Cat myths
People often see cats as proud and unapproachable. Some say they are unlike dogs,
which are friendly and sociable animals. It is true that cats are instinctively
independent which explains the myth that cats are proud, but they have interesting
personalities which are seen when they use " cat language " to communicate
with their owners.
Cats have been perceived as evil because of their sly looks. Their eyes have narrow
pupils, which some say give them a disdainful, evil look. In truth, it is for
practical reasons that their eyes have narrowed pupils. This serves to protect
the eyes from the bright daylight. After twilight, the cat's pupils dilate to
enable it to see well in the dark.
Cats are often misunderstood as being dirty animals because they dislike bathing
in water. Cats prefer to " dry-clean " themselves by licking and grooming
themselves. They dislike water because they have no use for it. However, owners
who are particular can give their cat's regular baths and towel them dry. cats
are cleaner animals than dogs as they are easier to toilet train. They also have
the instinctive ability to cover their own droppings.
Many authors and cartoonists portray the cat as an evil character. They perpetuate
the myth of the evil cat. Cats can be found everywhere so whenever something bad
happens, it is very convenient to blame it on a cat seen in the vicinity. It is
a superstition that a black cat brings bad luck. Many people are afraid of black
cats, however, there are some cat owners who buy special pedigree breed black
cats because black looks sleek, smooth and sophiscated.
Some people think that cats will scratch and attack babies. A cat may feel threatened
by the arrival of the new baby (just as an older child will) and it may protect
its territorial rights by growling and hissing. To overcome this, introduce the
new baby to the cat and familiarize it with the baby.
Cats are graceful animals and the myths do not do them justice.