Do Cats Hate Water? Evidence Shows it's A Matter of Individual Taste
Do cats hate water? The question of how cats feel about water is somewhat controversial because there are cats who will do anything to avoid it, while other felines love it and jump right in. So when your cat paws inside your fish bowl, does that mean he likes the water? Perhaps your cat is unknowingly emulating the fishing cats of the Middle and Far East.
The Love/Hate Relationship with Water
There's a lot of evidence that cats really like water. Cats who like water often will sit near the tub while you splash them. Others will jump into the sink or tub and actually seem content or amused as water from the faucet drips all over their head. One reason is that some cats may be attracted to the motion and sound of water coming out of the faucet. Some people who claim that their cats like to jump in and take a shower with them.
Many cats just like to drink running water. And some will even put their paws into their water dish and "swirl" it around so they can drink running water.
However, tolerance for water varies from one cat to another. Experts think a lot of cats' aversion to water is learned. It may be that many cats are afraid of water by the way we use it around them-squirting them to shoo them away from places we don't want them to be or forcing them into baths. And most cats hate getting water in their eyes or ears.
On the other hand, some cats have either neutral or positive experiences with water. Show cats are bathed very often, starting when they are kittens. Most don't seem to mind the usual dreaded bath because they are accustomed to it.
Climate and Water
One theory is that cat species native to hot areas seem to enjoy a dip in water. These large felines include tigers, lions, jaguars, ocelots and jaguarunde who are from hot savannas. They are likely to fancy a plunge into cool, refreshing streams and ponds to get a break from the heat.
Cats from cold environments-snow leopards, lynx, bobcats and cougars-seem to have little interest in getting wet. Some experts reason that water could destroy or decrease the fur's insulation and the ability to keep these cats warm in cold air.
Cats Made for Water
The Love/Hate Relationship with Water
There's a lot of evidence that cats really like water. Cats who like water often will sit near the tub while you splash them. Others will jump into the sink or tub and actually seem content or amused as water from the faucet drips all over their head. One reason is that some cats may be attracted to the motion and sound of water coming out of the faucet. Some people who claim that their cats like to jump in and take a shower with them.
Many cats just like to drink running water. And some will even put their paws into their water dish and "swirl" it around so they can drink running water.
However, tolerance for water varies from one cat to another. Experts think a lot of cats' aversion to water is learned. It may be that many cats are afraid of water by the way we use it around them-squirting them to shoo them away from places we don't want them to be or forcing them into baths. And most cats hate getting water in their eyes or ears.
On the other hand, some cats have either neutral or positive experiences with water. Show cats are bathed very often, starting when they are kittens. Most don't seem to mind the usual dreaded bath because they are accustomed to it.
Climate and Water
One theory is that cat species native to hot areas seem to enjoy a dip in water. These large felines include tigers, lions, jaguars, ocelots and jaguarunde who are from hot savannas. They are likely to fancy a plunge into cool, refreshing streams and ponds to get a break from the heat.
Cats from cold environments-snow leopards, lynx, bobcats and cougars-seem to have little interest in getting wet. Some experts reason that water could destroy or decrease the fur's insulation and the ability to keep these cats warm in cold air.
Cats Made for Water
One theory is that cat species native to hot areas seem to enjoy a dip in water. These large felines include tigers, lions, jaguars, ocelots and jaguarunde who are from hot savannas.
Comments
frank
(Guest)
(Guest)
09/14/2008
you'r talki'n cat's sophie !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
frank
(Guest)
(Guest)
09/14/2008
intresting comment Grits44!!!!!!!! nice article!!!
frank
(Guest)
(Guest)
09/14/2008
my cat likes water!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!hgjksdhfguioehr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111ygbyuevgduiy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111111
We had a cat who liked water very much. I was cleaning the bathtub once and she hopped right in there. We had to dry her feet off with a rag afterwards.
great job my cat loves to take bathes which is very uncommon but his type of breed like water.
My boys love water!! They always like to perch on the side of the bath while I am bathing and they love jumping into the sink as well!
Sophie
Had a brindle cat that loved the shower, whether you were in it or not made him no difference. He would just walk around in the water. Strangest thing I ever saw! The siamese cat we had......hated water with a passion. I stopped trying to give him baths....it was not worth the effort. Nice job....good memories. Thanks.
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