Cat behaviour experts reveal why most cats are afraid of water and which cats don’t mind getting wet
If you’ve ever opened the door to let your meowing cat outside, only for them to look at you in disgust when they see it’s pouring with rain, you’ll be aware that most cats don’t like getting wet.
A bit of rain or a splash of water from the tap won’t harm them. In fact, some cats are naturally curious about water and happy to investigate a full bathtub or running tap. But getting soaking wet is usually very stressful for cats.
Clinical Animal Behaviourist Daniel Warren-Cummings explores the reasons why most cats don’t like water. And reveals which cat breeds enjoy a splash and a swim.
6 reasons why cats hate water
1. Evolutionary background
Our pet cats are descendants of their desert-swelling ancestor, the African wildcat. These wildcats live in the African Savannah, where water is scarce. Because they rarely encounter large bodies of water, they’ve had no need for swimming or bathing. Most cats don’t have fur that can repel water, so they try to avoid getting wet at all costs. Our pet cats have inherited this instinctual aversion to water.
2. Loss of control
Cats like to be in full control of their bodies. As most cat fur is not water-resistant, it will become heavy and uncomfortable if they are submerged in water. This can weigh them down, make movement difficult and affect their ability to react quickly. As a prey species, this can leave cats feeling vulnerable and stressed. The movement of water can also be unpredictable, which can easily startle them.
3. Bad for their skin
A cat’s coat contains natural oils that are needed to keep their skin healthy. If they are submerged in water, these oils can be washed away. This could lead to their skin becoming dry and itchy. Find out more about skin problems in cats. Cats are typically very good at keeping their fur and skin healthy by grooming themselves. There usually isn’t any need to bathe a cat. Find out more about grooming.
4. Temperature regulation
If their fur becomes soaking wet, cats can struggle to regulate their body temperature. This can leave them feeling cold and put them at risk of hypothermia. This is particularly dangerous for elderly cats, sick cats and young kittens. If your cat does become soaking wet, try to gently dry them off with a towel and keep them somewhere warm. Find out more about cats and hypothermia.
5. Sense of smell
Cats have a very good sense of smell. Tap water contains chemicals such as chlorine that can smell quite strong to a cat’s sensitive nose. This may put them off going near the water and drinking it too. If your cat doesn’t like tap water, you could try offering them filtered water instead. Discover more tips for getting your cat to drink more water.
6. Negative experiences
If your cat has had a bad experience with water before, this can put them off going near it again. For example, if they’ve ever fallen in a bathtub or pond and struggled to get out, they will remember this stressful experience and try to avoid repeating it.
Are all cats afraid of water?
Not all cats are afraid of water. Some cats can be quite curious about it. They will happily sit on the edge of the bath or stick their head or paw under a running tap for a drink.
But most cats don’t like being fully submerged in water. This is why most cats won’t enjoy being bathed. You should only bathe your cat if this has been advised by your vet. Find out more about bathing cats.
Cat breeds that like water
Some breeds of cat have water-resistant fur, preventing it from getting waterlogged when they get wet. Having water-resistant fur doesn’t necessarily mean they will like water, but they will usually be less stressed if they get wet. Some of these cats may actively enjoy being in water, but it will depend on the individual cat.
- Maine Coon. Maine Coon cats have water-resistant fur which means they usually don’t mind getting wet.
- Turkish Van. Often referred to as ‘the swimming cat’, Turkish Van cats have a water-resistant coat and often enjoy paddling in water.
- Abyssinian. The water-resistant coat of Abyssinian cats means they will often happily splash about in water.
- Bengal. Some Bengal cats like playing with toys in water as they have fur that repels water.
Find out more about pedigree cats.
Do big cats like water?
Some big cats enjoy swimming and hunting in water. Tigers and jaguars live in tropical forests with lots of rivers and lakes. They have adapted to be good swimmers so they can hunt in the water as well as on land. Other big cats that live in hot climates, such as lions, leopards and panthers, use water to help them cool down. Big cats in cooler climates, such as bobcats, lynx and snow leopards, are more likely to avoid water. Getting wet would make it difficult for them to keep warm.
