The behavior of cats deserves an in-depth study in order to understand it. Some aspects of the character of this animal continue to surprise many people, no matter how much they can live with it. One of them is its averse attitude to water: the reactions it provokes in the cat’s skin, hair and body temperature, all these elements are more of rejection than gratitude. For all these reasons, if you try to bathe your cat, it is probably very tense and anxious to escape from the bathtub. His anger will lead him to react aggressively, being able to scratch and bite in order to avoid being bathed.
To find out why cats don’t like water , how to get them to like it and which breeds do like it, at OneHOWTO we recommend that you continue reading this article.
You may also be interested in: Why cats like the sun
Index
- Why are cats afraid of water?
- How to make a cat like water
- cats that like water
Why are cats afraid of water?
There are animals that hate water, and although the vast majority of felines are good swimmers and cats are no exception, it is normal that it is difficult to understand why they are afraid of water. Even cheetahs and lions don’t like it too much either, as they avoid crossing rivers and swimming except in dire need. Well, some of the reasons why cats are afraid of water are:
Origin
The vast majority of cat breeds come from the Middle East, that is, from territories with a desert climate where it is difficult to find large amounts of water. Thanks to the movements and geographical evolution of the breeds, cats have been finding different places and climates in which water is much more frequent. Despite everything, the desert origin of cats makes them retain a reluctant attitude towards a strange liquid for them.
Prudence and mistrust
Another aspect that explains cats’ fear of water is the prudence and mistrust they have by nature. They are not timid or cowardly, but they observe and analyze what is unknown from a distance . In this sense, water surprises them a lot and makes them curious. Well, due to this curiosity of cats that they feel when they see water, you may have observed how your cat is hypnotized seeing drops of water fall from any tap. It is something so mysterious to him that he looks at it very carefully. What do you think of these cat curiosities?
Smell
Maintaining body odor is another reason cats don’t like water, as cats bathe themselves with their own saliva. The smell of their body allows them to interact with other cats , people and their environment, so they usually do not want to get wet. In addition, behind the ears of cats are the glands that secrete the most, a factor that explains their eagerness to rub everything around them with their head. These glands are used to explore the environment and the closest people.
How to make a cat like water
Although cats in the water feel some rejection by natural instinct, follow these tips to get or try to like it:
- It is important that you associate your cat with water from puppyhood byacquiring a small bathtub and giving it small baths to minimize the fear that it may feel from contact with water.
- To make him feel as comfortable as possible in the bathtub, lay out a non-slip surface. In this way, it will not slip and you will feel more secure.
- Massage the cat with warm water, wetting its body little by little. Do not hit the eyes, head and ears.
- Bathrooms should be quiet, without any rush. Observe your cat’s reaction to contact with the water: he may be restless and stressed in the first few minutes, but gently stroking him and giving him freedom to get used to the bathroom will gradually relax him.
- When the bath is over, grab a towel to cover your feline. Try to remove the moistureaccumulated in the hair as much as possible.
- Brush thekitten’s fur to remove dead hair from its body.
- Avoid using the hair dryer, as the sound can make the cat nervous. Let it dry at room temperature.
And, if you want to know more tips so that your cat likes water, don’t miss this article on How to make my cat like water .
cats that like water
There are cat breeds that really enjoy water, they like to swim, they watch it and play with it. These breeds are as follows:
- Bengal Cat– Plays with delight in the water.
- Turkish Angora– He watches the water droplets fall and loves to splash around.
- Maine Coon: These are very large cats that enjoy being in the water.
- Pixie bob– if you are not careful, you will find the kittens in the water. This breed will get into the tub quickly with you!
- Abyssinian: feline race of Egyptian origin that does not feel any fear of baths.
- Turkish Van: This is an unusual cat whose nickname is ‘the swimming cat’ or ‘water cat’, these names explain its taste. They are water cats that like to swim!
- Savannah: It is a mixture of a domestic cat with a serval cat, that is, the African wild cat. Enjoy while playing with the water.
- Norwegian Forest Cat: It is a cat that is used to going through the snow without difficulties and enjoys the water. These cats bathe themselves!
- Manx: cat characterized by enjoying humid environments. Don’t be scared if you find the cat in the water, he loves it!
- Japanese Bobtail– Watch in fascination as the water moves.
As you well know, cats are very clean and they themselves take good care of their hair, however, there are certain situations that are recommended for bathing your cat. For this reason, oneHOWTO offers you this article on How to bathe your cat at home , we provide you with the different tips that you must take into account before doing so.