Most cats avoid water, and owners’ attempts to bathe their pet often result in scratched hands and stress for everyone.
As felinologists explain, fear of water is due to several reasons. The cat’s undercoat is not protected from moisture – and, once wet, it takes a long time to dry, which causes discomfort to the animal and can lead to a cold in cold weather. Wet, long hair also makes a cat feel out of place—being a predator by nature, she always needs to be “in shape.”
In addition, the chemicals contained in the water are not to the liking of cats, which have an excellent sense of smell.
There are, however, breeds that perceive water differently than the majority of their relatives. For example, Bengal cats most often have no fear of water – they happily swim in the bathtub.
As felinologist Tamara Ivanova explained to RosBalt, you should wash a cat only if it gets dirty, and if necessary, use a special shampoo (for example, for fleas).
“The cat copes well with self-care without water procedures. In addition, frequent washing helps to wash off the special lubricant from the fur and “overdry” the animal’s skin, which can lead to dandruff and even hair loss,” the specialist points out.
Source: Rosbalt
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
