Cats are mysterious and careful animals. They are independent and do not enjoy exposure to various uncalled situations. They spend time alone and hate getting drenched in pools of Water.
The theory of a cat’s aversion toward Water is more than just a myth. Unlike dogs, cats are contradictory in multiple aspects, like personality, preferences, genetic patterns, and even origins. Cats hate Water because of several factors, and each one is reasonable.
It is a consensus that cats hate Water but do all of them? Well, no. Not all cats hate Water. Many cats really enjoy having a bath or playing around in the swimming pools. Even our feline friends have their own exceptions.
But if we speak generally, cats are not big fans of Water. So, the question is why do cats hate Water, anyway? Sit back tight and get ready to discover the obscure reasons why your kitty does not like Water.
1. 5 Amazing Reasons You Need to Know On Why Cats Hate Water!
1.1 Water Makes Them Immobile
Cats have various types of body fur depending on their respective cat breeds. Their fur develops a unique texture, which is poles apart from the fur of a dog.
You may find dogs going out swimming and playing with their owners and enjoying taking a bath, drowning themselves in a bathtub for fun, because they like water-related activities. However, cats have their own list of criteria to avoid Water deliberately.
Cats, on the contrary, especially domestic cats, avoid Water since their body coat is made differently! How differently, you may ask? The quality of their cat hair is finer, which soaks Water extra well. Unlike dogs, it is quite challenging for cats to shake the water off their bodies.
It is not that easy for them to move swiftly either. A cat may drink from a water-dripping tap or dip its paw in small poodles to satisfy its curiosity, but it will never let itself submerge in running Water since its soaked and drenched coat feels relatively heavier, and that largely slow downs the usual fast movement in cats.
Most cats feel uneasy and uncomfortable once Water hits their fluffy hair. You may put your cat into a water-full bathtub, and they will undoubtedly get repulsed by the slippery tub floor too.
It is everything about the bathroom that cats cannot stand, literally. Whether it is the wet floor, the bathtub, or even the bathroom faucet, it’s not only about tap water, anyway.
When it comes to their greatest enemy: Water, the cats want to let you know that they are not afraid of it, of course! They simply are not fond of the way their wet fur feels since they lose control over their rapid movements.
So, what they cannot control, cannot be near them.
1.2 Cats do not find Water Hygienic
Cats are amazing and humorous! Has anyone ever thought of Water as unhygienic? Water is the universal cleanser that can purify literally any dirt present. But cats are built uniquely just like this.
A cat’s sense of smell is nearly ten times stronger than a human’s. The running Water from a tap may seem clean and odorless to you, a pet parent but a cat can easily detect the smell of the chemicals present in the dripping Water.
Those chemicals ooze a strong scent for a cat’s sensitive nose, which is why they often maintain their distance from cold dripping Water.
You must have seen your kitten spending several hours to half of its life taking care of its hair since every cat treats its hair until it is well-groomed, which is always a long process.
For your kitten pets, Water is important only for drinking sometimes. Otherwise, their licks and saliva are more than enough to maintain their cleanliness.
A feline has a detergent-like tongue, which acts as a substitute for Water and is mainly used to keep its neatness intact.
Their tongue has a rough surface that licks off the dirt from their body coats faster. The saliva on the tongue has proteins and enzymes mixed, which further acts like soap for our kitties.
Humans! Your furry babies are already well-equipped for looking after themselves for the rest of their life. But it is also acceptable to give them a bath when there is no choice left.
1.3 Cats and Their History of Origin
Ever since the origin of big cats like tigers, lions, panthers, and leopards, they have been well accustomed to dry climates and dry regions, like desert environments where they had little exposure to large water bodies like rivers or lakes.
In those ancestry times, the big cat catch prey and was habituated to intense heat waves in the deserts or mid-eastern regions.
Because of the scorching temperatures, it was logical for them to take a swim in the rivers and get their body coats wet. A bath for them was not a bother yet they find it quite soothing.
However, it is quite the opposite for domesticated cats. Since they do not live in those hectic hot deserts, they have evolved a lot since their ancestor hierarchy.
A house kitty is used to the naturally cool temperature of a room, so their need to dive and play in Water does not arise. A cat will never explain why they dislike Water or do not want to swim or play in the pool.
However, their body language and their origin history will leave a reasonable answer on humans’ minds.
Cats are afraid of how Water persists and feels wet on their body, but the Water itself is not a fear-inducing thing for them. That is why they keep their cat hair water-resistant.
There are certain breeds cat-like Maine coon, and Turkish van that enjoys playing in the Water and generally break the cat’s personality stereotypes. A cat is known for being a distant and aloof creatures.
However, the rare breed Maine coon is one of the most social cats out there! Whereas Turkish Van is known as the most water-loving cat!
1.4 A Cat does not need water
Your cat is here to explain that they do not like Water! Shocking, right? Well, it may be true. The conducted research has confirmed that a cat requires a very little amount of water to survive.
From their origin history, it is found a big cat who lived in the wild and forests, eating hunted prey or forest edible food that was available.
The food there was always somehow hydrated, and that little extract of liquid was enough for them. So, the big cat naturally never needed to drink.
Now, for a house cat who has been fed with dry cat food, the food does not possess any water, it is simply dry and that is why a house cat would try drinking water from a tub or a tap, in cases like those.
As a cat owner, I always keep a full water bowl so that my pet cat could always wet its throat whenever it’s thirsty. It is a good practice to keep up with our fellow pet owners!
1.5 They are not Open to Changing
A pet house kitty can be anything but open to change. They may never feel comfortable with exposure to newer environments or different situations. They are stable creatures, they would not entertain any invitations to a new place, person, or pet.
Yes, of course, they are curious! They will not hesitate to test something like pushing a vase from the edge of a table or even sniffing the food you’re eating. But, like any other living piece, they too have their own sets of likes and dislikes.
You will not possibly encounter a swimming cat sight in the pool, and you will not even see any cat socializing with so many humans altogether. Those are dog things.
A feline is likely to be more grounded, and stable and likes to stick to older routines, rather than having new ones. But, if is about new toys then, exceptions are always welcomed.
Check Out: The Top 12 Types of Cats in the World
2. So, Why Do Felines Hate Water?
For our lovely kitties, Water is nothing but an unsanitary, unnecessary liquid that makes them feel uncomfortable in every aspect but sometimes, it is relieving to have a slurp since their throats are often parched because of dry foods. However, some cats are extraordinary and enjoy a good bubble bath such as a few special breeds.
If we scrutinize carefully, it actually does make a lot of sense why cats dislike Water, in general. Not all animals are alike and each species has its own preferences and aversions. So, let’s give our felines some love and understand that they are simply not water lovers.
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