Yes, Cats Can Swim! But Should They?

Written by Colby Maxwell
Updated: February 8, 2023
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It’s no secret that most of our furry feline friends don’t like water. In fact, anyone with an aquaphobic cat knows that a simple spray bottle or bathtub is enough to dissuade any bad behavior from occurring. The fact that our cats don’t like water seems to be contrasted to the fact that they are actually pretty good swimmers! Still, just because you are good at something doesn’t mean it’s good to do it. Today, we are going to learn a little bit about cats, specifically whether they should swim. Let’s get started.

Yes, Cats Can Swim!

Should cats swim?

All cats can swim instinctively, just like dogs.

©iStock.com/Nils Jacobi

Despite most cats having an innate desire to avoid the water, they are actually known to be superb swimmers. In the same way that dogs instinctively know how to swim when they are tossed into the water, cats have a similar instinct and evolutionary adaptation. When you hold a dog above water, their instincts kick in, and they just start paddling! In the same funny way, cats do roughly the same thing.

In fact, cats in the wild are known to swim out of necessity and even enjoyment. One of the most famous examples of a swimming cat is the tiger. Many populations of tigers live in heavily forested or jungle areas and have huge portions of land they patrol. It’s inevitable that they will inevitably need to cross a river or two while on patrol. Even further, tigers will hunt and play in the water if given the opportunity!

Housecats and tigers alike are fully capable of swimming for travel, hunting necessity, or even just for fun!

Should my Cat Be Swimming?

Largest Maine Coon Cat

Some breeds of cats like to swim without any prompting from humans!

©iStock.com/Tylinek

If your cat likes to swim and there is a safe location where you can keep a watchful eye on it…sure! Swimming is incredible exercise and is one of the best ways to tire out a cat with high energy or provide a low-impact way for a larger cat to burn some extra calories.

The most important thing to remember if your cat is going to swim is location. Your cat needs a safe and calm place in order to swim without danger. The beach, for example, could be a difficult place for your cat to swim because of the waves. On top of the danger of the waves crashing on your kitty, it would likely be a bad experience for your cat overall. A good place for your cat to swim could be a pool at home (without kids playing in it), a warm bathtub, or a large outdoor tub of some sort.

Outside of fun, swimming is actually one of the best treatment options for cats who are recovering from sickness, surgery, or just need to lose weight. In the same way that gentle swimming is a great recovery for humans, it is a great treatment option for cats. This type of treatment is known as “hydrotherapy” and is used by vets all over the world.

Why Don’t Cats Like Water if They Can Swim?

cat reaching for treats in a jar

Positive reinforcement and time ar the best way to get your cat used to the water.

©absolutimages/Shutterstock.com

Although it’s often said that cats are afraid of water, it isn’t necessarily true all the time. There are some reasons that have been put forward as to why cats don’t like water, although it isn’t exactly certain.

One of the most common theories is that cats evolved in a desert and arid environment and weren’t around large bodies of water that often. Outside of that, many people just think that cats have either had a really bad experience with water (being forced to take a bath as a kitten) or fell into it and got scared. Additionally, cats have fluffy fur, and getting soaking wet probably isn’t comfortable for them.

Even still, there are a lot of housecat breeds that are known to have an affinity for water. Specifically, the Bengal, Maine coon, and Manx breeds are known to take a dip without much prodding. Instagram is a great place to look up videos of cats swimming just for fun. Often, the cats who like to swim belong to a breed that is known to enjoy it particularly.

How to Get Your Cat to Swim

Getting your cat to swim can be a bit of a process, especially if you want them to enjoy it in the future. The best way to get them accustomed to it is to take it slow. A warm bath is probably best for this as it’s still pretty comfy for them.

The most important thing when getting them used to the idea of swimming is positive reinforcement. If they stick a paw in the water, give them a lot of encouragement, pets, and maybe even a treat! Slowly but surely, they will learn that they tend to get good things when they engage with the water! The process can take weeks or months, but forcing your cat will likely ruin the chances of them liking it forever.

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The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Nils Jacobi


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About the Author

Colby is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering outdoors, unique animal stories, and science news. Colby has been writing about science news and animals for five years and holds a bachelor's degree from SEU. A resident of NYC, you can find him camping, exploring, and telling everyone about what birds he saw at his local birdfeeder.

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