Most cats treat a bath like an emergency. Here is why water feels so bad to them and why some cats love it.
Where does it come from?
Pet cats come from African wildcats, which lived in dry lands with very little water. They hunted on land, so they never needed to swim.
What does water do to them?
Most cat fur is not waterproof, so it soaks up water and gets heavy. A soaked cat moves slower and gets cold, and that can make it feel unsafe. Water may also wash away its own smell, the one that helps it feel safe.
One more thing
But some cats love water, like the Turkish Van, nicknamed the swimming cat. Its fur resists water, so it does not get as soaked and heavy.
