Check Out This Cat’s Crazy Surfing Skills

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Just like his namesake from the Top Gun movies, Maverick the Bengal cat likes to do things a little differently. In the astonishing clip above, you can see this intrepid feline tackle a range of outdoor activities — including paddle boarding and surfing! Let’s unpack this unusual cat behavior and figure out how and why Maverick is so adventurous.

Cats and Water

Most people assume that cats hate water and generally they are correct, but that is by no means the whole story. One potential reason for hydrophobia (a fear of water) in cats is that they evolved in dry climates. Their ancestors lived in habitats where there was little water and therefore no need for them to be comfortable or skilled in being in or around it. What’s more, cats are very fussy about their coats. They spend a lot of time cleaning them and this stops skin oils from building up on the fur. If their coat gets wet, their fur feels heavy and the water gets right down to their skin quickly, which is uncomfortable for them. Other potential reasons are connected with bad experiences or a feeling of being out of control. Cats hate that.

Do Some Cats Like Water?

Yes, as is clear from the above clip, some cats are very comfortable near and in water. You have to remember that like humans, all cats are individuals, so there is a lot of variation in how they feel about water. However, Maverick is a Bengal and that explains a lot. Bengal cats have a reputation for being both inquisitive and adventurous. More importantly, they love the water. Experienced Bengal breeders describe these felines as being drawn to water in faucets, sinks, showers, and toilets. They have even been caught dropping their food into water bowls so that they can watch it floating around. Even more surprising is that they seem to enjoy swimming and there are tales of Bengals leaping into baths and swimming pools to join their owners.

Feline Surfing Skills

Anyone who has ever surfed or paddleboarded will tell you that an absence of hydrophobia is not enough to keep you on your board. You also need fantastic balance, and this is where Maverick also seems to excel.

Cats are athletic and agile creatures who have superb balance. This is provided partly by the structure of their skeleton. Maverick has 30 vertebrae (small bones that make up the spine) as opposed to the 24 possessed by humans. This makes his spine more supple. Also, he has very small collar bones and there is a muscle, rather than a bone, connecting his shoulder blades. All of this makes his body very bendy and able to respond quickly to sudden changes of position.

Additionally, cats have a highly developed vestibular system. It’s made up of fluid-filled canals in the inner ear and nerves connecting them to the brain. When the surfboard tips from side to side, fluid in the canals shifts and a signal is sent to the brain. In turn, the brain sends messages to the limbs to adjust position to keep the cat upright.

Finally, research has shown that cats respond to changes in the surface they are standing on by rapidly moving their tail in the opposite direction. Their tails help to keep them upright.

Teaching a Cat to Surf

Not all cats can be taught to surf but if you have a Bengal cat that loves the water you may be able to train them to surf and paddle board with you in the same way as you would train a dog. As Maverick’s owner explains in the above clip, this has to be a gradual process.

Step 1: Place the board in your home so that your cat can check it out for itself. Don’t force your cat onto the board. Cats are curious creatures and will soon decide to check out the new object for themselves.

Step 2: Place some tasty treats on the board so that your cat begins to associate the board with good things.

Step 3: Choose a calm stretch of water to launch the board and encourage your cat to get on it with tasty treats. It’s a good idea if this is an area where your cat is already comfortable. If you have your own pool, that would be ideal! Go at your cat’s pace and do not rush things.

Step 4: Try other calm waters, such as lagoons and lakes. Eventually, you can progress to the sea when it is calm and flat. Some cats may like to join you in more challenging conditions but others will not.

Cat Safety When Surfing

You may have noticed that Maverick was wearing a harness during many of his adventures to keep him safe and securely attached to the board. Teaching a cat to tolerate a harness also needs to be a gradual process. However, given time and the right incentives, many cats learn to be very happy wearing them.