▲Cats are not dogs, but they are definitely trainable. You just need to know how, and have reasonable expectations.

▲Although cats were worshiped in Ancient Egypt, there is evidence of humans having cats as pets way before the Egyptians, from Neolithic paintings to buried animals with their owners.

▲Most cats go crazy over catnip, but not every animal likes it. In fact, VetStreet estimates that 30-50% of cats don't react to catnip at all.

▲Unlike their feral or stray counterparts, house cats do not need to hunt, so some simply don't.

▲Keeping cats indoors also has its benefits. They're less likely to be hit by a car, catch certain diseases, or be poisoned. Indoor pet cats can live perfectly healthy and happy lives.

▲Outdoor cats are more susceptible to contracting certain diseases, but indoor cats also get sick. From diabetes to cancer and arthritis, indoor animals can also fall ill.

▲Cats don't just purr when they're with humans, they also do so when they're on their own or with other cats. It's a complex form of communication that we're still trying to understand.

▲Cats actually like to work for their food, rather than having it readily available like most animals do.

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Most "dog people" will tell you that dogs are smarter than cats, but science says otherwise.

▲Not all cats dislike water. Some might due to trauma, but there are breeds, such as Bengal cats, that absolutely love water.

▲Cat are intelligent animals, but to say they're more intelligent than dogs is not accurate. Their brain just works differently.

▲In 1232, Pope Gregory IX wrote a letter called Vox in Rama ("A Voice in Rama") to the king of Germany. The letter voiced his concerns about witches in northern Germany. The letter described the bizarre rituals, which obviously included a black cat. Black cats have been demonized ever since.

▲Cats seem to get up to all sorts of things at crazy hours. This is because they're crepuscular animals. Meaning that they are more active during dusk and dawn, as this would be the time they'd be hunting.

▲They might seem a bit aloof, but cats simply express their love in different ways. When they rub against you or purr while you're petting them, that's their way of showing affection.

▲Declawing a cat can seriously damage the animal's paws. It's not the solution to behavioral problems and it's not healthy.

▲Cats might not be particularly thrilled with the arrival of another human, but they're hardly a threat to a newborn baby. The feline will eventually get used to it and the baby will grow up near an animal, which is great!

▲Cats are actually not completely colorblind. They can pick up shades of blue, violet, green, and yellow.

▲Judging a cat by the color of its coat is yet another myth. There is no evidence linking color with personality traits.

▲Inherited congenital deafness predominantly affects this population of cats, but not every single one of them. It's estimated that anywhere from 60-80% of white cats with blue eyes are deaf.

▲Contrary to popular belief, cats are in fact social animals.

▲While their spine allows them to do so, this doesn't happen every time.

▲Cats need more protein and more meat-based nutrients in their diets than other mammals. Taurine, arachidonic acid, and vitamin B12 are just a few examples of these.

▲Feral cats do not have a good relationship with humans, whereas stray cats are simply pet cats who've ended up on the streets and know that humans can be kind, so they're approachable.

▲Their whiskers are actually used for navigation and sensory perception.

▲Although they drink milk as kittens, cats then become unable to digest regular milk. They're essentially lactose intolerant, so feeding your cat milk on a regular basis is not good for their digestive system.

▲A study found that cats actually prefer socializing with a human over having food or playing with a toy.

▲Well, not quite. Their eyes do process information a lot faster than human eyes do, so they can see much better than we do in low light conditions. But cats still have difficulties seeing in complete darkness.

▲It might seem like cats sleep all the time, but in fact, most times they're not deep asleep. They stay in a relaxed state, but ready for action if needed—it's their predatory instinct.

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We've all seen cats being fed milk in Hollywood movies and heard some questionable assumptions about these animals, such as "all cats are afraid of water." But how true are these statements, really?

In this gallery, we look at the most common myths about cats and debunk them. Browse through, and we promise you'll never look at cats the same way ever again.

Common myths about cats, debunked

Do cats rely on their whiskers to stay balanced?

04/04/25 por StarsInsider

LIFESTYLE Animals

We've all seen cats being fed milk in Hollywood movies and heard some questionable assumptions about these animals, such as "all cats are afraid of water." But how true are these statements, really?

In this gallery, we look at the most common myths about cats and debunk them. Browse through, and we promise you'll never look at cats the same way ever again.