• Question: why do some cats hate water and some cats love it ?

    Asked by jessc to Charlotte, Jo, Kevin, Louise, Valeria on 19 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Joanna Cruden

      Joanna Cruden answered on 19 Jun 2012:

      It varies from cat to cat, though they can all swim if they have to. Some big cats, like tigers and lions, live in the extreme hot temperature and they do seem to enjoy the cool water, but the average UK cat may not see the need to get wet when it is so cold and wet outside!

    • Photo: Kevin Mahon

      Kevin Mahon answered on 20 Jun 2012:

      Importantly, no cats enjoy water used against them in an antagonistic manner or getting water in their eyes or ears.

      Being sprayed or squirted with water isn’t fun, nor is being forced into a bath. Cats prefer to meet new situations on their own terms and you’ll find that cats who like water are those who got used to it at their own pace!

      The tolerance for water varies from cat to cat and may depend on the cat’s previous experience – cats being entered into something like the cat fancy show are regularly bathed and probably have been introduced to this gently from a young age.

      My 20 year old cat who has never been given a bath by us is unlikely to like it now or ever!

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