Myth 1. A cat has nine lives.

Perhaps this myth is due to the fact that in ancient times the cat was considered a divine creature, and from a deity we tend to expect a miracle.

Or is it because cats survive where other animals perish?

Actually, of course, that's not true at all.

A fall from the fifth or ninth floor is often fatal for cats. Even if it does not die, the injuries will be very severe.

A cat will die under the wheels of a car just like any other animal.

A cat can be killed and not resurrected. It is a fragile creature, like all other members of the wildlife.

A cat has only one life, let's keep it and make it happy!

Myth 2: A cat knows where to climb and will not fall from heights.

A cat has no fear of heights. It really does. Because in nature she can fall only from where she climbed herself: a tree, a cliff.... And when we take her in the elevator to the 25th floor, she does not see and does NOT UNDERSTAND that it is very high here and that it is dangerous for her to fall. She doesn't have those instincts!

Of course, a cat can walk on the railing of the balcony of the 25th floor for a long time, but until the first time when it will chase a bird flying by....

If you live above the 3rd floor (although even a fall from a small height can be fatal for a cat), put on the windows special nets "anti-cat". They are very strong and they will not tear even a heavy Maine Coon. To you it is protection from insects, and the cat to not "fly away". And do not allow your pets to walk on an open, unglazed balcony!

Myth 3: Cats always land on their feet.

Cats are good at climbing trees, so nature has built into them the ability to roll over and land on their feet in a special way.

But it doesn't always work! Falling from a small height can be deadly, because the animal simply does not have time to turn around and slams on the floor with its back or side, and this is fraught with fractures and ruptures of internal organs.

And older cats (14 years and older) can lose this ability altogether. And for them, a fall from any height can result in severe injuries and sometimes even death.

Myth 4: Cats can see in the dark.

The cat is a nocturnal hunter and has well-developed twilight vision. Its pupils narrow into a thin vertical band in the light and dilate across the eye in the dark.

At dusk, a cat sees much better than a human. But she still needs light, at least moonlight. In pitch darkness, the cat uses other means. For orientation in space, it uses vibrissae, which are usually called whiskers. Hearing in cats is also very fine, they can hear the squeak of a mouse deep in the hole! And, of course, the sense of smell.

Cats cannot see in total darkness.

Myth 5: If a cat purrs, it means it is happy.

This is usually not the case. Cats purr when they have eaten well and are resting, when they are being stroked, when the cat is feeding kittens. Sometimes to sympathize with a sick parent or person. A cat may purr when it feels bad.

Some scientists believe that purring allows a cat to heal faster. Sometimes it expresses fear. A cat may purr when it is angry, or afraid, or sick. In other words, it's not just a pleasure!

Just as a person is recognized by their voice, a cat is recognized by its purr. The character and tone of purring is different for each animal. Some purr very rarely, while others purr constantly.

Myth 6: Cats don't like water.

Cats tend to stay away from water because it takes them a long time to dry their wet fur. Our mustachioed favorites are big cleaners because their survival depends on it.

The odor emanating from a hunter can scare away prey. And a cat is an animal of prey! That's why it is licked and cleaned so thoroughly.

True, I have seen cats and cats that jump into the water, catch fish, and even swim across small rivers.

There are breeds of cats that are very fond of water in general. For example, cats of the Turkish Van breed. They catch fish and swim just for fun. The aquatic lifestyle has led to the fact that cats of the Turkish Van breed have no undercoat, so the coat dries out very quickly.

Maine Coons, Norwegian Forest cats, Bengals, American Bobtails and some other cats also relate well to water and love to swim. In short, it all depends on the conditions in which cats of a particular breed have lived for a long time.

Myth 7: A cat walks on its own.

Some people believe that cats are very independent and don't need anyone. Indeed, they are not gregarious animals, unlike dogs.

But it happens that in nature they live in colonies and raise cubs together. And in one apartment several cats often get along well and willingly play with each other.

Many breeds of cats do not tolerate loneliness well, and they need the constant presence of a person. For example, Bengal, Burmese, Abyssinian cats, Canadian sphinx. Such sociable pets without owners are very bored, and they need someone to always be around.

It is important to know this when you take an animal into the house.

Myth 8: It is dangerous for pregnant women to live near a cat.

This myth is related to the fact that cats can contract toxoplasmosis.

Gynecologists often recommend that pregnant women get rid of the animal, even if it has lived in the house for a long time.

They say that the cat is dangerous for the future child and a miscarriage can occur. In fact, this is more of a phobia than a real danger.

The real danger. Toxoplasmosis can indeed be transmitted from an animal.

From animal to human. But it's extremely rare.

Studies of American and Hungarian statisticians have proved that only 0.5-1% of pregnant women in the United States and Europe are infected with toxoplasmosis. And in almost all cases, the cause of this turned out to be insufficiently fried meat. So a poorly cooked kebab is much more dangerous than a cat!

Toxoplasmosis cannot be contracted by cleaning the cat's litter box. Toxoplasmas must mature to become infectious, and this takes one to five days! Therefore, if you clean your cat's litter box daily, flush it of feces, and then wash your hands thoroughly, your risk of contracting toxoplasmosis is zero.

Toxoplasmosis usually affects street cats, so it is best for pregnant women not to pet or pick up stray animals. Pets have no chance of getting infected unless they walk outside, eat raw meat, and you wash your shoes and hands when you come home. Also, a cat is infected with toxoplasmosis once and is only contagious for the first two weeks.

If a woman has once been infected with toxoplasmosis, she will not be infected again. Thus, if the cat has been living in the house for a long time and you observe elementary norms of hygiene, there is no risk of contracting this disease neither for a woman nor for a child.

The simplest rules, observing which you will not be infected with toxoplasmosis

1. Cook and fry meat well, do not taste raw minced meat, wash knives and cutters after cutting meat. Wash your hands thoroughly after preparing food. Do not drink steamed milk or eat raw eggs.

2. Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly.

3. Do not feed raw meat to your cat or dog during pregnancy. Do not kiss pets or allow them to lick themselves. If a pet is sick, let another family member take care of it. During this time, do not get a kitten, especially off hand or at a bird market. Young animals have weaker immune systems, and a kitten can contract toxoplasmosis in the womb.

4.    When handling soil in the garden, be sure to wear rubber gloves and wash your hands thoroughly.

5.    Always wash your shoes and hands after going outside and after working with animals.

Toxoplasmosis is insidious but predictable. A beloved cat may continue to please its owner during pregnancy and after the baby is born.