Contrary to popular belief, there are actually some cats out there in the world who were born to love water. Bengals, Maine coons, Turkish vans, Turkish Angoras, Savannahs, Abyssinians, snowshoes, and the Manx are all breeds known to have no fear of a little H2O — and even love jumping right in.
That being said, if you’ve ever tried to bathe a cat, you’ve probably experienced the howling wails that make cleaning a feline seem more like water torture than a simple washing. And the reason most domestic cats hate water? Many scientists believe it all comes down to evolution.
“Domestic cats were descended from Arabian wild cats,” Dr. John Bradshaw, a professor at the University of Bristol’s School of Veterinary Sciences, told Mental Floss. “Their ancestors lived in an area with very few large bodies of water. They never had to learn how to swim. There was no advantage to it.”
Shaw also says a cat’s oily coat doesn’t shed water easily, making it hard for them to return to a dry, warm state. In addition, cats hate water because they are used to feeling nimble — but in water, their motions become sluggish.
That is, unless they are one of these water-loving kitties.
The lap swimmer
No time for fun — this cat’s busy training for the 2020 summer Olympics.
Kayaking kitty
Game face is on. He’s ready to hit the rapids.
The perfect date
A kitten and long-stem roses? Someone is gonna have an amazing Valentine’s Day.
In the bath of luxury
Bathing is a cinch when you never have to wash your hair.
Maxin’ and relaxin’
The sink was custom-built for this cat.
‘Can we go in?’
Her eyes are pleading to take the plunge.
Leonardo DiCaprio’s stunt double
This kitty is having an “I’m the king of the world” moment, à la Titanic.
The plumber
Don’t worry, this cat will take care of all your leaky faucets.
Beach bum
The gentle rolling of the tide really speaks to this cat.
The diver
Hey, dude, that water’s not as clean as you think it is.
Extreme close-up
“All I wanted was a drink, not a photo session.”
The intrepid explorer
This Bengal gets around.
Dive right in
Who says cats have to hate the water? Not this guy.
The two-for-one
The only thing better than dinner and a show is drinks and a bath.
Ocean wading
Fancy a dip?
Soaking it all up
Why go to an expensive spa when all you need is a bowl of water?
Dreaming of a fresh catch
Just imagine how many fish are swimming right under the surface.
Bath buddy
All that’s missing is a rubber ducky!
An icy hike
Looks pretty cold out, but this cat is in heaven.
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