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According to our search results on variations of "cats hate water," it seems that not all cats hate water. In fact, some cats love water. Dr. Universe notes that cat species native to hot areas seem to enjoy water, whereas cat species from cold areas aren't so fond of the wet stuff. Tigers, lions, jaguars, ocelots, and jaguarundi are all from hot savannas, and they enjoy taking dips in cool, refreshing streams and ponds whenever they get the chance. Snow leopards, lynx, bobcats, and cougars live in cold environments and have little interest in getting wet. One veterinary professor suggests that water damages the ability of a cat's fur to insulate the animal
against cold. This would explain why cold-weather cats don't like water -- it only makes them colder. But hot-weather cats don't have this problem. Many domestic cats don't seem to enjoy water sports. Of course, they may not experience the extreme heat of the African plains, so they have no great impulse to take a dip. Also, no cats enjoy water used against them in an antagonistic manner or getting water in their eyes or ears. Being sprayed or squirted with water isn't fun, nor is being forced into a bath. Cats much prefer to meet new situations on their own terms. Some housecats enjoy stepping into a shower or playing with a dripping faucet. The tolerance for water varies from cat to cat and
may depend on the cat's previous experience. When people regularly enter their cats in cat shows, the cats must be bathed frequently, and those cats do get accustomed to the procedure. Show cats are often raised for the profession and get used to baths as kittens. Cats are natural swimmers, and in the wild, a cat will swim to cross a stream or lake. Some Asian cat varieties enjoy fishing and regularly dive into water to catch a tasty meal. The Turkish Van is a breed of domestic cat that loves the water. This cat is found near Lake
Van in Turkey and has been a household pet in the area for centuries. Vans will even swim into the harbor to greet fishing boats!
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