Debunking Common Pet Myths

Pet myths spread quietly: a remark from a neighbour, an old children’s book, a stray line on social media. They feel harmless until they shape a daily decision—what you feed, how you house, what risks you ignore.

Below are six common beliefs about pets that sound plausible, but don’t hold up when you look closely at anatomy, behaviour, and welfare guidance. The aim is simple: safer choices, fewer preventable injuries, and calmer, healthier animals.

Myth 1: Cats always land on their feet

Cats do have a remarkable righting reflex, letting them twist in mid-air and often reorient feet-down. But “often” is not “always”, and a feet-first landing is not the same as a safe landing.¹

Veterinary literature describes “high-rise syndrome”: cats falling from windows, balconies, and stairwells can suffer serious trauma, including fractures and chest injuries, and they still need urgent assessment even if they walk away at first.¹

Practical safety checks

• Fit secure flyscreens or pet-safe window guards (screens alone can fail if loose or damaged).
• Supervise balcony access, especially for young cats and newly adopted cats adjusting to a new space.¹
• If a fall happens, seek veterinary care promptly—even without obvious injuries.¹

Myth 2: Dogs see in black and white

Dogs aren’t limited to black and white. Most dogs have two types of colour-sensing cone cells (rather than the three typical in humans), which gives them a reduced colour range, not an absence of colour.²

In practical terms, dogs tend to see blues and yellows more distinctly, while reds and greens are harder to tell apart—often compared to red–green colour blindness in people.²

What this changes at home

• For fetch on grass, blue or yellow toys are usually easier for dogs to pick out than red or green.²
• When training with visual targets (markers, cones, agility gear), high contrast matters as much as colour.

Myth 3: Fish have short-term memory (the “three-second memory” story)

The “three-second memory” line is a folk myth, not a scientific finding. Research and expert commentary in fish cognition describe fish (including goldfish) learning routines and retaining information for much longer—weeks to months, and in some cases longer.³

What matters for pet care is the direction of the evidence: fish respond to their environment over time. They learn feeding patterns, can be stressed by poor conditions, and benefit from a tank that supports natural behaviours rather than a bare, cramped box.³

Better welfare basics for pet fish

• Keep water quality stable (filtration, cycling, and regular testing are more important than décor).
• Provide appropriate space and structure for the species (hiding places, plants or hardscape where suitable).
• Avoid sudden changes—light, temperature, and handling all register, even if the animal is quiet.

Myth 4: Rabbits thrive on a carrot-only diet

Carrots are safe as an occasional treat, but they’re too sugary to be the basis of a rabbit’s diet. Welfare guidance in Australia emphasises that rabbits are built for long hours of grazing and chewing fibrous plant material, not concentrated sweet foods.⁴

For most pet rabbits, good-quality hay or grass should make up the majority of daily intake, supported by leafy greens, with pellets and treats kept modest.⁴

What a balanced rabbit diet generally looks like

• Unlimited access to hay or grass (the “always available” part matters).⁴
• Daily leafy greens and suitable vegetables in appropriate amounts.⁴
• Carrot as a treat, not a staple.⁴

Myth 5: Birds should be kept in cages all the time

A cage is a bird’s safe base, not a permanent holding cell. Good welfare practice recognises that many companion birds need regular opportunities to exercise, forage, and engage with their surroundings—activities that are hard to provide in a cage alone, even a large one.⁵

Out-of-cage time is safest when it’s planned: doors and windows closed, ceiling fans off, hazards removed, and supervision kept steady. The aim isn’t “freedom”; it’s predictable, low-risk movement and enrichment that matches the species and the individual bird.⁵

Myth 6: All reptiles should be kept in a terrarium

Reptiles do need an enclosure—but there is no single “reptile setup” that suits every species. Welfare codes and care standards focus on matching temperature, light cycles, humidity, space, and shelter to the animal’s biology and natural history.⁶

Even among commonly kept reptiles, requirements vary sharply. A bearded dragon, for example, needs a suitable enclosure with a usable temperature gradient (warm and cool zones) and appropriate lighting to support normal function and behaviour.⁷

A sensible approach before you buy or rehouse any reptile

• Identify the exact species (common names can be misleading).
• Work from a reputable care standard and, where relevant, a state welfare code.⁶
• Confirm heating and lighting requirements (including how you’ll measure temperatures, not just “what bulb”).⁷
• Plan the enclosure size and layout around movement, thermoregulation, and hiding—not aesthetics.⁶

Conclusion: fewer myths, steadier care

Good pet care tends to look plain up close: secure windows, species-appropriate food, an enclosure that fits the animal rather than the room, and enough stimulation to prevent boredom turning into stress. Most problems begin with a confident shortcut.

When advice conflicts, lean on reputable welfare guidance and local regulations, and check with a vet or qualified animal professional for your species. In Australia, animal welfare and pet rules are largely set and enforced at state, territory, and local levels, so the “right” answer can include where you live as well as what you own.⁸

References

1. PetMD — High-Rise Syndrome in Cats
2. Purina — Can Dogs See Color or Are They Color Blind?
3. Live Science — Do goldfish really have a 3-second memory?
4. RSPCA Victoria — Feeding your rabbits
5. RSPCA Australia — Responsible pet ownership
6. Agriculture Victoria — Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals: Private Keeping of Reptiles
7. RSPCA Knowledgebase — How should I care for my bearded dragon?
8. Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) — Animal welfare in Australia (governance)