead.

4. “Indoor Cats Don’t Need Vet Care”

Yes, indoor cats generally have fewer vet care needs compared to outdoor cats. But they still need regular checkups, vaccinations, and preventive care. 

They can develop health issues regardless of indoor status. And a lot of common cat ailments have much better treatment outcomes when they’re caught early.

5. “Declawing is Nothing But a Manicure”

Declawing amputates the last bone of each toe. It causes chronic pain, behavior problems, and is considered inhumane by veterinary organizations worldwide.

6. “Purring Always Means Happiness”

Cats actually purr for many reasons, including when stressed, sick, or in pain. It’s a self-soothing mechanism. Context and body language provide important clues to what purring means.

7. “Cats Are Fine Alone for Days”

Among cats’ basic needs are daily feeding, fresh water, clean litter, and monitoring. They can develop serious health issues quickly if left unchecked.

8. “Cats Are Nocturnal”

Cats are crepuscular, meaning most active at dawn and dusk. They adapt their schedule somewhat to their household’s routine. 

For example, all three of mine sleep through the night in sync with my schedule.

9. “Cats Can’t Be Trained”

Cats learn readily through positive reinforcement. They can learn so many things, like commands, tricks, and good behavior with proper training techniques and consistency.

Training your cat has tons of benefits, too.

10. “Cats Hate Water”

Some breeds like Turkish Vans enjoy water. Individual cats may like playing with or in water. This varies by cat personality and early exposure.

11. “Cats Don’t Form Bonds”

Research shows cats form strong attachments to their caregivers. They experience separation anxiety and show clear social bonding behaviors.

12. “Pregnant Women Can’t Have Cats”

While toxoplasmosis poses risks during pregnancy, simple precautions like having someone else clean the litter box make cat ownership safe during pregnancy.

13. “Cat Allergies Come From Fur”

The allergen is actually a protein found in cat saliva, urine, and skin cells. This protein spreads through the air on tiny particles. No breed is truly hypoallergenic, though some produce fewer allergens than others.

14. “Cats Can’t Get Heartworm”

Cats can and do get heartworm disease. Indoor cats are also at risk since mosquitoes enter homes. Prevention is crucial as there’s no approved treatment for cats.

15. “Cats Need to Go Outside to Be Happy”

Many new cat owners wrestle with the indoor vs outdoor dilemma, but the risks of letting your cat go outside far outweigh the benefits. 

Studies show that indoor cats live significantly longer (15-20 years vs 2-8 years outdoors), on average. 

And there are many safe solutions for giving your cat a taste of the outdoors without the dangers of uncontrolled access.

16. “Cats Are Low Maintenance”

They may be less work than dogs, but cat care responsibilities are still a lot. Cats require daily care, feeding, clean-up, play, and regular vet visits.

Underestimating the time commitment is a common mistake for people thinking about getting a cat.

17. “A Cold Nose Means They’re Healthy”

Nose temperature actually varies naturally and isn’t a health indicator. Watch instead for changes in eating and drinking, litter box habits, energy levels, breathing patterns, and grooming behavior.

Last Meows

So how many of these did you think were true? I know I made it well into adulthood without knowing the milk one!

Hopefully, dispelling these myths can help us all provide better care for our precious kitties. And as always, when in doubt, consult with your vet or a cat behaviorist.