Many cat owners mistakenly believe that their pets are terrified of water. However, this is not entirely true.
Our four-legged friends are not afraid of swimming, and do it easily, even kittens. It's just that almost all cat breeds do not like water, and there are a number of reasons for this.
Risk of overheating/hypothermia
Cats have virtually no sweat glands, and between their fur and skin they have a special air sac that serves as a kind of heat insulator.
When a pet's fur gets wet, it begins to adhere tightly to the skin, thus this natural thermal insulation disappears.
In cool weather, cats begin to shiver and freeze, and in hot weather, on the contrary, they become very hot.
Risk of infection
As you know, cats are very clean animals. And after the fur gets wet, many bacteria and viruses accumulate on its surface.
All this dirt, after licking, gets into the pet’s gastrointestinal tract, which can negatively affect its health.
Risk of being noticed
Cats are excellent predators in the wild. In order to avoid being detected by their prey, they need to be as stealthy as possible.
Once their fur gets wet, it starts to emit a distinctive smell, and cats risk becoming visible to their prey. For the same reason, they can become easy prey for larger predators.
Although most cats actually try to avoid contact with water, there are some breeds that love to bathe.
For example, Turkish Vans and Egyptian Mau, as well as Siamese cats and Maine Coons. Representatives of these breeds are not only not afraid of water, but are also known for their love of swimming.
Previously, it was reported about the rules of conduct when meeting a wolf .
Expert: Julia Tychino
