Common Pet Myths Debunked

1. Animals can sense inclement weather.

Many have claimed that our pets might be able to sense bad weather on the way. Whether it’s a dog whining or a cat speeding through the house, is this really just an old wives’ tale, or is there some truth surrounding the idea? Here’s what we know: our pets, dogs especially, have much keener senses than humans. For example, a dog can hear much higher and lower frequencies than humans, and their sense of smell is much stronger. Just as humans sometimes “smell rain,” a dog might be able to smell rain even farther out. Some even think that dogs respond to barometric pressure changes, which means a low-pressure storm could be moving in if they’re exhibiting different behavior.

The verdict: There isn’t enough strong, evidence-based research to definitively dub this idea a myth or fact. On the other hand, many scientists and researchers do know that animals have more pointed senses than humans, therefore leading them to believe there is a way they can sense foreboding weather.

2. Cats hate water.

We’ve all heard it: cats and water do not mix. But is that really true? Yes and no. The majority of cats (domesticated cats) do like to interact with water, but might not enjoy getting soaked without warning. It’s believed that most cats are generally opposed to getting wet. Maybe it’s because they do a good job bathing themselves and they are fairly particular about their appearance and remaining in control of situations. On the other hand, there are cats that enjoy running water and either playing or drinking from a faucet.

The verdict: Mostly true. Unless it’s their idea to play, drink, or take a swim, most cats are typically not fans of large amounts of water.

3. Dogs and cats are color blind.

For years, we’ve been told that dogs and cats are color blind. While that’s been widely accepted for decades, recent studies and research have shown that while they don’t see the exact same colors that humans do, they are not color blind. There are some differences in the basic design of an animal’s eye and a human’s eye, specifically in the retina, where a large number of light-sensing cells reside. Scientists believe that our pets can make out yellow and blue combinations, rather than red or green.

The verdict: Kind of true. Dogs and cats can see some colors, but not all of the colors that humans can see. In other words, they don’t see in just black and white.

4. There are hypoallergenic dog breeds.

In recent years, hypoallergenic dog breeds have been extremely popular for those that wish to have a pet without the allergy component of their fur. The truth is, there’s no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog breed. But some dog breeds may cause fewer allergy symptoms than others. While many people think that the fur is the true cause of allergies, it’s actually a protein that is in the saliva and urine of dogs and cats, which sticks to dander from pets’ skin. If a dog is known to be hypoallergenic, it’s probably because they don’t shed fur or they shed very little. In turn, the allergy-causing dander doesn’t get released into the air.

The verdict: Technically, not true. While you can’t technically get a hypoallergenic dog breed, you can most definitely pick out a breed that has little to no shedding, helping reduce the allergy symptoms you or family members might experience.