Cat Myth Busters: Debunking Common Misconceptions About Our Feline Friends

Despite living with humans for thousands of years, cats are still surrounded by myths, misunderstandings, and a sprinkle of superstition. At Cat Educator, our mission is to help people truly understand their feline companions — with science, empathy, and a touch of humor. So let’s clear up some of the most persistent myths about cats… once and for all!

❌ Myth #1: "Cats don’t need playtime like dogs do."

✅ Reality: Cats are natural hunters. Even if they normally don’t need as much play time as dogs, they still need their “hunting time” each day — even if that something is a feather on a stick.

Play is not just for fun — it’s essential for your cat’s mental and physical health. Regular interactive play (with you!) helps reduce destructive behavior, improves sleep, decreases stress, and strengthens your bond. So yes, your cat needs playtime — just as much as a dog needs walks.

But cats are sprinters. You don’t need to play hours on end with them. Just Two 10-minute play sessions per day is sufficient.

❌ Myth #2: "Cats can kill a baby by sleeping on them and suffocating them."

✅ Reality: This myth origin in the 70’s and 80’s where we did not know about the sudden death syndrome in new born. Cat were found laying beside a dead baby and were guilty by association. Cats are drawn to a baby crib because it’s warm, comfortable, they can sometime lick some milk off the baby’s lips and because it’s the main center of attention in the house.

It’s always a good idea to monitor any kind of interaction between children and animal but don’t worry about your cat suffocating them. The last reported and scientifically documented case of a cat responsible of the death of a baby in a crib goes back in 1988. That’s one case in the last 40 years in north America and Europe. So it’s 1 over 50 millions babies borned in a household with a cat during that period. You can surely see that the probabilities of this happening to your child is lower than him being stroke by lightning while sleeping in his crib… in the house…. 133 times!!!

❌ Myth #3: "Cats purr only when they’re happy."

✅ Reality: That one is a tricky one. We know cat purr when they are happy, when being pet or when they eat. But we also know they purr while being threated for injuries at the veterinary clinic. So how can we explain such a drastic differences in the context. Some say that it’s because purr serve as calming the animal whether it’s when they are relaxing or stressed but no scientific evidence have be brought forward to totally support this hypothesis.

Very little is known about purring. The leading theory put forward in the 90’s of the so called “Neural oscillator theory” was challenged in a new 2023 study that put forward the idea that cat’s vocal cords alone can generate purring frequencies, suggesting a passive aerodynamic process rather than an active

muscular and neural one. In clear we understand how it likely happens but not yet where exactly in the brain it starts or why cats evolved this unique ability, let alone understand why they are doing it.

So we’re left to say that cat purr in moment where they feel reassured, whether it is at home when you’re petting them or after an accident when someone is taking care of them.

❌ Myth #4: "Cats always land on their feet."

✅ Reality: While cats do have an incredible righting reflex — allowing them to twist in mid-air to land on their feet — this doesn’t mean they always achieve it. They need a minimum of 1.5m of height in order to perform their righting reflex.

But falling on their feet doesn’t mean they will land safely. Falls from windows or balconies (especially from medium heights, like 2nd or 3rd floors) can cause serious injuries or even death. That’s why we always recommend securing balconies. About that, know that your cat can jump about 5 times it’s own sitting height. So only protecting the railing is not sufficient.

Many people think that their cat is not crazy enough to jump over the railing. Well yes they are… if a bottlefly goes by just of the ramp and your cat thinks he can catch it, he will jump and THEN realize that the landing zone is 3 floor down.

🪟 Tip: Install screens or secure netting to keep your daredevil safe.

❌ Myth #5: "If a cat pees outside the litter box, it’s just being spiteful."

✅ Reality: Cats don’t do “revenge.” They act based on needs, instincts, or stress — not pettiness.

If your cat is peeing outside the box, it could be a medical issue or a stress response to something as simple as the litter box not being clean, too small, not being accessible enough or having the wrong substrates.

Before you get mad, get curious. Spite? That’s a human thing. Your cat’s just trying to tell you that something is wrong with his litterbox… the only way they know how. And cat behaviorist can help resolved these issue 85% to 90% of the time.

Final Thoughts

Cats are mysterious, yes — but not magical or malevolent. Many of the myths we’ve accepted over the years come from misunderstandings or outdated beliefs. Thankfully, with more research and a deeper understanding of feline behavior, we can replace fiction with fact — and create happier lives for both cats and their humans.