October is Black Cat Awareness Month. Black kitties definitely need some extra love and attention. Because of old myths and misconceptions, many people still believe that they are unlucky or, even worse, associated with witchcraft. However, those aren’t the only misconceptions about our feline friends. A local Rancho Santa Fe, CA vet lists a few other persistent ones in this article.
They Have Nine Lives
It’s really not hard to see where this myth came about. Kitties have a knack for getting themselves into trouble, but they also have a lot of near misses. Fluffy only has one life, just like the rest of us. However, we’re not sure anyone has told her that yet.
They Like Milk
Those old iconic images of cats lapping up milk may be cute, but they’re also misleading. Most adult cats are actually lactose-intolerant, and can’t digest milk. This is because once kitties stop nursing, their bodies stop producing lactase, the enzyme that allows them to digest milk. Some of the confusion may stem from dairy farms, where cats were able to enjoy raw milk, which contains lactase.
They Steal Babies’ Breath
This is another old wives’ ‘tail’. To be fair, there is a bit of truth here. Kitties do love to snuggle with their humans. This is normally a good thing: who doesn’t love cuddling up with a purring ball of fur? However, it can be dangerous with infants, as they aren’t strong enough to push Fluffy off them, and can get smothered. There is a simple solution though: crib covers.
They’re Not Affectionate
To be fair, some kitties are quite aloof, and prefer to be admired from a distance. However, many of our feline patients are actually very loving and cuddly. Even if Fluffy isn’t comfortable being held, that doesn’t mean she doesn’t love you. She may just show it differently. For instance, your furry friend may run up to you wiggling her tail, meow at you, follow you around, or just quietly hang out with you.
Fluffy Should Give Birth Before Being Spayed
This is another misconception that keeps making the rounds. There’s absolutely no medical necessity for Fluffy to have kittens. Delaying this procedure does more harm than good, ultimately: there are already far too many homeless cats out there!
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns about your kitty’s health or care. As your local Rancho Santa Fe, CA animal clinic, we’re here to help!
