Felines - regardless of size, species and habitat - are afraid of water. Cats know how, but do not like to swim and in every possible way avoid contact with open bodies of water.
Perhaps one of the most common phobias in cats is the fear of water. There are several reasons for this.
Cold Carrying Water
Cat's hair has a special structure and its own specific composition, smell. It reliably protects the animal's body from cold, overheating and parasites. When it gets into water, the cat's hair loses its heat-insulating function. water quickly washes away the layer of fatty secretion, which gives the coat its protective functions. A wet animal becomes cold, and this does not depend on the temperature of the water.
Therefore, try to bathe cats as little as possible, and it is better to do it under the shower. The normal average water temperature for a cat should be about 35 degrees, but not lower.
Increased secretory activity
The second reason why fluffy pets try to avoid water is the activation of the body's secretory function upon contact with water. A natural protective reflex is triggered, as a result of which a wet cat's body temperature rises sharply, and the subcutaneous glands begin to actively restore the washed-out secretion.
In addition, cats sense their own odor and try to remove it. The reason is that the smell can scare away the prey of a furry hunter, and therefore the cleanliness of cats is simply laid down by nature, otherwise the predator will remain hungry. When washing, the smell only intensifies, which causes panic in the animal, that is, the fear of remaining hungry in the cat is developed from birth. Cats are cunning animals and do not like to chase after prey, so the spread of their own smell is wrong for them.
Human relationship
It is worth noting a few more factors that cause the furry to dislike water. Most often, the owners do not pay attention to the pet's daily routine, adjusting it to their own. So, often bathing occurs in the evening - and this is the time of hunting, so the animal is often in a playful mood, which is due to instincts. The animal perceives the breakaway from the game as a threat of hunger, and the water becomes its signal. Therefore, never bathe your cat after she sleeps or during her play.
Do not use foaming substances when bathing, pay attention, because expensive animal shampoos do not foam up. Foam is a distracting and frightening factor, in conjunction with water, it only increases the fear of the cat and causes aggression.
Do not forget that your pet is more than an independent creature, and therefore any coercion of yours causes rejection. For the first time, the cat will put up with washing, but it will certainly remember it. Therefore, the game of catch-up is guaranteed to you.
