Some of the most treasured pets of all time, cats have a unique place in the hearts of owners around the globe. With a history of over 9500 years, it’s no wonder that the bond between cats and humans is special. In ancient times, the cat was used in numerous religions as a figurehead but the typical house cat was used for a more specific role: to kill vermin. Since then, our relationship with cats has expanded as we’ve welcomed them into our homes as companions and even members of our households. Nevertheless, we have seen countless misconceptions surrounding cats which are just plain wrong. Let’s look at four myths that are untrue.

Cat Myth # 1: Sticking Your Cat’s Nose in Accidents Minimizes Future Accidents

Rubbing your cat’s nose in its urine or feces after an accident will serve no helpful goal. In brief, this will only frighten the animal and respond to you with fear. Moreover, some owners will typically place their cat into the litter box after this punishment, which only ends in associating punishment with the litter box. In general, cats don’t eliminate away from their litter box unless there is a good reason so it is much more effective to start there. Some usual problems that lead to eliminating outside of the litter box include: A genuine medical problem; the litter box is unclean; the litter box in not placed to provide privacy and other related issues. For that reason overlooking this myth and performing some detective work is the simplest way to prevent accidents in the house.

Cat Myth # 2: Spaying or Neutering Will Make My Cat Lazy and Fat

As a result of domestic cats’ unusual reproductive ability, spaying or neutering your cat is essential, so this myth does a disservice to everyone. Without being de-sexed, the cat population will quickly grow uncontrollable and a cat’s weight is not noticeably affected by the treatment. Frequently some symptoms associated with mating express themselves as variations in eating routine; cats that seek a mate can often be underweight, so as soon as they’re de-sexed they may gain weight that brings them up to normal. If it’s seen that a cat has gained significant weight, it’s best not to put the cat on a diet but to visit a veterinarian to find out what the reason could possibly be and ways to address it.

Cat Myth # 3: Cats Are Low Maintenance Pets

When compared to many other varieties of pets, cats may be viewed as lower maintenance but by no chance should they be considered low maintenance. Cats require regular care and attention just like other pets like dogs, birds as well as reptiles. First, ahead of when bringing a cat home for a pet the entire family should recognize the financial commitment they are making. Guardians should plan on spending between $800 and $1,000 per year, per cat, on the basics. Second, cats need to have interaction with people to be happy. Regular play and communication are essential to keep these animals amused and engaged. Finally, any cat’s guardian should be sensitive to the needs of the animal to ensure that it is acting normally and not in need of veterinary help. Plainly, with all this in mind, cats aren’t low maintenance pets.

Cat Myth # 4: Women That are Pregnant Cannot Live Safely With a Cat

Clearly, pregnant women must be cautious to prevent risking any situations that could jeopardize the health of their unborn children, but many OB-GYNs distribute a bad myth that pregnant women cannot live safely with a cat. This misconception is founded on fear of a parasitic sickness called Toxoplasmosis, which can be transmitted to a pregnant woman and can be harmful to her fetus. Cats can be exposed to this parasite from the ingestion of live pray and given to humans through exposure to cat feces when emptying the litter box. Providing that a cat is an indoor animal not capturing live prey, there’s no danger of transmitting Toxoplasmosis to the unborn baby. In fact, pregnant women encounter more risk of Toxoplasmosis exposure when working with raw or undercooked meat in their kitchen. Understandably, this myth could force the unwanted loss of a close friend.

Cats are unique and amazing creatures with many fascinating facets, however these four cat myths are certainly not factual.

Regina T. Roby is a ardent cat owner that has lived through countless feline emergencies with her inquisitive Siamese cat Thurston and Mackerel Tabby Oscar. As a result, she’s found cat insurance invaluable in limiting big vet bills and is an avid supporter of pet insurance for every owner.