Cats and water: it’s a love-hate relationship that has puzzled pet owners for decades. Many people assume that cats universally dislike water – loads of memes and social media posts reinforce the idea that soaked cats are distressed cats. But while many cats recoil at the sight of a bath, others will happily dip their paws in their water bowl, chase a dripping tap, or even swim. So why the big difference?
The answer lies in a mix of biology, history, and individual personality.
A little history: From wild cats to domestic cats
Our domestic cats descend from a wildcat species called Felis silvestris (F.s.), which has several closely related subspecies. These include the European wildcat (F. s. silvestris), the African and Near Eastern wildcat (F. s. lybica), the central Asian wildcat (F. s. ornata), and possibly the Chinese desert cat (F. s. bieti).
Domestic cats themselves are sometimes considered a separate subspecies (F. s. catus), most likely descended from wildcats in the Middle East or Egypt.
Around 9,000-12,000 years ago in the fertile river valleys of the Middle East, these wild cats began hanging around human farming settlements, drawn by the abundance of mice and rats that thrived in grain stores (Vigne et al., 2004; Driscoll et al., 2009). Unlike dogs, which were selectively bred by humans over thousands of years, cats essentially domesticated themselves by choosing to live alongside people. This explains why house cats still look and act remarkably similar to their wild relatives - they're expert hunters, often prefer solitude, and maintain much of their independent, wild nature (Bradshaw et al., 1999).
Some have speculated that cats' generally cautious approach to water stems from their ancestors' adaptation to arid (very dry, with little rainfall or moisture) environments, though this remains unproven and many cats do enjoy water activities.
Fur, temperature, and comfort
From a physiological perspective, it's reasonable to assume that when cat fur becomes saturated with water, it likely loses insulating properties and causes increased heat loss, which may contribute to most cats' cautious approach to water.
Unlike water-adapted animals, such as otters or ducks that have specialised water-repellent coats, domestic cats have more limited water-repellent properties in their fur. This thermal regulation challenge may explain why some long-haired breeds, like Persians, appear particularly water-averse due to their dense coats that take longer to dry. On the other hand, breeds such as the Turkish Van have semi-water-resistant fur, and they’re famously known as “swimming cats”.
It’s easy to misread a cat’s avoidance of water as dislike, but often it’s about comfort and practicality. Like people, cats have distinct personalities (Feaver, Mendl, & Bateson, 1986).
Bold, adventurous cats may be more likely to dip their paws in water or jump into a paddling pool, while cautious cats may prefer to keep their distance.
Early experiences also matter: kittens exposed to gentle water play or baths may grow up more tolerant of water.
Curiosity and play
On the flip side, cats are natural explorers with complex personalities that include varying degrees of curiosity and investigative behaviour. Running water often triggers their curiosity – think of the fascination with taps, fountains, or even toilets! Moving water is more visually stimulating than still water, and it may even taste fresher to cats.
Research on feline personality has identified exploratory behaviour as one of the key dimensions of cat temperament, with individual cats showing different levels of investigative tendencies (Litchfield et al., 2017). Interestingly, studies suggest that indoor cats may actually display higher levels of curiosity than their outdoor counterparts, possibly as a way to compensate for their less stimulating environment by seeking out novel interactions and experiences (Turner, 2021).
This curiosity might explain why a cat will paw at a dripping faucet or play with the bath tap, even if they're not interested in actually getting wet. Their investigative nature extends beyond water to any moving or unusual stimulus – from the flutter of curtains to the sound of running taps – demonstrating the complex behavioural repertoire that has made cats such successful companions to humans.
When cats do love water
Some cats truly enjoy swimming or playing in water. This could be down to breed tendencies (like the Turkish Van or Bengal), but it’s also about individual preference. For cats that like water, swimming can be a form of enrichment and exercise – though always under supervision for safety.
Celebrating Individual Preferences
Whether your cat loves water or avoids it entirely, both behaviours are completely normal. It comes down to comfort, curiosity, and individual personality. So next time someone insists that all cats detest water, remember: while many prefer to stay dry, plenty are intrigued, playful or even enjoy a swim.
If your cat isn’t keen, don’t force it - baths are rarely necessary unless recommended by a vet. Most cats are excellent self-groomers and only need baths when they get into something messy or have a medical condition. Forcing a reluctant cat into water can cause significant stress, so it's best to leave bathing to veterinary professionals when absolutely necessary.
But if your feline enjoys a splash? That’s just another delightful aspect of who they are!
References
Bradshaw, J. W. S., Horsfield, G. F., Allen, J. A., & Robinson, I. H. (1999). Feral cats: Their role in the population dynamics of Felis catus. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 65(3), 273–283.
Driscoll, C. A., Menotti-Raymond, M., Roca, A. L., Hupe, K., Johnson, W. E., Geffen, E., Harley, E. H., Delibes, M., Pontier, D., Kitchener, A. C., Yamaguchi, N., O'Brien, S. J., & Macdonald, D. W. (2007). The Near Eastern origin of cat domestication. Science, 317(5837), 519-523.
Driscoll, C. A., Macdonald, D. W., & O'Brien, S. J. (2009). From wild animals to domestic pets, an evolutionary view of domestication. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 106(Suppl 1), 9971-9978.
Feaver, J., Mendl, M., & Bateson, P. (1986). A method for rating the individual distinctiveness of domestic cats. Animal Behaviour, 34(4), 1016–1025.
Litchfield, C. A., et al. (2017). The 'Feline Five': An exploration of personality in pet cats (Felis catus). PLOS One, 12(8), e0183455.
TICA. (n.d.). Turkish Van. The International Cat Association. Retrieved August 26, 2025, from https://tica.org/breed/turkish-van/
Mota-Rojas, D., Titto, C. G., de Mira Geraldo, A., Martínez-Burnes, J., Gómez, J., Hernández-Ávalos, I., Casas, A., Domínguez, A., José, N., Bertoni, A., Reyes, B., & Pereira, A. M. F. (2021). Efficacy and function of feathers, hair, and glabrous skin in the thermoregulation strategies of domestic animals. Animals, 11(12), 3472.
Turner, D. C. (2021). Unanswered questions and hypotheses about domestic cat behavior, ecology, and the cat–human relationship. Animals, 11(10), 2823.
Vigne, J. D., Guilaine, J., Debue, K., Haye, L., & Gérard, P. (2004). Early taming of the cat in Cyprus. Science, 304(5668), 259.