The behavior of cats deserves a deep study in order to understand it. Some aspects of the character of this animal continue to surprise many people even if they can live with it. One of them is its water-resistant posture: the reactions it provokes in the skin, hair and cat body temperature, all these elements are more rejection than gratitude. Therefore, if you try to bathe your cat, he is probably very tense and feels anguish about escaping the bathtub. His anger will lead him to react aggressively, being able to scratch and bite in order to prevent you from bathing him.
To find out why cats don’t like water, how to get them to like it and what breeds they do, we recommend that you keep reading this article.
Why cats are 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 taking dips unless extreme necessity. Well, some of the reasons why cats are afraid of water are:
Origin
The vast majority of cat breeds are 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. In spite of everything, the desert origin of cats makes them retain a reluctant attitude to a liquid foreign to them.
Prudence and distrust
Another aspect that explains the fear of cats to water is the prudence and distrust they have by nature. They are not timid or cowardly, but in the face of what is unknown they observe and analyze it from a distance. In this sense, water surprises them a lot and generates curiosity. Well, due to this curiosity of cats who feel when they see water, you may have observed how your cat is hypnotized watching drops of water fall from any tap. It is something so mysterious to him that he contemplates it very carefully. What do you think of these curiosities of cats?
Smell
Maintaining body odor is another reason why cats don’t like water, as cats bathe themselves with their own saliva. The smell of their body allows them to relate to other felines, people and their environment, so they usually will 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 serve them 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 relate your cat to water from puppy by acquiring a small bathtub and giving him small baths to minimize the fear he may feel from contact with water.
- To make him feel as comfortable as possible in the bathtub, place a non-slip surface. This way, you won’t slip and feel more confident.
- Massage the cat with warm water, wetting its body little by little. Do not affect the eyes, head and ears.
- Bathrooms should be quiet, without any hurry. Observe your cat’s reaction to contact with water: he may be restless and stressed in the first minutes, but stroking him gently and giving him freedom to get used to the bathroom will gradually relax.
- When the bath is over, take a towel to shelter your feline. Try to remove the accumulated moisture in the hair as much as possible.
- Brush the kitten’s hair to remove dead hair from its body.
- Avoid using the dryer, as the sound can make the cat nervous. Let it dry at room temperature.
And, if you want to know more tips for your cat to like water, do not miss this article on How to make my cat like water.
Cats that like water
There are breeds of cats that enjoy water very much, like to swim, observe it and play with it. These breeds are as follows:
- Bengal cat: play enchanted with water.
- Turkish Angora: Watch the water droplets fall and love to splash.
- Maine coon: they are very large cats that enjoy water.
- Pixie bob: If you are careless, you will find the kittens in the water. This breed will quickly get into the bathtub with you!
- Abyssinian: feline breed 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: is a mixture of domestic cat with serval cat, that is, the African wild. 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 by themselves!
- Manx: cat characterized by enjoying in humid environments. Don’t panic if you find the cat in the water, it loves it!
- Japanese Bobtail: watch fascinated as water moves.
As you well know, cats are very neat and they themselves take good care of their hair, however, there are certain situations that are recommended to bathe your cat. Therefore, we offer you this article on How to bathe your cat at home, we provide you with the different tips that you should take into account before doing so.
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