It may come as a shock to you, but cats can be taught to appreciate water if they get the right introduction. Several cat owners have pondered why cats can't swim, but the truth is they can! If you are one of the brave cat owners out there who would like to teach your cat to swim, you are in luck!
However, this is a misconception. Just because our pet cats aren't quite as water-loving as their canine friends, it doesn't mean they can't swim. In fact, all cats are instinctively capable of swimming, it's just most of them will do anything to avoid it.
Swimming Cats
Although most domestic cats don't like water, their wild cousins, such as tigers, happily use it to cool off or hunt their next meal. There are also a few breeds of household kitties, including the Maine coon, Bengal and Abyssinian, that love the water and occasionally enjoy a few laps around the pool.
The sooner you can get her used to the idea of water, the more likely she will tolerate it when she's older. Acclimate her to the sink or tub weeks before you bathe her. Place her in the space with toys, catnip or treats so that she makes positive associations with the location. Allow her to play in the water.
Alternatives to water bathing
Getting a professional groomer to bathe your kitty is one option if your cat absolutely hates baths, but another alternative is to use bath wipes specifically designed for cats. These wipes are designed to clean your cat like a bath, but without the water.
Use cat-specific shampoo – preferably with no smell – and lather your cat from tail to neck. Rinse with the pitcher, cup or gentle sprayer, being sure NOT to get soap or water on kitty's face. Don't forget to rinse those out-of-the-way places, like the belly, under arms, tail and neck.
1. Turkish Van. This breed hails from Turkey's Lake Van region, and its affinity for water has earned it the nickname “the swimming cat.” These cats have semi-long fur with a cashmere-like feel that's naturally water-repellant, so they'll emerge from a swim relatively dry.
Why Are Cats Afraid of Water? Cats hate water as they understand their environment through their nose and getting wet can remove their personal scent. They can also notice chemicals in the water that humans cannot sense.
Domesticated cats are descendants of felines that typically lived in dry and arid areas. They have never learned to swim because there was no evolutionary need for it. This behavior, or lack thereof, has stuck around in our modern-day cats.
Most cats adapt to a new baby; they recognize that gentleness is required with this little human and react to him or her very differently than to older humans.
This suggests that kittens might retain a memory of the scent of their mother for up to one year. Whether they recognize the smell as their mother, or as just familiar, is unknown, but they clearly responded differently when presented with her scent compared to that of an unknown cat!!
Based on several studies, behaviorists believe an adult cat's intelligence is comparable to that of a 2-year-old human toddler.
Dr. Chris Miller, AtlasVet DC: The good news is that drinking after your cat is very unlikely to cause any significant health concerns. Cats can be finicky drinkers, but the amount one cat drinks compared to another can be highly variable.
Cats prefer to drink running water because its 'natural' for them, and so they are less likely to drink standing water from a bowl. There may be other reasons for this too. Cat's whiskers collide with the edges of the bowl when they lower their head to drink and they can find this disconcerting.
Cats don't need much water to drink, especially if they eat canned food or food in pouches which contains a lot of water in it. However, it is still important to make sure your cat has fresh water at all times. There are a few things you can do to encourage your cat to drink from her bowl.
More likely, however, cats don't like getting wet because of what water does to their fur. Cats are fastidious animals that spend a great deal of their day grooming themselves. Wet fur is extremely uncomfortable for a cat and often takes a long time to dry.
As a general rule, cats are sensitive when it comes to smells, but there are a few scents they hate that might just surprise you. They can't stand citrus and as much as you might love the smell of fresh herbs, cats hate rosemary and thyme. Banana and mustard are a big no-no too, as well as lavender and eucalyptus.
Why do some cats dislike belly rubs? Hair follicles on the belly and tail area are hypersensitive to touch, so petting there can be overstimulating, Provoost says. “Cats prefer to be pet and scratched on the head, specifically under their chin and cheeks,” where they have scent glands, Provoost says.
Burmese are often considered to be the most affectionate cat breed. They love being with people at all times and crave close physical contact, making them the ultimate companion cat for a devoted family. They will follow their owner from room to room and prefer to cuddle up on the sofa or sleep in bed with them.
“Cats don't like to be touched in particular places for two main reasons: sensitivity and an instinctual need to protect themselves,” Geller explains. When it comes to the belly, the hair follicles are hypersensitive to touch. Petting a cat's stomach “can be overstimulating to the point of being painful.”
Purring. In many cases, soft, gentle purrs signal your cat's satisfaction with the world, providing an audible sign of her contentment. But purring doesn't always indicate happiness; some cats also purr when they are hungry or stressed.
Will my cat hate me after a bath? If you teach your cat to cope with grooming and bathing, then there is no reason your cat will hold it against you. However, if you force your cat to do something they find stressful or frightening, this could damage your bond and break their trust in you.
In general, cats should be given a bath once every 4-6 weeks, depending on how often they groom themselves, and the environment they're usually in.