It
seems unlikely that there is another animal alive that has been the source
of so many superstitions and myths as the cat. Cats have been worshipped
as gods and reviled as devils. Cats have been considered both good luck and
bad. These myths are still believed by some today. For instance, cats won’t ‘steal
a babies breath’, yet this is still a popular belief among many. Cat’s
eyes have been the spark for many myths. It’s often believed even today
that cat’s eyes project light at night. This would be quite a trick,
but in actuality light is reflecting from an inner layer of the eye. Since
their eyes are so unique, at times people believed they were connected with
the devil, which is why at Halloween witches and cats are such a popular
pair. Unfortunately, during medieval times cats suffered the same fate as
many ‘witches’, as feared partners of the devil. Surely cats
would prefer to remind their owners of ancient Egypt when they were worshipped
as gods. During these times cats were so sacred that when they did die they
often received a burial fitting a pharaoh. Many myths don’t take on
the serious nature of being connected with gods or devils, but border more
on the silly or the absurd. For instance, if a cat sneezes on a brides wedding
day she will live happily ever after, or putting butter on a cat’s
feet will keep them from getting lost. It’s hard to know where these
myths came from. Others such as a cat having nine lives is a bit easier to
understand. The remarkable physical abilities of cats most certainly lead
to this myth. Fortunately, many of the myths about cats today are recognized
as simply that. However, there still is a category of myth/misunderstanding
about cats that should be cleared up. First, cats don’t need to drink
cows milk. In many cases it will actually cause them gastric distress. Female
cats don’t need to have a litter before they are fixed. Cats are not
all loners, while generally more independent than dogs most cats have a very
strong desire for companionship. Cats don’t always land on their feet,
a cat’s physical well-being and safety should be given some thought
as they can’t always bounce back the way some people expect them to.
Cats are a wonderfully unique animal. Fortunately, most people now see them
as such, and don’t buy into the absurd stories created to explain their
distinctive characteristics.
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