Cats Can Swim [Or Not?]. Let’s Dig A Little Deeper!

There has always been a belief prevailing among people that cats can’t swim. Moreover, some pet owners also believe that cats hate water. You may have seen a cat’s aversion to the rainfall or thunderstorms. It may have happened that a kitten is found dead in a bucket full of water. However, does that really imply that felines can’t swim, or that they hate water? Let’s dig a little deeper to know the truth!

According to Animal Planet, early domestication of cats is the reason of cat’s aversion to water, which mostly includes the natural downpour. Felines are born hunters and are designed to hunt in the woods. Asian fishing cats are known for their skillful swimming. These kitties swim deep down the lakes in search of food and hunt down their prey. This observance conveys that it is entirely untrue to categorize cats into the list of “non swimmers”. Kitties have the ability to swim as much as any mammal has.

There are several cat owners who have witnessed their feline’s love for water. From their experiences, it seems that cats not only know to swim, they love to swim. Burmese kittens often jump in the bath tubs of their owners to have some fun of their own. They love to play with water and show off their paddling skills to the owners.

If there are these incidences which imply that felines can swim or love to play in waters, why is it that your kitty is not very fond of it? Well, as mentioned earlier, early domestication is the reason for a cat’s aqua phobia. As kittens, they may have been over protected by you and it may have happened that you never let her be around water.

Though it does not mean that all cats love water, but it is also a fact that all cats do not hate water. If you have a kitty, letting her find her own likes and dislikes without being over protective may be the best thing to do. For example, if she wants to join you in the bath tub or a pool, don’t stop her in the fear that she’ll drown. All mammals have the ability to swim, and your feline is one of them.