AMY'S ARTICLES
PET MYTH-teries DEBUNKED!Over the years I’ve learned--and unlearned--a great deal about cats and dogs. Some of the most basic information many pet lovers take as truth turns out to be less than factual. Other fascinating tidbits you’d swear somebody made up after too much eggnog are, in fact, the real deal. Of course, as veterinary science advances, the “facts” of the past give way to a better understanding of dog and cat care and behavior. Common knowledge doesn’t always keep pace with science. Recently one of the animal behavior email lists enjoyed a lively discussion offering up some of the juiciest pet myths we commonly hear, and more than forty were listed. Savvy pet lovers have heard most of them and already know what’s fact or fiction. But just for grins, I’d like to share a few.
Fact: Cats do have an incredible ‘righting mechanism’ within the balance organs of the inner ear. Feline flexibility and muscle control allow kitty to quickly contract and flex the spine, shoulders and flanks to land on her feet. But falls from too short a distance (as from a child’s arms) won’t allow enough time for a kitty-correct four-footed landing. Cats may land on their feet from much greater heights, yet suffer broken legs or cracked chin/palate. Myth: Rubbing a pet's nose in his waste will housetrain him. Fact: Seriously, is that how anyone would potty-train a human child? Dogs and cats must think, “You want me to EAT this stuff?” Besides the pet not understanding your message, punishing for a normal behavior (pottying) may prompt them to instead hide their deposits more efficiently. Catch pets in the act of pottying in the RIGHT place (the yard or the litter box) and reward the good behavior for the most effective lesson. Myth: Cats should drink milk everyday. Fact: Most cats like milk. But many adult felines have problems digesting lactose, the sugar in milk. Cats often suffer diarrhea from drinking milk, and they don’t need it.
Myth: Dogs and cats only learn if you punish them so they know when they are wrong.
Fact: Punishment has a number of adverse effects and actually inhibits the pets’ ability to learn. It requires great skill to use correctly. For pets to understand what they’re doing wrong, punishment must happen during the behavior or within one second after the behavior. If the pet occasionally gets away with the behavior, punishing intermittently can make the behavior worse. In some pets, punishment prompts a fear reaction while in others it increases the chance of aggression--so it can be dangerous to both the pet and people. Even if the pet understands and learns not to do the “bad” behavior, punishment does not teach an alternative to the bad behavior. Refer to the AVSAB position statement on punishment for the best information. Myth: Cats and dogs automatically gain weight when spayed or neutered. Fact: Pets get fat because they eat too much and exercise too little. These surgeries also often occur as your pet goes from baby metabolism to the slower adult metabolism when he needs fewer calories. Adjust food intake, switch from kitten/puppy food to adult pet formulas, and encourage exercise to keep them fit. Myth: Aggressive dogs are dominant. Fact: The top dog doesn’t need to be aggressive. True leaders have nothing to prove, since all the other dogs immediately understand by his demeanor that he’s the boss. Dogs act aggressively for a variety of other reasons. They may be fearful and act out to make the scary situation go away. “Middle management” dogs (often clueless adolescents) get too big for their furry britches and challenge the real boss. Other times, aggressive dogs may simply be bullies or insecure pets who get away with bad behavior because owners allow it or unknowingly reward the behavior. Myth: Pregnant women should not own cats. Fact: Cats can be infected with toxoplasmosis, a disease spread from their waste, which can cause health issues in unborn babies. However, most cases of human toxoplasmosis develop from eating rare meat. As long as litter boxes are managed in a sanitary fashion, there is little chance of danger. Read more details about toxoplasmosis here. Myth: He pees in my house OR destroys items OR barks OR scratches furniture because he is spiteful OR mad at me. Fact: Where oh where do I start?! Dogs and cats toilet in the house for many reasons, none having to do with anger or vengefulness. It may be due to poor housetraining when they don’t understand what’s required. Dogs and cats also use urine, and cats use scratching, to mark territory as owned or to advertise their sexual status to potential suitors. Bad bathroom behavior may signal physical health problems that need veterinary attention, or emotional upset. Myth: Dogs and cats like hugs and kisses. Fact: Human beings like hugs and kisses. After all, we’re primates. Dogs and cats are not primates. In dog or cat language, being grabbed and held down more typically demonstrates aggressive behavior. Dogs lick each other’s faces (or yours) to show they’re subordinate. Our pets can learn to tolerate hugs and kisses, but it can be dangerous if the dog or cat is new to the experience. Do you really want a strange dog to think your child’s aggressive toward him--or that the dog’s in charge? Myth: Dogs alpha roll each other. Fact: Dogs (and wolves) roll onto the back and expose their tummies to other animals--or people--to signal submission and non-threat. The subordinate animal does this by choice. Dogs do not force each other to roll over. Humans who alpha roll a dog at best may confuse their pet. Aggressive dogs may fight back. Myth: Cats cannot be trained. Fact: Some owners cannot be trained. But all cats and dogs of any age, with patience and the proper incentives, can be trained.
Amy D. Shojai, CABC is a nationally known pet care specialist, and author of 22 pet books. copr. 2007 Amy D. Shojai |
Myth: Cats always land on their feet.
