Are these statements
true or false?
- Cats always land on their feet.
- Cats should drink milk everyday.
The correct answer to both is FALSE.
These are common misunderstandings that veterinarians frequently hear
from pet owners, according to the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA).
Following is a list of popular myths that AAHA veterinarians and The Cat
Fanciers' Association (CFA) would like to dispel.
Myth: Cats always land on
their feet.
Fact: While cats instinctively fall feet first and may
survive falls from high places, they also may receive broken bones in
the process. Some kind of screening on balconies and windows can help
protect pets from disastrous falls.
Myth: Cats should drink milk
everyday.
Fact: Most cats like milk, but do not need it if
properly nourished. Also, many will get diarrhea if they drink too much
milk. If it is given at all, the amount should be small and infrequent.
Myth: Cats that are spayed or
neutered automatically gain weight.
Fact: Like people, cats gain weight from eating too
much, not exercising enough or both. In many cases, spaying or neutering
is done at an age when the animal's metabolism already has slowed, and
its need for food has decreased. If the cat continues to eat the same
amount, it may gain weight. Cat owners can help their cats stay fit by
providing exercise and not over-feeding.
Myth: Cats cannot get rabies.
Fact: Actually, most warm-blooded mammals, including
cats, bats, skunks and ferrets, can carry rabies. Like dogs, cats should
be vaccinated regularly according to local laws.
Myth: Indoor cats cannot get
diseases.
Fact: Cats still are exposed to organisms that are
carried through the air or brought in on a cat owner's shoes or
clothing. Even the most housebound cat ventures outdoors at some time
and can be exposed to diseases and worms through contact with other
animals feces.
Myth: Tapeworms come from bad
food.
Fact: Pets become infected with tape worms from
swallowing fleas, which carry the parasite. Also, cats can get tapeworms
from eating infected mice or other exposed animals.
Myth: Putting garlic on a
pet's food will get rid of worms.
Fact: Garlic may make the animal's food taste better
but has no effect on worms. The most effective way to treat worms is by
medication prescribed by a veterinarian.
Myth: Pregnant women should
not own cats.
Fact: Some cats can be infected with a disease called
toxoplasmosis, which occasionally can be spread to humans through cat
litter boxes and cause serious problems in unborn babies. However, these
problems can be controlled, if the expectant mother avoids contact with
the litter box and assigns daily cleaning to a friend or other family
member.
Myth: A cat's sense of balance
is in its whiskers.
Fact: Cats use their whiskers as "feelers"
but not to maintain their balance.
Myth: Animals heal themselves
by licking their wounds.
Fact: Such licking actually can slow the healing
process and further damage the wound.
For the most accurate information on these and other concerns about pet
health care, the American Animal Hospital Association and The Cat
Fanciers' Association advise cat owners to contact a veterinarian.
The AAHA is an international association of more than 12,000
veterinarians who treat companion animals, such as cats and dogs. The
association is well-known among veterinarians for its high standards for
hospitals and pet health care.
The CFA is the world's largest registry of pedigreed cats and has
reaffirmed its commitment to the promotion of the welfare of ALL cats,
pedigreed or random bred.
The Winn Feline Foundation was founded in 1968 by CFA as a source of
funding for medical studies benefiting cats. The Winn Foundation has
provided funds over the years for a wide variety of studies and has helped
to advance veterinary knowledge in all areas of feline health. Grants
totaling more than $1.2 million have been awarded by the Winn Foundation
since its inception.U For additional information on CFA, AAHA or the Winn
Foundation, please contact:
The Cat Fanciers' Association, Inc.
1805 Atlantic Avenue
PO Box 1005
Manasquan NJ 08736-0805
Phone: 732-528-9797 * Fax: 732-528-7391
American Animal
Hospital Association
PO Box 150899
Denver CO 80215-0899
Phone: 303-986-2800
The Winn Feline Foundation
1805 Atlantic Avenue
PO Box 1005
Manasquan NJ 08736-0805
Phone: 732-528-9797
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