Don’t Believe Everything You Read About Cats

If you love cats, sharing makes us purrrr :-)

It’s a Monday with Merlin. There I was snoozing with my bro Gris Gris when I heard our mom laugh out loud. She’d found an old book on cats from 1971.

She’s always been a cat lover and a reader of cat books since childhood. She learned a long time ago: don’t always believe everything you read about cats. There are old wives’ tales (or is it tails?) that linger even today because of misinformation found in some old books like this…

Boy have we come a long way. Look at all the cute photos of cats with babies or dogs online!

Some out-of-date attitudes linger, but it’s a brand new era for information about cats. With the advent of the Internet, a groundswell of new cat books, blogs, videos, and TV shows is offering information of every kind. We’ve come a long way, but don’t believe everything you see or hear, even from the so-called experts, or if someone sounds convincing on TV or radio. Never assume anything. Do your homework. Research. Trust your gut. Sometimes entertainment is in the guise of expertise or humor is passed off as knowledge. Wise cats know true wisdom comes from experience.

Love this website?

Then nominate us for a Readers Choice award from About.com. Nominations end on February 15, 2012. Purrs of thanks. We think you’re the cat’s meow.

16 Comments

caren gittleman

January 31, 2012 at 10:30 PM Reply

what a great find!! It is funny that it looks so old but isn’t really THAT old! It is amazing how those old wives tales are still continued to be passed around

Pam Kimmell

January 31, 2012 at 7:41 AM Reply

Hey Merlin! We think you’re all the CAT’S MEOW!!! No question about nominating you all – DONE…..

Kitty Hugs
Sammy

RumpyDog!

January 30, 2012 at 9:35 PM Reply

What? Cats and dogs don’t get along? Why didn’t somebody tell me?

Marilia

January 30, 2012 at 6:45 PM Reply

I hate this book… I don´t believe in my eyes.
Today is better than in old times. But still have prejudice about cats, unfortunately.

Ingrid King

January 30, 2012 at 3:28 PM Reply

“Consider the source” are the three most important words to keep in mind when cruising the web, reading or watching tv – for cat related information, and all other information.

This post makes me wish I’d kept some of my older cat books.

Oui Oui

January 30, 2012 at 3:08 PM Reply

We laughed when we saw the comments in that book. Those kind of books are fun to read, sort of like reading a comic book. Unfortunately, they can also be maddening. Thank you for your very kind words today. Its so upsetting to think a friend would suffer like that. You’re right, cat people are compassionate and wonderful. We consider ourselves lucky to know so many nice people. Stay safe!

CATachresis

January 30, 2012 at 2:30 PM Reply

That is one good thing about the internet these days – and there’s plenty not so good – and that is, if used wisely, it is a brilliant resource. I’d love to read one of those old books 😉 lol

boomermuse

January 30, 2012 at 3:06 PM Reply

Carolyn, I’ve kept all mine from the past 30+ years but every used book store will have some. Some are really odd and quirky.

Marg

January 30, 2012 at 2:23 PM Reply

Must be fun to read that old book and see how different people think about cats nowadays. It really is interesting how things change over the years. Oh well, it is all good. Hope all of you have a wonderful day.

Tinch

January 30, 2012 at 1:47 PM Reply

Layla, in case you wonder, I went directly to the website to read this! Interesting how out-of-date the comments from 30 years ago are. Two of my cats just don’t want to be friends with my dog of two years. My oldest cat (12 yrs) gets along with him just fine and they chase each other round and round the back yard all the time. That is, until the cat gets tired of chasing!

alicia

January 30, 2012 at 1:30 PM Reply

I agree. Nowadays more than ever with reality TV and the net, in all genres not just cat people – whereby people quickly become celebrities and “spokes people” and don’t necessarily have the wisdom of experience to be “experts”. There is a difference between entertainment and guru. Intuition needs to steer what is fact or fiction in everything be it cats et al to all of us consumers. Luckily there is room for all types of approaches :). There is something and someone for everyone.

Nice reminder and thanks for sharing.

Cheers Layla!

CityKitty

January 30, 2012 at 12:16 PM Reply

Funny but sad that many old wives’ tales continue today.