Do Cats Swim? Here's Everything You Need To Know

The Discerning Cat

The thing about cats is that they never fail to surprise you. There’s probably a lot that cats can do that we are unaware of… like driving, or playing golf.

The Discerning Cat

But let’s start with something simple: Can cats swim? The short answer is yes. When pressed to do so, cats will more than likely float and swim to safety.

The Discerning Cat

Their paws are relatively small, their coats absorb water, and while their bodies are flexible and explosive, they aren’t really built for power.

Can Cats Swim? The Biological Explanation

Of the big cats, tigers are probably the best swimmers. They (and other big cats) have large paws that can propel them through the water more easily.

But Big Cats Can Swim Quite Well

Well… maybe. What we do know is that cats may simply dislike the inconvenience of water. But here are a couple of reasons that might inform why cats seem to avoid getting in the deep end.

But Cats Hate Water (Don’t They?)

If a cat isn’t used to being in the water, and it suddenly falls into a pool, for example, it may be overwhelmed by panic.

They Could Panic

Generally, cats are warmer than humans, and they don’t like being excessively cold. Under normal circumstances, they can simply curl up and preserve body heat.

Cold Isn’t Nice For a Cat

For example, if they were involuntarily bathed as kittens, the idea of being submerged in water may not be your cat’s notion of a good time.

Cats May Be Triggered by a Past Experience

We might think that even ordinary tap water is perfectly odorless, but cats have the ability to really smell the chemicals and additives in food and water.

They May Not Like the Taste and Smell

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