Pet owners should not believe everything they hear about their furry friends, a U.S. veterinarian advises.
 

"It is important for pet owners to separate urban legends from the truth when caring for their pets," Mark Nunez, of Animal Medical Center in Van Nuys, Calif., and president of the California Veterinary Medical Association, says in a statement. "Anyone can post misinformation on a Web site. However, veterinarians can help pet owners sort fact from fiction."
 

Some popular legends about cats Nunez says are untrue include:

-- Cats always land on their feet. Most cats instinctively twist themselves to land on their feet, but not all are successful, particularly if they are surprised or injured. If a cat falls from a great height -- feet first or not -- injury or death is likely.
 

-- A purring cat is a happy cat. The truth is that cats purr for many reasons besides being content, including being nervous, distressed, sick or injured.