Why Do Cats Hate Water? NZ Guide (And Why Some Don't)

The quick answer: most cats dislike being soaked because of a mix of coat, instinct and unfamiliarity — their fur gets heavy and cold when waterlogged, they evolved in dry regions without much need to swim, and being suddenly wet feels unsafe and out of control. It's a generalisation, though: plenty of individual cats (and some breeds) are curious about or even enjoy water. Importantly, cats rarely *need* baths because they're meticulous self-groomers.

Why most cats dislike water

• Heavy, cold coat — a soaked coat is heavy, slow to dry, and chills the cat; it works against their excellent self-grooming.
• Instinct / ancestry — domestic cats descend from dry-region wildcats, so swimming was never part of the toolkit.
• Loss of control — being held and drenched is unpredictable and stressful.
• Unfamiliarity — cats not introduced to water young often find it alarming.
• Smell — strong tap/chemical smells can be off-putting to a sensitive nose.

But some cats *like* water

• Certain breeds (such as the Maine Coon, Bengal and Turkish Van) are known for water curiosity.
• Cats introduced to water gently and young may tolerate or enjoy it.
• Many cats are fascinated by *running* water (dripping taps), which is why water fountains are popular.

Do cats even need baths? (Usually no)

Healthy cats keep themselves clean. Reach for a bath only if your cat is very dirty, has got into something sticky or toxic, is a hairless breed, or can't groom due to age, obesity or illness. For routine coat care, brushing beats bathing — see cat grooming at home NZ.

If you *do* need to bathe one, do it calmly and safely — see how to bathe a cat NZ. Use the Cat Behaviour Decoder to read stress signals and stop before your cat panics.

Quick takeaways

• Cats dislike water mostly due to heavy coat, dry-region instinct and loss of control.
• Some individuals and breeds (Maine Coon, Bengal, Turkish Van) like it.
• Most cats don't need baths — they self-groom; brush instead.
• Bathe only when necessary, calmly and safely; never force a panicking cat.

Shop related categories at PetMall

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Related reading

• How to Bathe a Cat NZ
• Cat Grooming at Home NZ
• Cat Behaviour Decoder
• Cat breeds in NZ

References

• SPCA New Zealand, cat care, checked 2026-06-05: https://www.spca.nz/advice-and-welfare/
• Companion Animals New Zealand, cat grooming and care, checked 2026-06-05: https://www.companionanimals.nz/

Important notice

*General grooming information for NZ owners. If your cat has got into something toxic or can't groom due to illness, contact a registered NZ vet.*