Have you ever wondered why some cats hate water? Despite the notion that all felines are hydrophobic, experts emphasize that this is not always the case.
“I think when we generalize like this, we do a disservice to the animals. Cats are all individuals. Some cats like water. Some cats don’t,” explained Wailani Sung, a veterinary behavior specialist at Joybound People & Pets, a rescue and veterinary service in California, to Scientific American.
Carlo Siracusa, a veterinary behavior specialist at the University of Pennsylvania, further explained that cats are not so different from dogs in this regard. “We tend to think of cats as unique creatures that don’t like water, but there are many dogs that don’t like water,” he told Scientific American.
Sung said one of the main differences in felines that may have led to the stereotypes of hydrophobia is that cats often live more indoors, while dogs are taken more by their owners on water adventures like pools and lakes.
According to her, this gives canines more opportunities to enjoy water. Cats, on the other hand, are only exposed to water through drinking fountains, sinks, or water bowls left by their caretakers.
Additionally, cats still do not typically bathe, as they groom themselves with their own tongues. Sung also speculated that felines might have a good reason to dislike water, as they have ultra-sensitive fur on their bodies that could negatively react to water contact.
Siracusa also shared the suggestion that cats might be more susceptible to colds when they get wet because felines, like other furry mammals, use their fur to trap air and maintain stable body temperature.
Experts also agreed that, as prey, cats do not like to be surprised. Even with their excellent hunting instincts, felines are still preyed upon by hungry predators in the wild. “Cats in general are averse to new stimuli that they feel they can’t control,” explained Siracusa.
However, if you have a feline that falls outside this hydrophobic line, you can rest easy and take the opportunity to offer plenty of water for them to enjoy. “Some cats love water. They sit in the sink and meow at their owners until they turn on the tap. I’ve certainly had cats that like to play with water in their water bowl and splash water everywhere,” added Sung.
This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
