Megusta
Based on the daily conversation among the cat owners, we usually joke that cats are magnificent, cryptic, and mythical. We love to draw another way to make excuses for your feline’s behavior but sometimes everything is just extra and full of hypnotizing. We do love cats, but it has nothing to do with them when you frame yourself and your kitty in a myth. However, some observations are more factual than others, and explanations of the essence of cats have spawned many myths. You can even say: “Well, that’s just for fun and I know my cats won’t be harmful any other way”, it might be true but you need to be more careful or else you will break the bond between you and your cat.
Meet Tatiana Kulikova – a zoo psychology expert in the field of psychology that explains why certain animals behave in a particular way. She loves animals but prioritizes writing about cats than others. She often helps people, especially cat owners, to rebuild relationships with their beloved animals and correct their pet’s behavior. She is in charge of running a blog to share her knowledge with folks about pets. Thus, she had a Russian language article about the 13 most common mythological talk companion readers for dignified cats and we would like you to look at the facts rather than hold on to the untrue myths.
More info: Instagram | zoopsiholog.jimdo.com | zen.yandex.ru (h/t: boredpanda)
[adace-ad id=”5696″]
1. Cats are spiteful and plot revenge against their owners
This is not true at all. Cats don’t know how to be vengeful and they only do what their instincts tell them. Even if you try to get rid of the cat’s behavior, it is no use certainly. They do not have a conception between good or bad like humans. The owner might be angry if they destroy your IKEA sofa or a vase you just bought this morning. The fact that we might have forgotten is cats don’t know what money is, meanwhile, they like to mark the territories around the house just to make sure that the relationships between them and other animals as well as humans are good. So, stop putting the labels that you are unintentionally doing for your cats. If they were spiteful, devilish, or vindictive, they would have ruined the whole house, not just your flower vase or sofa.
According to Stefanie Schwartz, DVM, who is board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists and director of behavior services at VCA South Shore Animal Hospital in Weymouth, MA. “Cats don’t hold grudges. A grudge involves malicious behavior requiring forethought. There is also moral intent; something that happens is perceived as right or wrong. But there is no proof that cats or any other animals think that way.”
[adace-ad id=”5696″]
2. Cats are non-social animals and like to be left alone
This myth was long dispelled by ethologists who observed the behavior of wild cats. Where resources are plentiful, cats tend to unite, live collectively, and raise their offspring together in the forest. Cats are likely to be aloof with the myths rather than with you. Also, today it is a fad to choose a social breed that needs a feline friend within its territory and can be bored, depressed, or without friends. So, the phrase “a cat walks alone” is so yesterday.
[adace-ad id=”5696″]
3. If a cat pees on a person’s things, it means that she does not like this person
100% false. Cats like to tag their belongings by urinating them but due to this misunderstanding, the owner would think that’s because the cat is naughty or wants to revenge. In fact, cats use scents to conquer the world. There is an interesting truth: cats mark the marks of another cat with which they have a poor relationship in the group so they can mix and form a common scent. It allows cats to determine who is a stranger and who is a member of the group. If there is a fight in the colony, they urine on the display and they have to mix the odor quickly and efficiently to kiss and make up with each other.
[adace-ad id=”5696″]
4. The cat scratches furniture because of their bad manners and to spite their owners
The tendency of scratching everywhere available is the norm for cats and that’s what they represent themselves for being a cat. Besides scratching to sharpen the claws, the cats want to mark their territory by 2 senses: smelling and seeing. Even though you try your best to avoid them from scratching, they would not change it for their entire life. The best way to do is to give them some proper scratch posts and put around your house or their favorite spots and teach them how to use it.
[adace-ad id=”5696″]
5. The cat doesn’t need any training
Dogs are more in favor of being trained while cats are usually misunderstood that they don’t have to join any training. But that is far from the truth. That is also a reason why more people tend to adopt cats than dogs since it took a bare minimum effort to teach them stuff. Cats are like other animals, they still have some restless behaviors and they need to be corrected. Like dogs, cats should be taught gently instead of punishing, animals punishment is not an accountable moral as a human being.
[adace-ad id=”5696″]
6. You don’t need to play with your cat, it can entertain itself on its own
People love to have quality time spending together, so do the cats! They are born to climb, hunt, and maximize their physical ability. This is a very good way for both the cat and the owner to build a strong relationship with each other, also prevent cats from having obese. You should take them outside, let them explore the world. If you are a homebody, you should host some activities for your cat to have a chance to release their backup energy.
