Misconceptions

The myth of black cats embodying evil harkens to the Middle Ages, when cats were linked with witchcraft.

While most myths are proven nonsense, others remain. Understanding cat mythology can help you better understand the feline species, as well as your own companion.

GET THE TRUTH

1. Cats are unloving creatures. Cats frequently follow people from room to room or curl up in a lap for petting. The notion of unfriendly cats might stem from behavior changes cats experience with maturation. A growing kitten becomes increasingly less dependent and might seek out owners less frequently.

2. Cats are lazy. Absolutely false. In the wild, cats hunt at night and must rest during the day. Domestication hasn’t changed this characteristic, though the “hunt” now involves meowing until you open a can of food.

3. Cats always land safely on their feet. Cats can sustain serious fractures upon landing, as easily as they can right themselves during falls. Secure all screened areas to protect against disastrous falls.

4. Indoor cats cannot acquire diseases. In fact, indoor cats can be exposed to airborne organisms or those brought in on your shoes and clothing.

5. Mythology says black cats embody evil. Of course, today, cat lovers know better. Help spread the truth about these black beauties.

6. Pregnant women should not own cats. Toxoplasmosis can cause prenatal complications and infected cats occasionally spread the disease to humans via litter boxes. Expectant mothers should assign daily litter box cleaning to another family member, but giving up your can absolutely isn’t necessary.

7. Cats interfere with telephone conversations because of jealousy. Actually, your cat sees and hears you in the room talking aloud with no other human present. Therefore, your cat responds by moving close and rubbing against you with his head and muzzle.

8. Cats are finicky eaters. Finicky eaters are taught, not born. Feeding your cat only one type of food contributes to a finicky lifestyle. Instead, offer your cat a variety of tastes by slowly switching balanced, nutritional cat foods every few months. However, don’t expect your cat, a natural carnivore, to share all your food tastes.

SPREAD THE TRUTH

Use these four techniques to dispel myths:

• Educate early. Give children the facts about cats at home and in school. When reading stories that portray cats as evil, cunning or dangerous, explain to children that in real life, the average housecat is none of those things.
• Teach critical thinking. Encourage children to think for themselves and question generalizations.
• Help people develop more empathy. Suggest they look at things from a cat’s point of view. When a cat scratches the furniture, brings home a dead bird or “bothers” you while on the phone, stop a minute and think what’s behind the behavior instead of getting mad.
• Encourage contact with many types of cats in different settings. People find it hard to hold onto negative stereotypes when they see cats’ unique personalities and the affection, loyalty and devotion they exhibit toward humans.

By recognizing the origins of negative feline myths and implementing strategies to overcome them, you can help reduce the number of abused, euthanized or relinquished cats.

Larry Lachman holds a doctorate in clinical psychology and a membership in the Animal Behavior Society.