{"id":3630,"date":"2022-11-17T11:11:30","date_gmt":"2022-11-17T11:11:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.republicofcats.com\/thelick\/?p=3630"},"modified":"2022-11-22T15:08:20","modified_gmt":"2022-11-22T15:08:20","slug":"why-do-cats-hate-water","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.republicofcats.com\/thelick\/why-do-cats-hate-water\/","title":{"rendered":"Why do cats hate water?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Read time: 1.5 mins<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A tale as old as time, cats and water don\u2019t mix, but is this really factual or just a myth? We can\u2019t say we\u2019ve ever seen a cat enthusiastically dive into the bath, but is it something to do with their DNA that really makes them hate H2O?
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Water weighs cats down<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When water touches a cat\u2019s fur, the cat will feel weighed down by the excess damp. For such slinky souls, the idea of being slowed down isn\u2019t a fond one and a furry wetsuit isn\u2019t what the cats are after.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cats don\u2019t like the smell of water<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A cat\u2019s sense of smell is second to none, and although water might seem perfectly fine to us mere humans, a cat can smell the chemicals in our tap water which can be enough to put them off. Cats take pride in their coats, and the idea of being submerged in a smelly liquid that they\u2019re not familiar with isn\u2019t appealing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not in a cat\u2019s nature to swim<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Historically speaking, cats don\u2019t seem to have a particularly professional background in swimming. There isn\u2019t much in the past to suggest our domestic kitties\u2019 ancestors had any need to swim, living in much drier climates which didn\u2019t call for crossing rivers as such. Later they boarded vessels to cross oceans though with specific rat-catching duties – perhaps they simply outsmarted swimming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cats don\u2019t like being told what to do<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Our favourite furballs really do have a streak of control freak running through them, and being submerged in water makes them feel especially out of control and unhappy! Slippery surfaces and soggy coats throw off their feline instincts and leave them in the lurch until they dry off, which cats can find a little stressful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do any cats like water?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For most cats water is a no-no, but there are always a few exceptions to the rule. Here a couple of breeds that are a little more daring when it comes to having a dip:
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