My cat can’t be the only one that hates water.
Why is that?
I bet there must be a scientific reason as to why cats are so afraid of water. My dog isn’t acting nearly the same near fluids.
Before we get into the reasons why cats do not like water, it is worth saying that not all cats like to get wet. Many believe that certain races, e.g. bengal and turkish van, show more interest in water, and can sometimes even enjoy a hot bath.
With that said, it is quite clear that for all races there will be individuals who like to be close to water, and others who absolutely hate it. It is therefore important that you do not have any prejudices when it comes to your own cat, but simply take the time to discover how he reacts.
As I said, it is about the individual, and above all the experiences the cat has had with water when he was a little kitten.
Physiologically, it is logical that cats avoid water. Due to your thick fur with dense undercoat, it takes a very long time for cats to dry if they have become wet on the skin.
Cats also stay warm by trapping air in the undercoat, which is impossible if it is wet. Unlike dogs, cat fur is not particularly oily, which means that it does not repel water in the same way, nor does it dry as quickly.
If a cat gets wet, they will therefore probably become very cold, which in the wild can be life-threatening.
The average domestic cat must sometimes be forced to bathe, which usually results in many lacerations and a very dissatisfied cat.
Spraying your cat with water from a bottle is a common (but not recommended) method of training the cat, which of course results in the cat having negative connotations to water.
And if the cat has no positive experiences, it is logical that he will try to avoid water at all costs.