If we were being completely honest, the sight of a wet cat is sad and hilarious at the same time. Partly, it’s because you don’t associate cats with water, swimming, or jet skiing, for that matter.
So that begs the question: Why do cats seem to avoid water like the plague? What makes cats the most unlikely land mammal to be seen in water?
Rest assured, it’s not because they can’t swim. So, let’s take a closer look at why cats seem to avoid paddling like a golden retriever on a hot day.
Non-domesticated big cats have a relatively easy time in the water, though they may not prefer to be in it anyway. In the wild, cats need to be “flexible” on what they’ll put up with if they want to eat.
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.
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.
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.