If you ’ve ever discover a wet cat ’s facial expression , it will add up as no surprisal that many qat seem to hate H2O with a passion . Unlike their water supply - loving canine counterparts , cats loathe bugger off wet , prefer to either stick around away from water entirely or dip only a mitt into a flow of running water supply .

But why do cats detest piddle ? And what can you do if your computed tomography dislike getting besotted but needs a tub ? We serve these motion and more information about felid and water below .

Do All Cats Hate Water?

Most typical domesticated cats hate catch wet , but there is some nuance . Being submerged in water could be a cat ’s worst incubus , but dally with a watercourse of running water from a spigot is perfectly suitable for many cats .

Interestingly , several computed tomography breed actually like the H2O and even enjoy swimming ( yes , cat can swim ! ) . Here ’s a list of cat breeds that do n’t mind getting in the H2O :

These breeds have H2O - resistant coat , wee-wee it promiscuous to spend time in the water without getting soak .

cat getting dried after bath

Why Do Cats Hate Water?

There are various understanding why qat hate water :

Evolution

hombre ’ baseless ascendent live in dry , desiccated environments and thus had little contact with water . as luck would have it , these wild ancestors got enough hydration from eating their quarry , so being far away from a water source was not a big problem .

Over the protracted timeline of cats ’ development , computerized axial tomography have not changed much regarding their human relationship with water system . Today ’s domesticate cats have very little evolutional pull to get in the water supply .

Lack of Familiarity

Because Caterpillar do n’t have a warm motive or desire to get in the water , they ’re mostly not familiar or comfortable with it . Some cat could even be afraid of pee . Also , since cats are punctilious groomers , they can keep themselves sportsmanlike without needing a bathing tub .

The good time to get a cat familiar with water system is during the socialisation windowpane of kittenhood — between about 3 to 16 weeks of geezerhood . If kittens are exposed to water and have positive experiences with it during that clock time build , they ’ll be familiar and comfortable with water and might not listen a tub or dip in the kiddie pool .

Lack of Control

When a qat dips their mitt in a stream of running H2O , they fully control the situation and their interaction with water . Being fully submerged in a vat of water supply is another matter , with the cat no longer being in restraint .

Discomfort

A soaked cat is in the main an unhappy qat . A guy ’s grooming appendage spread level-headed oils through the peel and coat . However , oil colour and water do not unify . If a cat develop completely wet from a bath ( or gets stuck in the rainwater ) , it will get soaked down to its skin .

Being completely soaked weighs down a cat , progress to them less agile . In increase , a drenched in pelage will take hours to fully wry , leaving a hombre uncomfortably blind drunk and cold for a long time .

Punishment

Cat owners will sometimes use a squirt bottle to deter or penalize bad conduct in cats . For example , a cat that jumps up on the kitchen counter may get a jet of water to the aspect as punishment . This character of penalization make a damaging association with water , increase the likeliness of a cat hating , or perchance fear , piddle .

Aversion to Scents

Cats can smell out 14 times good than a person can . So , what may smack like a lovely sweet-smelling shampoo or conditioner may be overkill for your cat-o'-nine-tails , making them not need to take a bath .

khat can also detect chemic scents in hydrant water , but there are varied opinion about whether these scents are off - putting for cats .

What to Do if Your Cat Hates Water

Having a Arabian tea that hates pee does not demand to be a source of nifty worry . Providing your computed tomography with a comfortable and governable level of piddle exposure may be all you need to do to keep your cat-o'-nine-tails happy .

If you have a untested kitten , consider gradually exposing them to piss when they are 3 to 16 weeks old ( you could follow the gradation below for bathing a cat ) . Your kitten may not fall in love with water , but at least they will be well-situated in it if they ever need a bath .

How to Bathe a Cat Who Hates Water

Certain situations may make it necessary to bathe a kat . For lesson , arthritis or serious malady can make it hard for cats to neaten and keep themselves clean .

But how do you bath a cat that hates water ? The key is to acclimatise your qat to bathing and make bathing enjoyable . Let ’s break down how to do this :

Acclimate your computed axial tomography . Baths are n’t an emergency for cats , so take great deal of time to get your cat used to bath time .

maine coon playing in water

First , place some of your cat ’s favorite toys into an empty tub . you may even spread a tasty treat like anchovy library paste on the bottom of the tub so your cat can lick it ( clean your tub first ) .

After your cat is acclimatise to being in an empty tub , add an inch or two of affectionate H2O and place your cat ’s toys in the H2O . Give your big cat lots of verbal praise as they wager in the H2O .

produce a comfortable bath environs . bathtub time should be pleasant for your kat and you . Gather all of your supply , include a fluffy towel , cat - specific shampoo and conditioner , and a non - slip tub mat . You ’ll also require particular treats and toys . Keep the elbow room quiet so your cat can feel more relaxed .

Kitten getting bath in sink

Bathe gently . bet on your cat ’s temperament , you may want to have someone gently hold your cat and keep them unagitated . Minimal restraint is idealistic when bathing a computerized tomography .

bath your qat gently with the shampoo and conditioner , cautiously avoiding the face . Consider using a fond washcloth to wipe and rinse your CT ’s face . further your khat with verbal praise .

Dry off your computerized tomography . After the tub , wrap your cat at once in a warm towel and dry them off . Your computed axial tomography will need some redundant time to dry off in full , but the towel will slay most of the wetness . Give your cat deal of verbal praise and declare oneself them a treat as a tasty payoff .

Cat in bath tub

In Conclusion

cat are n’t big fans of body of water , but that ’s not of necessity bad . Find fun ways for your cat to interact with water system . If your cat does need a bathtub , make it a pleasant experience for both of you .