Why Do Cats Hate Water?

Cats avoid water because they can’t swim, right? Wrong! The real reason felines tend to shun the wet stuff is because their fur quickly becomes sodden and loses its insulation properties as a consequence. The result: their body temperature drops, they become less agile and also run the risk of drowning. A kitty’s fur has other important functions, too.

It acts as a sensory organ, even helping a cat to navigate in the dark along with its whiskers. It’s also an important part of their identity because it carries a cat’s own individual body odour. If the fur becomes wet, the cat has to release the odour through its saliva and secretions from glands on the side of its head and on its front paws.