Spoiler Alert: No. Cats, just like every other species on this earth, only has one life, so why do we say that cats have nine lives? There are myths surrounding pretty much any topic you can think of, including our furry feline friends. Here are the truth surrounding some common cat myths
Nine “Lives”
One of the most common cat myths goes back to the title of this post, which is that cats have nine lives. This myth may stem from the fact that cats are known to be very agile and have great dexterity. Although, no one knows the exact origin of the saying, people used as far back as Shakespearean times.
In Egyptian culture, the god Atum-Ra would take the form of a cat when visiting the underworld and gave birth to eight other major Gods, creating nine “lives” in one.
The theory could also have derived from China, where nine was considered a lucky number, and cats always seems to be ducking and dodging out of the way of danger.
Do cats always land on their feet?
This is the myth that may have led people to believe that cats have nine lives. Cats, however, do not always land on their feet. Cats can injure themselves from falls as well if they fall the wrong way.
They do have something called a righting reflex that allows them to twist very quickly in the air so that they can adjust accordingly when falling from a high place. This gives them a greater chance of landing on their feet.
Cats are actually more prone to being injured when falling from low heights because it gives them less time to turn their bodies into a good position for safe landing.
Do cats Love milk?
Cats are commonly seen on television with a bowl of milk next to their water. While it is true that cats do like milk even when they are older in age, the milk we buy in supermarkets isn’t the same as milk that has come straight from a from any animal, let alone their own mothers. Store-bought milk can be hard for cats to digest.
So, while they might drink the milk, cats typically grow up to be lactose intolerant. Giving them milk will likely cause stomach pains, diarrhea, or vomiting,
Catonsville CAt Clinic: Myth Busters!
There is one thing about cats that is not a myth – their health is very important! We’ve heard some crazy things over the last 25 of serving Maryland, so we’re not surprised by anything. Getting regular checkups and exams for your kitty is the best way to keep them happy and healthy. Forget the nine lives, help make your cats’ one life the best it can be.
Give us a call or stop by and let’s talk. We can’t wait.