Do raccoons come out even when it's pouring rain? The answer here.
By The Horse
@TheHorse (206449)
Walnut Creek, California
February 2, 2021 11:03am CST
Last night was a bit complicated, but I still got a good night's sleep. At about 2 AM last night (literally this morning) Kitty came home from hunting and started meowing at my door. I obeyed her command and let her in. She was soaking wet. I asked her if she had caught and mice in the rain, and gave her a good petting.
After she was dry, I sniffed my hand and noticed that it did not smell like wet animal. Is this always true with cats? We're all familiar with "wet dog smell."
Anyway, I climbed back into bed, and Kitty joined me, but only for about two minutes. She meowed and headed to the front door. She was instructing me to feed her. I put on my shorts and, again, obeyed her. Then I went back to bed.
At about 3:30 AM, I heard something outside that didn't sound quite right. I knew what was up. I busted three of my five juvenile raccoons trying to get into Kitty's Meow Mix bag. Wearily, I grabbed my broom and chased them off. I then brought he bag inside, where it now sits.
So yes, raccoons go out hunting for yummies late at night, even if it's pouring rain. My questions to cat people: Do some cats avoid rain (mine apparently does not)? Do most cats not get wet animal smell, even if they're soaked?
16 people like this
18 responses
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
2 Feb 21
@TheHorse It seems to be that, because they groom a lot, they don't have as much oil on their fur which makes them less waterproof than animals which do have oils to ward off the water. There are many theories around the Internet and I'm not entirely happy with any of them but this one seems to be the one most likely to be true.
https://www.sciencefocus.com/nature/why-do-cats-hate-water/
2 people like this
@FourWalls (62436)
• United States
2 Feb 21
There’s a live webcam that has raccoons out in the rain at night. If there’s food, they’ll be there.
3 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (95700)
• Marion, Ohio
3 Feb 21
I have had cats that liked rain, liked snow and also that hated both. They dont smell.
3 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (95700)
• Marion, Ohio
3 Feb 21
@TheHorse I dont even want the house to smell like wet horse 
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (206449)
• Walnut Creek, California
3 Feb 21
@wolfgirl569 I'd have a special "hose her down" room if my horse lived at home. As for me, I take a shower and try not to scratch the tile with my hooves.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86823)
• United States
2 Feb 21
Oh yes they will scavenge any weather. Best to keep any food like that locked up.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (459122)
• Switzerland
3 Feb 21
We do not have raccoons here, so I have no idea of what they do, I know that they are nocturnal.
Some cats do not like to get wet, others do not care. Gevy waited for me under the rain this morning and he came inside all wet when I opened the door... silly kitty, he has his house.
Cats do not smell bad if wet, dogs smell horrible.
2 people like this
@xander6464 (40891)
• Wapello, Iowa
3 Feb 21
Most of the cats I've had disliked rain but a couple of them seemed indifferent to it. For the last 900 years or so, I've only had strictly indoor cats so you'll have to get the answer about wet cat smell from someone young enough to remember.
2 people like this
@xander6464 (40891)
• Wapello, Iowa
3 Feb 21
@TheHorse I've heard that there are web sites that can help with projects like that. Places like Tinder, where you can ask strangers for anything.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (206449)
• Walnut Creek, California
3 Feb 21
@xander6464 Large sums of money?
1 person likes this
@xander6464 (40891)
• Wapello, Iowa
3 Feb 21
@TheHorse I would recommend just keeping it inside.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (206449)
• Walnut Creek, California
3 Feb 21
@xander6464 That's what I'm doing right now.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (206449)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Feb 21
@lovebuglena Kitty seems happy with either. But I think she's trying to train me to feed her inside more.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43081)
• Staten Island, New York
4 Feb 21
@TheHorse Is that the cats' preference to eat outside rather than indoors? On our street, one of the people always leaves bowls outside for his cats, but not by the house. He leaves them by the fence where his car is. I always wondered why that is. Found that a bit strange. But his cats also roam around outside.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (157150)
• United States
3 Feb 21
Cute story. We've always had dogs; so I don't know the answer to your questions!
1 person likes this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
3 Feb 21
An intriguing question. I have always had inside cats, and you generally don't bathe them. So I am not sure if they DO have a wet animal smell to them. In fact, they never seem to get a smell like a dig either who hasn't had a bath in a while.
As for racoons...yeah...they could care less about rain.
2 people like this
@UriahAnne (701)
•
3 Feb 21
My cat doesn't avoid rain. I shower my cat but I never smell her animal smell. We don't have racoons here.
2 people like this
@UriahAnne (701)
•
3 Feb 21
@TheHorse when there are still kitty I trained them .the things that are don't.Just a warm water and shampoo and conditioner..
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (45586)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
3 Feb 21
I don't think I've ever met a smelly cat, wet or dry.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (170464)
• United States
3 Feb 21
I guess if they are hungry enough they do. You might have to put your foot down with kitty sooner or later.
1 person likes this
