Black Cat and Other Myths

Kitty Kat Korner

Myth #1
Black Cats bring bad luck... or do are they? It depends on what continent or country you live in. If you live in Great Britain or Ireland and Japan, a black cat will be seen as one that brings good luck. In Scotland, it is believed that a black cat’s visiting your home signifies prosperity.
So where did all these myths originate? The supernatural powers ascribed to black cats were often viewed positively, for example sailors considering a "ship’s cat" would want a black one because it would bring good luck. The idea of black cats being positive creatures is attributed to the Egyptian cat goddess Bast; Egyptian households believed they could gain favor by hosting black cats in their household. This view continued until the early 17th Century by the English Monarch Charles I. Upon the death of his treasured pet black cat, he is said to have lamented that his luck was gone. True to his claim, he was arrested the very next day and charged with high treason.

Myth #2
Cats can have cow’s milk. While some cats love to drink cow’s milk, it is not recommended. Many cats are lactose intolerant. Giving the cat milk can cause an upset stomach or diarrhea. This can be dangerous to kittens that can dehydrate quickly. Adult cats don’t need to drink milk at all. If you must give your cat milk, it is recommended you purchase special "cat’s milk" which has been formulated for cats to drink.

Myth #3
Cats can have fish. While it is perfectly fine to give your cat the occasional treat of fish, but it should not become a part of their regular diet. Feeding too much fish can lead to Yellow Fat Disease (steatitis), caused by Vitamin E deficiency.

Myth #4
Put butter on your cat’s paws when you move to stop it from getting lost or roaming. Putting butter on your cat’s paws won’t stop it from getting lost when it moves to a new home. The safest way to keep your cat safe is to either keep it exclusively indoors or allow it to go out in a purpose built cat enclosure. Hold off for 2-3 weeks before letting your cat go outdoors in a strange place and make sure your cat has a microchip and the details are current.

Myth #5
A female cat should have one litter before being spayed. No, No, No, in fact it is better to have her spayed before six months of age to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. With modern surgery, cats can now be safely spayed or neutered as young as eight weeks of age.

Myth #6
Cats always land on their feet? Not really. If the cat falls a very short distance from the ground it doesn’t have enough time to right itself and can be seriously injured or killed.

Myth #7
Declawing won’t hurt my cat. Declawing is more than simply removing the cat’s claws, the last bone on the cat’s claw is amputated. This is excruciatingly painful and not all cats fully recover. Many declawed cats are surrendered to shelters because of behavioral problems they developed after being declawed including biting and refusing to use their litter tray. Cats by nature walk on their toes, so after they’ve been declawed, walking often becomes extremely painful to them.

Myth #8
Cats can fend for themselves. If you no longer want your cat, just release it into a park or countryside. This is definitely NOT the case. Pet cats who find themselves stranded and alone will most likely die of injuries caused by fights with other animals, starvation, disease, or be hit by a car. If you no longer want your cat then do the right thing, either find it a new home or take it to a shelter.

Myth #9
You cannot turn an outdoor/indoor cat into an indoor only cat. Yes you can, and my cats are a great example of this. They were all indoor/outdoor but reverted to indoor only (with access to an outdoor enclosure) with very little difficulty. It is easy to do as long as you ensure the cat has enough physical and mental stimulation.

Myth #10
Pregnant women should not own a cat. If a woman hasn’t had prior exposure to Toxoplasmosis and becomes infected during pregnancy, it can harm her unborn baby. Cats are the natural host for Toxoplasmosis, however Toxoplasmosis can also be acquired from eating undercooked meat, improperly washed vegetables or gardening. Pregnant women should take precautions such as avoiding cleaning the litter tray, ensuring their meat is thoroughly cooked, washing vegetables properly & wearing gloves while gardening. There is no need to get rid of your cat just because you’re pregnant.

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