Modern Cat

8 TOP CAT MYTHS EXPOSED

These dangerous myths are harming cats. We’ve got the facts for you.

- By Lauren Cheal & Taryn Cheal

1 Myth: Declawing Your Cat is a Minor Procedure

The Facts: Declawing is an amputation, and the surgery is extremely painful—the procedure is akin to cutting off the tip of your finger down to the first knuckle. In the long term, declawing alters everything, right down to how your cat walks, which in turn causes other physical ailments such as arthritis.

The Bottom Line: Declawing is inhumane and cruel. It essentiall­y cripples a cat, rendering her unable to partake in innate behaviours or defend herself. If your cat is scratching your furniture, with patience and dedication you can train her to scratch on appropriat­e surfaces. (See moderncat.com/ catscratch­fever for a round up of awesome cat scratchers.) For more eye-opening informatio­n on de-clawing, check out the Paw Project (pawproject.org) and get on board to ban this barbaric practice.

2 Myth: Your Cat is Fine Outside

The Facts: Cats are naturally curious creatures, leading people to think “but my cat WANTS to go outside.” In fact, what your cat really wants is stimulatio­n, and all the healthy stimulatio­n a cat needs can be provided in a safe, indoor environmen­t. Providing a variety of toys, dedicated playtime, and a window with a view will keep your indoor cat happy and healthy. Need further convincing? This sobering statistic should do it. According to Dr. Dawn Ruben, outdoor cats have an average life span of 4-5 years, while a full-time indoor cat has an average life span of 12-18 years.

The Bottom Line: You are responsibl­e for your cat’s wellbeing. Your cat will live much, much longer by being indoor-only, in your safe and happy home.

3 Myth: Feral Cats Make Bad Pets

The Facts: Feral cats have adapted to a very stressful life where survival is their only concern. When these special guys are brought into shelters and homes, they are often less social and have higher rates of return because of this. The truth is that feral cats have the same great hearts and outstandin­g personalit­ies as their domesticat­ed pals, they just need extra time and patience on the part of their new families while they transform into comfortabl­e house cats.

The Bottom Line: Formerly feral cats are the best! They will repay your love, patience, and understand­ing 1000 times over (minimum), if you just give them the chance. For tips on helping a formerly feral rescue cat adapt to his new home, check out moderncat.com/formerlyfe­ral.

4 Myth: Black Cats are Bad Luck

The Facts: The persistent myths surroundin­g black cats are tied to superstiti­ons surroundin­g witches, plagues, and pirates (oh my!). The harmful effect of this seriously outdated thinking is that today, black cats suffer from far lower adoption rates than cats of any other colour; sadly, they are often the last to be adopted and the first to be euthanized.

The Bottom Line: Ebony-coloured cats make amazing companions and are just as deserving of loving forever homes as any other cat. Why not support a black cat rescue in your area, like blackcatre­scue.com or share an adoptable black cat through social media?

5 Myth: Cats are Jerks

The Facts: When a cat misbehaves, people are prone to assigning human motivation­s to the behaviour. It’s important to remember that the behaviour is the result of an instinct. Your cat isn’t acting like a jerk by peeing outside of her litter box, scratching on your couch or biting at your hand. Her behaviour is telling you that you need to look at the world from her perspectiv­e and adjust her environmen­t to accommodat­e her natural instincts.

The Bottom Line: Cats aren’t jerks! They are not trying to anger you; they need you to make sure they have a home environmen­t that provides appropriat­e outlets for their natural cat behaviours.

6 Myth: You Can’t Train a Cat

The Facts: Of course you can. In the same way that you can train yourself to wake up to an alarm, a cat can be trained to perform a wide range of tasks. From relatively simple things like staying off the counter or using a scratching post, to pretty amazing choreograp­hed performanc­es like the ones the Amazing Acro Cats demonstrat­e (do yourself a favour and check out circuscats.com), training a cat is absolutely possible. Some cats are very food motivated and can be trained to do certain things for the promise of a treat. Others are socially motivated and will do anything for a pet or some love. Figure out which works for your cat and give it a try!

The Bottom Line: Training a cat is not only possible, it is an essential part of a harmonious life with feline friends.

7 Myth: Cats are a Low-Maintenanc­e Pet

The Facts: While cats may not need to go for walks and seem to sleep an awful lot, they require your time and attention to be happy and healthy. Daily play and stimulatio­n are essential for feline health; Pam Johnson-Bennett, author of Think Like a Cat, recommends scheduling a minimum of one or two play sessions a day, each about 15 minutes long. These sessions fulfill your cat’s instinct to hunt and are a perfect way to bond with your cat.

The Bottom Line: Cats require daily stimulatio­n and attention to live happy and healthy lives. Be sure to schedule daily play sessions to keep her active and engaged.

8 Myth: Cats Think Like Humans

The Facts: A cat is a cat. We need to think like a cat, and not ascribe human emotions to them. It’s important to remember that cats have strong instincts that determine how they act, and we need to accommodat­e their needs. They’ll be happier, and so will you. Taking the time to understand your cat’s behaviour will create a better bond with your best bud.

The Bottom Line: Cats have their own way of viewing the world—we need to get better at understand­ing their world so that we can live more harmonious lives together.

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 ?? ?? Case in point: Formerly feral cat Tucker, pictured here, was rescued by Angela McAlister. Abandoned as a kitten, Tucker grew up wild, but has since completely adapted to the good life. He loves his red snapper sushi and has even learned to "talk"— Angela reports that he says "mamma" and "hello" in a human-like voice. "He has plenty of attitude while still being a 24/7 sweetie!" says Angela.
Case in point: Formerly feral cat Tucker, pictured here, was rescued by Angela McAlister. Abandoned as a kitten, Tucker grew up wild, but has since completely adapted to the good life. He loves his red snapper sushi and has even learned to "talk"— Angela reports that he says "mamma" and "hello" in a human-like voice. "He has plenty of attitude while still being a 24/7 sweetie!" says Angela.
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