Why do cats hate water?

Domestic cats descend from the African wildcat, Felis lybica, which evolved in arid regions of the Middle East and North Africa where swimming was rarely needed. A cat coat is not water-resistant like a dog or otter coat, so it soaks up water, weighs the animal down and takes a long time to dry, leaving it cold and less agile. Cats also spend a large part of their waking hours grooming, and a soaking strips their familiar scent. Not all cats dislike water, though: the Turkish Van is nicknamed the swimming cat, Bengals often play in water, and the wild fishing cat of South Asia dives for fish. Kittens gently introduced to water early are far more likely to tolerate it as adults.