Throughout the years, cats have been considered magical and even otherworldly. They certainly have that way about them. Over the years, many myths have been told in regards to the cat. Here are several of these cat myths and the truth behind them.

Myth #1 – Milk is a tasty treat for cats
Most cats are lactose intolerant making milk a not so great treat for cats. In fact, drinking milk can cause gastrointestinal stress like diarrhea and vomiting. It’s usually a good idea to avoid giving your cat any people food.

Myth #2 – Purring Means my Cat is Happy
Cats purr when they are content, but they do it for other reasons too. Since newborn kittens can not see when they are born, the mother cat purrs to help orient her kittens towards her when it’s time to eat. Cats may even purr when they are sick or close to dying as a way to calm themselves.

Myth #3 – Cat’s hate water and can’t swim
Most cats probably would agree with this statement, however, there are a few who actually enjoy it. For instance, Bengal and Turkish Vans are smart and athletic cat breeds that love to play fetch, swim, jump and can even perform tricks. If you have one of these cats residing in your home, you will surely want to keep the toilet lid down and the door closed as they enjoy dropping things into the toilet and flushing it.

Myth #4 – Cats have 9 Lives
This myth comes to us from legends about Egyptian gods and religions where the sun god Atum-Ra (he was one of the Ennead or nine) would take the form of a cat when traveling to the underworld. Though they are certainly resilient creatures, they do not possess nine lives in actuality.

Myth #5 –  Cats are nocturnal creatures
They are actually crepuscular meaning they are most active at dusk and dawn when hunting prey is at its peak hours. The way their eyes are designed to allow for them to see very well with very little light. Even so, they cannot see in complete darkness.

Myth #6 – Black cats are bad luck
There are many superstitions revolving black cats and how they bring about bad black. In many cultures around the world, colors and coat patterns give birth to such superstitions. Though there is a study that shows that dark-colored cats produce more fel d1 allergen in their skin and saliva. So if you have allergies, it might be best for you to leave these terrific black felines to those without cat allergies.

Even though we have cleared up some of the misconceptions about cats, they will forever remain a little mysterious. Just remember to separate fact from fiction.

As always we look forward to serving you and thank you for choosing Central Pet Care, where we treat your pets like our family.