Friday, March 29, 2024
cat myths

Oh, Please–Cats DO NOT Steal a Baby’s Breath Away!

The Cat Writer’s list has been tracking a syndicated article by Dr. T. Berry Brazelton entitled
Keep cats away for baby’s safety where he’s not only reiterating the scare tactic of inaccurate information about the risk of toxoplasmosis, he’s retelling the myth of cats stealing a baby’s breath as if it hasn’t been disproved by professionals. Next he’ll be telling us they are scions of the devil who will possess your baby and take it away to Satan. I wouldn’t mind some old crackpot mouthing off, but this doctor is not only respected for his opinions, he’s published by the New York Times Syndicate so this article has been republished all over the country, here is one from Palm Beach: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/search/content/charmpost/epaper/2009/01/12/a3d_brazelton_0112.html

Lisa Radosta DVM, Diplomate ACVB, a veterinarian with Florida Veterinary Behavior Service wrote a clear and appropriate reply to the doctor’s article: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/accent/content/accent/epaper/2009/01/26/012609_radosta_col_web.html

As this veterinarian states in her opening, enough cats are unnecessarily euthanized every day and this sort of misinformation can be devastating if even just a few hundred people read it and take it seriously. Take the time to respond to it either in this newspaper or anywhere else you may find the article, letting people know that cats have no interest in killing babies, and especially passing on the excellent information provided by Dr. Radosta.

Bernadette

From health and welfare to rescue and adoption stories, advocacy and art, factual articles and fictional stories, "The Creative Cat" offers both visual and verbal education and entertainment about cats for people who love cats, pets and animals of all species.

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