How to Get your Cat Used to Water (4 Step Tutorial) The Cat Butler

We all have been on the receiving end of an angry cat that just had a bath. Water can transform the most innocent cat into a dangerous little lion. The idea of bringing your cat into any body of water may seem like a bad idea. After all, cats hate water, right? It may come as a shock, but cats can be taught to appreciate water. Many of you guys have asked how my cats were so calm in my bathing video. Well, my cats definitely did not like water at first, but I was able to help them overcome their fear. If your cat's own exposure to water was being trapped in a downpour or forced into a bath, it's not surprising that they're not fond of it. Today, I'll share with you how to get your cat used to water in four steps. I am the Cat Butler. Welcome to our channel, where we try to help you become the best cat owner. We do new videos every other week, so if you're new here, please consider subscribing. Number one, observational learning. Observational learning describes the process of learning by watching others. When we were children, we learned by studying our parents. Examples include learning how to walk and chew our food. Just like humans, cats also learn from their parents. The mom teaches the kittens how to use the litter box, as well as how to communicate and socialize with other cats. You are the mom or dad to your cat. You have to show your cat that water is harmless. So I started letting my cats watch me shower every day. At first, my cats would be afraid of the sound of water. They would not even enter the bathroom. Eventually, they started to get closer and had front row seats of me showering. They observed that water did not harm their parent, so water must not be that bad. By the second week, my cats started getting curious and would explore the bathtub after I was done showering. Next is to let your cats touch water. As you slowly ease your cat into appreciating water, allowing the cat to touch and experience water in a safe way is key. Cats don't like surprises and definitely do not like being forced. Every cat learns at its own pace, and you want your cat to associate positive experiences with water. Running water from a sink can be very attractive to cats. They may try to drink out of the stream or bat around with their paw. Getting their paws wet will get them used to feeling wet. You will gradually desensitize your cat to water. Once your cat is comfortable with the sink, it is time to move on to the next step. Number three is to let your cat play with a toy fish in a fish bowl. The goal here is to safely introduce your cat to a body of water. Cats are attracted to things that move, and a small toy fish darting here and there is just too tempting for some cats. Cats are natural hunters, and it's their instinct to hunt for prey in order to survive. And while domesticated cats know that their next meal will be served up in the same place at the same time, the primal urge for tracking their next meal still needs to be satisfied. This is now playtime for the cats rather than survival needs. Although most cats are not a fan of water, this is unlikely to deter them in their mission to catch their sparkly prey. Throughout our training, we have been helping our cats associate positive feelings toward water, and that water is not dangerous. We have also been letting our cats learn at their own pace. To be honest, I did not expect my cats to take the training so well. Aria usually is not a big fan of water, but seems to be completely different when she is trying to catch a fish. Step 4 is to introduce your cat to the bathtub. As we continue to build our cat's confidence with water, we present our cat with their next challenge. A bathtub filled with water. We start with a small amount of water, and then we will continue to raise the water level when our cats feel they are ready. I have also added a platform for the cats in case they need a place away from the water. And yes, that is my sous vide cooker. The things that I will do for my cats. You can entice your cats to interact with water by placing floating treats in the bathtub. Your cats may be more willing to go into the water if there is a reward. All this time, you have been building trust with your cat. Your kitty needs to trust you and trust that you have things under control, or they will freak out. I'm always in the bathtub to show that if they ever need help, I am there. It is important to not rush your cat. Patience is key. Once your cat is comfortable with shallow water, it is now time to increase the water level. Aria, you can do it! Now it is time to raise the water level to the cat's body. You can throw in some toy fish to keep them engaged with the water. I believe the success of having your cat not be afraid of water is patience, trust, and letting your cat learn at its own pace without being forced. You want to continue to have your cat associate positive feelings with water. You want them to remember how much fun it was to play in water and not a fearful memory. If you thought this video was helpful, please consider subscribing and giving it a like. If you want to learn how to bathe your cat, I will put the link in the description below. Bye!