Are cats really scared of water?

@ANIME123 (2466)
United States
January 31, 2010 8:52pm CST
Well are cats really scared of water because my friends cat just loves to get wet with water it doesn't mind it all. Still other cats do run away from the water, but why are they so scared of it. Dogs like water I think well they like it more than cats. My birdies also love water they love to take baths in it they just can't get enough of it. So why are cats so afraid of water is it just in their nature to be scared of water. Cats clean themselves by licking their fur, but that to me is not very clean. I guess all cats will never like water like my friends cat. Maybe it can be something that tells them in their brain to stay away from water so that is why they don't go near it. Dogs I know love the water because maybe something in their brain tells them that the water will not hurt them. Still I remember I was going to wash this one dog as soon as I turned on the water it ran away. Maybe dogs and cats don't like water very much because they don't like to get soaked in it. What do you all think are cats really scared of water and why is it that their scared of water????
1 person likes this
11 responses
• United States
1 Feb 10
It really depends on the cat...cats are as different as people. For example, I'd afraid of sharks...someone else may love them! Okay...to get back on topic! lol My moms two cats hate the water. They would fight tooth and nail to stay out of it. Now, MY cat doesn't like water...but she will not fight me when I have to bathe her. My cat is long haired so she can't keep herself clean...so I have to bathe her a lot! She doesn't attack, she just complains...A LOT! lol. One day I'm going to have to record myself bathing her :D It might be entertaining!
@ANIME123 (2466)
• United States
1 Feb 10
You have to take your cats bath. Yes huh maybe one day lol. Maybe soon enough your cat will stop complaining about her baths.
• Philippines
3 Feb 10
I don't think so because my cat longs for it every time it has finished urinating or defecating on its cage. I always make sure my cat is always clean and smells fresh as a daisy as someone might call it but what the heck, the important matter here is cleanliness and hygiene of your pet cat or kitten. Whatever the reasons your cat do not like water is beyond our comprehension. In time it will adapt to its master and owner whenever it will be subject to a bath. Hope this helps you.
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
1 Feb 10
My cat hated to be bathed,but had no problem at all being out or going out in the pouring rain...
• Canada
1 Feb 10
I think that most cats are scared of the water. However, my moms friends' cat was not scared of the water. He was pretty smart, he actually knew how to go into the shower and turn on the controls and have himself a bath or shower, and would actually enjoy it as well. Thats the only cat that I know that likes water though, pretty much all other ones I have known have not liked water. Im not really sure about the reason, but I think its probably because its hard to get them dry because they have thick fur. Its not as simple to get dry as it is for us, where we can simply change our clothes or whatever.
@unique16 (1531)
• United States
1 Feb 10
Hello Anime123, My cat Jojo who is Calico cat loves the water. When bathtub faucet drip she would sit there and try to catch drops of water on her paw or face. When I got it fixed she would sit thinking it drip and never did. She kept looking for the longest time. Now she like walking along the edge of bath tub and drink the hot water when I take my bath... silly cat. I sprinkle her with the water. She does not like bubbles... does not know what to make of them. She also like the toilet bowl water so we make sure it top portion is on so she does not get in there. She is my funny cat. Like sitting on top between window frames etc... she is my climber. Thanks and have a Great day Sincerely Unique16
@tanchyka (213)
• Slovenia
1 Feb 10
I also think that cats are like people, every cat is different. I've seen cats happily taking baths while my cat is prepared to kill me if I even try something like that. There was a point in his life when we had to bathe it every day because it had a bladder problem and it smelled really bad, but it was like the cat knew it smelled and it was necessary to bathe him, so he didn't fight back as much. He did complain though. But it's not good to bathe cats at all, especially short haired, because they take care of their own fur.
• Canada
1 Feb 10
The saliva a cat has in it's mouth has detergent properties, so, actually, it is very clean. A dog's saliva, however, is full of bacteria and infects quite readily. You are not likely to get a bacterial infection from a cat bite, but rather from the dirt and bacteria under it's claws. But a dog bite gets infected immediately, ask your vet to confirm this and they will. I don't know why most cats dislike water. Some big cats swim all the time, like Leopards, I think. My cat likes it when I get him wet when I have a bath. He actually gets very upset if he can't get in the bathroom with me when I am taking a bath. But try to get him IN the bathtub and it is a whole different story. lol
@kaylachan (56277)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
1 Feb 10
I don't think that cats are afraid of water as they are afraid of the sound of fast-moving running water. A cat hears a sound up to ten times louder then we do. When we fill the bathtub for example, to them it sounds like a cascading waterfall that would crush them. Add the fact of what it might look like to them. THey fear those things so much they become almost afraid of the water itself unless its controled (such as a water dish, or foutin)
• Philippines
1 Feb 10
i believe that cats are afraid in the water because they don't like to take a bath
@kyel_11 (1069)
• Philippines
1 Feb 10
Hi Anime123! We have pet cats at home and they do not want to take a bath. lol. they are running away from water and I do not know really the reason. Maybe it is just their nature. I mean they are not used into water. hehe! hope someday our cats will take a bath soon! lol :D
@Lukey90 (24)
• Australia
1 Feb 10
I've never seen a cat who likes water. Even putting a drop of water on a cats back scares them. I tried to put my cat in the pool a couple of years ago and he sunk his claws into me and drew blood!