Can a cat’s saliva really disinfect wounds? You may have noticed that even if you’re an experienced cat owner, certain “common beliefs” about cats in society are still deeply engraved in many people’s minds.And some of these misconceptions are so serious that they can even cost a cat its life!After extensive research and long-term observation, MuzzPaws has identified the five biggest and most widespread misunderstandings about cats.Let’s see how many of them you’ve fallen for:
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Cats Have Nine Lives
This dangerous myth has no idea how many innocent kittens it has harmed.Years ago, an Australian scientist named Karl Kruzelnisk conducted a cruel and highly controversial experiment just to “prove” that cats won’t die from falling from high places.Inside a 32-story building in New York, he threw 150 cats—all over five months old—from different floors.In this horrific, bloody experiment, 10% of the cats died on the spot. According to his statistics, the cats that died were mostly those falling from middle floors like the 7th or 8th floor.Cats have a remarkable righting reflex: no matter how they fall, they can flip mid-air, stabilize their posture, and prepare their body just before landing.This explains why cats sometimes die from lower-level falls, yet survive falls from higher floors—because they have more time to adjust.Their brain, inner ear, and tail form a sophisticated balance system that automatically calculates gravity, orientation, and landing position during a fall—something even trained pilots would admire.Still, even with this incredible ability, falling from heights can cause serious injuries or even death.With the rise of short-video platforms, some people—just for clicks—place their cats on the outside lights of a 32-story building. One tiny slip, and it’s the end.In this case, the cat really wasn’t lucky.It fell.It died instantly, its body shattered.And the most disgusting part?The owner pretended to grieve online to gain sympathy and views—feeding off the cat’s death.Studies show that while over 90% of cats with “high-rise syndrome” survive, 25%–33% still require life-supporting medical treatments.And even if a falling cat survives, it often suffers injuries such as joint damage, torn tendons, ligament injuries, and in severe cases internal bleeding or organ rupture.So the idea that “cats won’t die from falling” is absolutely false—and the myth of “nine lives” is pure fantasy.Using kittens as test subjects shows just how cheap “life” seems in some people’s eyes.Today’s indoor cats tend to be rounder andheavier, which makes mid-air correction more difficult. Heavier body mass also means faster falling speed and greater impact risk.So cat owners must install balcony safety screens.If today’s cats truly have “nine lives,” it’s only because their owners protect and nurture them with love.
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A Cat’s Saliva Can Disinfect Wounds
This belief is completely false.Many people, misled by this myth, don’t disinfect their cat’s wounds and instead let them “lick it clean,” which often leads to infections and worsened injuries.So when your cat gets hurt, don’t rely on licking.Put an Elizabeth collar on your cat and clean the wound with iodine. For severe cases, take your cat to a vet for professional treatment.
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Cats Can’t Form Deep Bonds With Humans
“Cats are treacherous, dogs are loyal. No matter how good you treat a cat, it doesn’t care.”This is why many people choose dogs instead of cats.Many cat owners hope their cats will cling to them, enjoy cuddles, and show affection—but when cats don’t respond as expected, people assume:“Cats can’t truly bond with humans.”But this isn’t true.Cats behave this way because they are solitary animals by nature and prefer personal space. Cats have also been domesticated for far less time than dogs, so their instincts remain more independent.To test whether “cats can bond,” researchers at Oregon State University conducted an experiment:They randomly selected 50 cats and isolated them from food, toys, and their owners for a few hours.Then they presented the cats with food, toys, and their owners, to see what they would choose.Despite their reputation for independence, the results were surprising:More than 50% of the cats chose their owners over food or toys.Recently, a story made headlines:An elderly cat suddenly acted affectionate toward its owner—gazing lovingly, pulling the owner’s hand with its paw, rubbing its head nonstop.Shortly after, the cat passed away.Cats express love in subtle ways.If we take time to understand them, we’ll realize how deeply they rely on us and how much they truly love us.
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Keeping Cats Is Dirty
This misconception mainly comes from people who have never owned cats or are unsure about adopting one.To them, cat owners must live in messy, smelly homes.If cats cause any “mess,” it’s mostly something they can’t control:Their hair falls everywhere—on the floor, in food bowls, in cups, on beds.It happens.Some people exaggerate, claiming cat hair can “fly into your lungs.”But in reality:Cat hair can’t even get past your nose hair, let alone into your lungs—unless your nose has vacuum-level suction power.In fact, cats are cleaner than many people think.They groom themselves daily, so even if you don’t bathe your cat for a year, it will still remain clean and odor-free.If someone insists cats are “full of bacteria,” just ask:Doesn’t the air we breathe and the environment we live in contain bacteria too?Yet we’re all fine.As for parasites and fleas, simply keeping your cat on a regular deworming schedule means you won’t need to worry at all.Next time someone says, “Cats are dirty,” feel free to return the argument with facts.
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Black Cats Bring Bad Luck
The truth is the opposite.According to traditional Chinese culture, keeping a black cat at home is actually a sign of good fortune.The “black cats bring bad luck” myth comes from medieval Europe, where people believed black cats were witches’ pets or even demonic creatures.Seeing one meant misfortune; touching one meant death.This belief was shaped by superstition and fear—not science.In Chinese culture, black cats are considered protective animals.People believed black cats could ward off evil spirits and bring peace and luck to the household.In ancient times, wealthy families often kept black cats or displayed black-cat ornaments to dispel negative energy, protect the home, and attract good fortune.
In fact, all cats are equally adorable, no matter what color they are.Once you choose to bring a cat into your home, never abandon it for any reason, and absolutely don’t fall for superstitious rumors.We should always stick to science-based cat care and stay by their side for their entire lives.If you found this article interesting, remember to share it with other cat parents around you!
