Why do cats not like water

It’s no secret that cats do not like water. If you have ever tried to give your cat a bath, you will be all too aware of this.

Maybe you have had your cat scratching at the door because it’s raining outside. Or, just noticed how they go out of their way to avoid water.

There are some exceptions to the rule. But generally speaking, most cats hate water. But why do cats not like water? Let’s take a closer look at some of the reasons behind this.

It’s Hard for Wet Cats to Move Freely

Cats are agile animals with an incredible range of motion. They are capable of a lot more than we get to see most of the time. All of which they are capable of when they are dry.

If their coats are wet, they cannot move as well. If they are completely waterlogged, they have difficulty moving at all.

This can cause a cat to be very anxious about being able to jump or run if needed. This is believed to be the main reason for their fear of water.

It isn’t hard to understand that the feeling of being drenched for a cat wouldn’t be nice. It takes them a long time to dry off, and they can’t groom meanwhile.

It’s Hard for a Cat to Dry off and Clean Themselves

Cat’s have their daily routines. They clean themselves, and like to go about tracking their areas. Getting wet seriously gets in the way of them doing all of this.

Therefore getting wet is very low on their priorities. Why would they need to submerge themselves in water deliberately? They don’t need to do so to get clean.

What Do I Do If My Cat Needs a Bath?

If your kitty has gotten itself into a bit of a predicament, such as oil or other toxic substances in its fur. You are going to need to step in and help.

This means giving your cat a bath. As we have been discussing previously, this is exactly what most cats do not want. Especially if they are a bit anxious from being dirty.

Fortunately this does not happen often. Most cat owners will never have to bathe their cats, but in the instance that you do have to, here is some advice.

Fill a bath with a few inches of lukewarm water. It’s absolutely cannot be hot water, just a nice warmth that will not shock your cat.

Ideally you don’t want to add any soaps or products. Although there are some cat shampoos if you are tackling some serious dirt and grime.

Don’t be shocked if your cat gets a little bit freaked out and ties making a run for it. Can you blame them?

Be as gentle and as quick as possible. Dry them the best you can afterwards to make their job a lot easier. You should now have a clean cat, that will forgive you if you spare some of their favorite treats.