Bombay cats are described as social and curious. Their striking black coats and copper colored eyes make them distinguishable from other cat breeds, and their outgoing personalities make them easy for household members to bond with. They are named after the Indian black leopard, a large cat which is sometimes documented crossing streams, rivers, and other bodies of water in search of prey. This leads many people to wonder if Bombay cats have an affinity towards water.
For the most part, whether or not your Bombay cat enjoys water will largely depend on their previous experiences with water and their personality. Here is what you should know about Bombay cats and their exposure to water.
Do Bombay Cats Like Water?
Like most other cat breeds, Bombay cats can swim if they must. They are usually not afraid of water; they just don’t like it. If they’re suddenly submerged in water, they will try to swim out to safety. This is useful if they ever accidentally slip and find themselves in water, such as slipping off the edge of a bathtub.
If your cat is fearful of water, this is NOT a good way to get them used to a bath; doing so will make them associate a bath with a negative experience. It is never a good idea to make your cat swim if they do not want to. They will likely never get used to it, and the forced interaction with water can make them dislike water even more.
Can Bombay Cats Take Baths?
While Bombay cats can take baths, whether or not they’ll enjoy them is not as clear. As previously mentioned, this depends on their personality, their degree of exposure to baths, and their previous experiences with baths. The skill of the person giving them a bath (a groomer or yourself) also plays a role in your pet’s acceptance of the activity.
Do Bombay Cats Like to Drink Water?
Just like any other cat breed, Bombay cats need water. Therefore, they absolutely “like” to drink water – or rather, have to drink water. They do not require any special type of water in their bowls. In fact, flavored water may lead to your pet refusing to drink.
However, like all cats, Bombays require water to be clean and fresh. Therefore, it’s recommended to replace the water in your Bombay kitty’s dish at least once a day. Like all other pet cats, they are also more likely to engage with and appreciate a water fountain.
Do Any Cat Breeds Like Water?
Some cat breeds anecdotally seem to love water. Anecdotal accounts state that they will happily take baths, they sometimes like to swim, and they have no problem splashing around in puddles. For example, the Sphynx requires regular bathing from the time they are kittens, so they usually grow to tolerate the experience well. Maine Coon cats anecdotally enjoy making messes of their water bowls while playing. Other cat breeds that may typically like water include:
- British Shorthair
- Turkish Van
- Abyssinian
- Burmese
- Siamese
However, keep in mind that this list isn’t definitive, and ultimately, your cat’s personality and experiences will play a huge role in their acceptance of not just water but other things as well, such as incidences of being handled, meeting other pets, or interacting with strange humans.
Conclusion
Like almost all other cats, whether or not your Bombay enjoys water will be determined by their degree of exposure to baths, their experiences with it, and their personalities. Therefore, there’s no one specific answer for this query. Generally speaking, a kitten can be desensitized to such experiences much more readily than an adult cat. However, as the age old saying goes, “exceptions do exist”! Therefore, you’ll likely get your answer for this question when you interact with your cat long enough to know.
Featured Image Credit: Naseeb TN, Shutterstock
