“Why are cats so afraid of water?” you may be asking this question to yourself at times. People think that cats don’t like or are afraid of water for many reasons. I’m sure you have seen people trying to bathe their cats and they end up all scratched with no success, or maybe you have seen how people train a cat spraying water at him to make him stop doing what he’s not supposed to do. Whenever cats get so much as a paw inside water they always shake it off as if it had some kind of poison in it. Even in cartoons we can see how they behave around water. Any exposure to water ends in an attack.
This is not always the case and I am here to try to convince you why not.
It is completely true that cats detest water but this doesn’t mean that they can’t go in water. The reason why cats will drink water but won’t go in it is simple, it is because they don’t like for their fur to get wet. When a cat’s coat gets wet, for them it feels like a wet blanket is on them and they have to wait for it to dry so they can move around like they usually would. Just imagine yourself get caught in the rain and you’re clothes are soaking. It doesn’t feel good right? That’s exactly how they feel.
Also cats have a very strong sense of smell, meaning they can smell the chemicals in the water. Even though we can’t smell it they can. They don’t want that smell to be all over their coats because they don’t like the smell just like they don’t like the scent of humans (that’s why they lick themselves when you pet them).
If a cat has been exposed to water or he’s been taken a bath when they were still kittens they may get stressed out the first couple of times and later on, they may start refusing to take a bath because of how they felt the last time.
When you make them take a bath they feel as if there is no way to get out because the bathtub material is slippery which can cause them to stress.
They might put a paw inside a bathtub full of water but that’s because most of their body is on land while the other part (paw) is in the water, if they fall into the water they’ll be able to get themselves out as long as there is dry land near or on the top.
The main reason why cats are not very fond of water would be that their ancestors would have lived in dry places like the desert so they had probably never had to come across a body of water which could be a reason why they scratch and bite you whenever you try to bathe them. They weren’t taught how to deal with water.
Even though cats’ ancestors weren’t used to being in water or near a body of water because they used to live in dry places, there is a possibility that some cats can like water.
Even though it may seem like it, not all cats hate water. Here are some breeds that enjoy it:
The Maine Coon breed has water resistant coats so they can swim/be in the water. They were used as pest control cats on ships and they got used to the water.
Turkish Van breed – They also have a waterproof coat that doesn’t collect/hold water which makes them happy to be in water.
The Abyssinian cats originally came to Europe on ships that’s why they are not afraid of water.
Did you know that some breeds of cats depend on water (besides to drink) to survive?
Some breeds of cats need to be bathed regularly because of their skin conditions like the Hairless breeds that need to take baths regularly to eliminate excessive body oils.
The Selkirk Rex have thick wiry coats and may need regular baths because their skin is sensitive and itchy.
Some other cats can develop eczema and they would need to take a bath regularly too.
Long-haired cats need to be bathed to avoid matting.
Finally, you can make a cake like water if you bathe a kitten at a very young age with patience, kindness, and care, and keep doing it regularly they will eventually become accustomed to it and enjoy it (coming from experience).
And of course, if your cat gets dirty with mud, paint, or any other substance, he’s going to need a bath, no matter what!
Photo Credits:https://pixabay.com/illustrations/ai-generated-cat-kitten-bath-cute-8685483/
Liah Garcia- McAuley- DMSF Class of 2028