Why are cats afraid of water?

Each owner once begins to think about how to bathe his cat. But such a procedure for the animal is not the most pleasant - cats categorically refuse to swim. This is manifested in aggressive behavior: the cat begins to scratch its owner with bulging eyes and tries in every possible way to get out of the water. The mystery why cats are so afraid of water has revealed itself over time, and in this article you will learn about it.

All animal actions are connected with the instincts of safety, survival and food, especially when it comes to predators. The fear of water can be explained just by these postulates. Wet hair for a cat is a threat to life, because the wool gets wet, therefore, loses heat, and the animal’s skin freezes.

Animals are very afraid of the possibility of hypothermia. Even if a caring owner after bathing wraps his beloved fluff in a blanket - this will not save the situation. The cat will tremble not only from the cold, but also from fear of overcooling. And in this state he will remain until his coat is dry.

Wool protects the animal from overheating. In the summer you can see many cats that lie in the sun and are in no hurry to leave their favorite places.

But there is one more point that should be mentioned - cats are afraid of becoming infected with pathogens when they are in the water and when they wash themselves. And on average, cats are washed at least 10 times a day. Street dirt and wet coat are a tandem for a cat. In a humid environment, bacteria multiply, and dirt from dry hairs is less dangerous. Moreover, pets occasionally spit up hairballs.

In addition, feline raw fur gives off a specific smell. At a time when the cat will hunt for its prey, it will scare it away with a smell, and besides, the enemies will calculate the cat from it.

Cats used to live in foothills and thickets along the banks of streams, but when they were domesticated (this happened on the lands of the Fertile Crescent, rich in swamps and lakes), cats forgot how to dive into the water. Due to evolution, the small size of a cat and loneliness are not suitable for distant wanderings, but a settled lifestyle suits them.

According to zoologists, the main reason cats are afraid of water is primarily evolutionary. Cats do not need to once again go into the water, because now they are chasing after prey there is no such need as before. The mustachioed fluffy is waiting for food now at the store, in the courtyard or in the apartment of its owners, who are happy to share a tasty piece with it. Cats are not afraid of the water itself, but of what it carries for them. They all know how to swim already from 2 weeks, but they do it in extreme cases.

The most basic mistake of all the owners of their cats is that they lower the animal into the bath or a basin of water without first accustoming it. The cat should be gradually prepared for swimming, to start, turn on the tap - let him touch the water with his foot, play with it. Almost all cats will like playing with water - they all love to frolic and to properly train a pet after a few weeks from birth. How to train a cat to water?

1. Turn on the tap periodically, let the cat examine the water and begin to understand that it will not harm him.
2. The next step is to let the cat jump into the bathroom or sink. You will be surprised, but a cat can drink water from a trickle.
3. When the cat gets comfortable - stay with her and watch how she plays with water, drinks from the tap. It is necessary to ensure that the animal is not embarrassed by your presence.
4. When the cat calmly touches the water with you and drinks it, close the bath with a cork and draw a small amount of warm water. When the cat once again wants to play with water, she will wet her paws and understand that there is nothing to worry about in the water, and then the bathtub won’t scare her.
5. At first, the cat’s reaction to when you bathe her will be negative, in order to minimize this, gradually increase the water in the bath before this. Let it be half a bath (do not be afraid, cats can swim!), And once you go into the bathroom and see how your cat has become a real swimmer. After that, you can already start swimming.

Even the most tender and affectionate cat turns into a wild beast, if you lower it into the water without preliminary preparation. She can easily use all her weapons: claws, teeth, hissing ... If you learn better about why cats are so afraid when their owners want to bathe them, then the behavior becomes completely justified. Mistakes when bathing a cat.

1. Compulsion. Cats are, first of all, freedom-loving animals, they are not dogs that willingly obey their master. Forcing a swim is a blunder. Even a small hint that you want to make your little fluffy wash, he will regard it as coercion and the cat will have no choice but to resist you.
2. The cat is afraid from where he is, he is used to clinging to his claws, and the slippery bath makes the animal defenseless, so it’s strange to be surprised when he rather wants to get out of an unpleasant place and bulges his eyes. His soil is knocked out from under his feet, and the animal wants to quickly get outside the bathroom - because for a moment the animal is perceived as eternity, you can’t tell them like a child: "Bear with me, I redeem you in just 5 minutes."
3. Deafening noise of water Cats are perceived as a waterfall or a turbulent river. To fall into a waterfall means to die, and the voice of ancestors begins to sound the alarm. In this situation, the cat does not just feel fear, everything that happens causes tremendous stress in the animal, adrenaline panic.
4. Using aromas people usually protect their things from the cat, which relieves the need for inappropriate places. All cats really do not like household chemicals, and bathing their fluffy does not appear without shampoo. The stink of chemicals, shampoo disgusts the cat, and his only desire is to quickly get out of adverse conditions. The scent of a cat is stronger than human.
5. When the owner bathes his cat, then, as a rule, forgets that water can get into his ears, nose and eyes. The animal does not like it when his head gets wet, because for him the main thing is to preserve hearing, smell and vision. In addition, the animal thinks that under such conditions he will drown.

Of course, you should accustom a cat to water even at a tender age, but if this did not work out - it's okay, an adult animal can also be trained. When the fluffy is accustomed and does not perceive water as a threat, then you can proceed to action - swimming. It’s better to start with the game - for example, put a ball in a basin, the cat will definitely want to get it with his paw and eventually get used to the water. A step-by-step bathing cat looks like this.

1. A bath is not suitable for swimming, it is better to use a bowl-shaped device. For an effective and comfortable swimming, it is better to choose a shampoo spray, for example, Waterless Cat Shampoo Spray. If you are not sure which shampoo to choose, it is not necessary to use it; you can just lather the cat slightly.
2. It’s easier to bathe the cat with someone else’s help. It will be better if one person helps you keep the animal, and you wash it.
3. Moisten the animal’s hair and only then can it be washed with water. You should not send water from the shower to the cat - it is better to draw water into the palm of your hand and gradually moisten the animal’s hair. After this, apply a little shampoo or wash the wool with soap.
4. Water must not get into ears and eyes. - so that the ears are safe, it is advisable to cover them with cotton pads. The muzzle of the cat needs to be washed at the very end and without shampoo.
5. After bathing, wash the animal’s hair thoroughly, so that there is no shampoo left on the skin, because it can cause itching and burning.

After bathing, wrap the fluffy in a warm blanket to keep it warm.

There are always exceptions to the rules, this also applies to cats. Some breeds like to swim, sometimes, watching funny videos on the Internet, you can see how some cats sit quietly in a basin of water and perceive swimming well. Which breeds love water:

• Maine Coon;
• Turkish van
• bengal;
• American bobtail;
• Egyptian Mau;
• Kurilian Bobtail;
• Norwegian Forest.

These cats are amazing, some of them not only like to swim, but can also catch prey in the water. Cats are not afraid of water, but of the danger it carries for them. If you gradually accustom your beloved pet to water, then over time you will succeed in gaining the trust of the cat, and he will not be afraid to plunge into the water with the help of your caring hands.

About why cats are afraid of water, see the next video.