Myths of the Animal World

Animal myths are more wide spread and believed than human based myths, simply because the few people spreading them are not around animals. From the myth of where oil comes from to why a pony is not the same as a horse, let's take a look at the most common.

Oil did not come from Dinosaurs
"Dinosaurs are what oil was originally, before changing to oil." That one I always wondered about because if it was true then we would not be finding mass graves of dinosaurs but pools of oil instead. For those of you who don't know, oil and oil shale is compressed plankton, those tiny sea creatures that is food for many fish and mammals in the world's oceans.

Breeding myth
Another common myth is that every female animal should be bred at least once to improve their health in the long run. That is like saying every female human must have at least one child or they will suffer ill health. How many women out there have never had a child and don't intend to? Have you suffered "ill health" because of your choice? I think not.

Territory marking by cats
Female cats don't "spray" or mark territory like male cats do. I got word for those of you who think that one is true, it is not. I have 8 cats that are all neutered or spayed. They are our barn cats. Even though they were all "fixed" at or before they were 6 months old I have seen every one of them, male and female, mark territory by spraying a bush or side of a building. It is true that the smell of the urine is different in an altered cat versus and entire male but that does not seem to stop the altered cats from doing what their instincts tell them to do.

Ponies and horses
Ponies grow up to become horses. They don't. They are a separate breed of horse. That statement would be almost like saying that a Chihuahua will grow up to become a Great Dane. That is a common thought of people that are not familiar with horses in general. Those people often say "what a cute little pony" when seeing a foal (baby horse) with it's mother. Since nobody bothers to correct them, they perpetuate the myth.

There are plenty of other animal myths that are becoming more popular. Those often are about livestock and horses since there is a marked decrease in the general population having in person contact with them.