[adace-ad id=”5696″]
7. If the cat shows aggression towards its owner, it wants to “dominate.” Thus, you need to hiss at it, shake it by the scruff of the neck, press it to the floor to put it in place to show who’s the boss
As said above, cats don’t hold grudges, so there is no reason for them to have a dominant attitude with humans. Aggression may appear on cats but not for wanting to dominate, here are some reasons why your cat’s aggressive behavior arises: cats show how playful they are, or a way to draw your attention, or a reaction to fear when the cat mistrusts the owner. Excessive petting or hormonal disruption also counts.
[adace-ad id=”5696″]
8. A cat can’t get sick if it doesn’t go outside
If you think your cat won’t be sick because they are at home forever, you may think again. There have been a bunch of sad stories about sick cats although they are protected by the owners. Cats require going outside but with the vaccination injected. Cats can be infected by the visitors or dogs’ viruses and bacteria, not just themselves. Only vaccines can help prevent infections or strengthen the cat’s immune system to combat the virus. Therefore, even if your cat has never left the house in her entire life, set her up with comprehensive vaccination.
[adace-ad id=”5696″]
9. Cats always land on their feet
Cats have a built-in balancing system called a “righting reflex” that allows them to orient themselves and land on their paws. But while cats can usually land well, they don’t always land on their feet. The altitude of the fall can affect their ability to land safely. Thus, when a cat decides to land over but unfortunately they fall from a great height, the impacts will be such a considerable problem such as cats will get injured, ending up with broken paws, jaw, a concussion, etc. Even though you think with their bouncing paws they could land and jump anywhere, their feet are definitely in pain.
[adace-ad id=”5696″]
10. Cats heal themselves by licking their wounds and eating the right grass
It’s a no-no for this myth. People have a huge misconception of the cat’s daily behavior: licking themself to heal the wounds. Many vets are open and they have to put the cone of shame on them to avoid licking. Licking wounds is a cat’s instinct. Their immune system is incredible but that doesn’t mean you would ignore the fact that the wounds will be getting bigger if you keep letting them heal alone. The bacteria on the cat’s tongue may also cause additional infection.
[adace-ad id=”5696″]
Eating the right grass is another myth we should dispel. Cats do not eat the right grass and they can’t even differentiate which is which. Speaking again about the immune system, cats eat grass was seen back from the old days when we heard about survival cat stories. But a ‘modern’ cat doesn’t do the same, life is changing everyday, so is the quality of the grass.
11. A cat is not attached to a person, but a house
This is quite debatable since it depends on a cat’s character. Most domestic cats are really attached to the owners and they build an emotional relationship with where they are at. There are a lot of study cases that have been conducted to point out that cats (and also dogs) have tenderness when they are around their owner in a strange room compared to when they are all alone.
[adace-ad id=”5696″]
On the other hand, some cats are more likely to be independent themselves, some cats don’t feel the connection between them and the owner, so they walk away. The interesting thing is, they would definitely come back to a house where they marked the territory and like to be around the house. Sadly, not the owner though.
12. Cats and dogs are eternal enemies
[adace-ad id=”5696″]
Please keep in mind that cats and dogs have very different behavior towards the environment. The myth of dogs and cats are not getting along with each other is too old to bring back. When being raised by a knowledgeable owner who knows both cat and dog’s behaviors, they would definitely be each other’s sidekicks. Dogs and aggression don’t mix, so they can handle that attitude from cats and in time, cats will be less aggressive based on bonding with dogs. Studies show that living with a dog is more beneficial for a cat than living with another one who is of the same species. Understandably, 2 competitive cats will usually have a big fight to get their food, partners, and territory.
13. Cats eat fish, sausage (salami), and drink milk
First of all, you need to know sausages are refined food that has little nutrition for cats who are carnivores. Cats are supposed to have raw meat in their meal with a high protein needed. The funny thing is nowadays sausages are more expensive than meat.
[adace-ad id=”5696″]
Milk is another one you should prevent cats from stealing or having a baby sip on it. Many adult cats stop tolerating lactose, which is why milk gives them diarrhea. If your cat is a lactose-tolerant creature, you can actually give them a bit but do not let milk involve to cat’s daily meals. Many of us saw Tom a cartoon cat who loves drinking milk on the TV but it was published a very long time ago! So, instead of imitating the myth, we should take a look at the facts.
Fish is the last factor that we should probably not give to cats. Cats love eating fish because of the taste, also it’s really beneficial for them to consume amino acids, good fat, omega three that has in fish. Sea fish Is given to cat’s meal once or twice a week is great but you should alternate fish to beef or chicken which has high taurine. Taurine is important nutrition for cats which may cause heart problems and blindness if they are lack of it. If you are up for salmon or tuna, that’s totally fine because it has rich taurine, but consider your expense as well.
[adace-ad id=”5696″]
