# Can cats swim? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 18, 2003, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cats-swim/202293 "2003-09-18T02:58:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SwimmingwithChickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@SwimmingwithChickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingwithChickens)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cats-swim/202293/1 "2003-09-18T02:58:43Z")
Can cats swim? Logically they must be able to, but of all the sites I’ve searched there seems to be no conclusive proof. Perhaps a picture, video, or hell, just a reputable link would do it. I’ve finished my laps with the chickens and I was considering moving on to cats… but I ask you… is it possible? ---
**Author:** ![dinoboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@dinoboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dinoboy)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cats-swim/202293/2 "2003-09-18T03:03:36Z")
yes, all cats can swim… this breed actually enjoys it: [Turkish Van](http://www.petplanet.co.uk/petplanet/breeds/Turkish_Van.htm) ---
**Author:** ![BethCro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cdc98d/32.png) [@BethCro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BethCro)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cats-swim/202293/3 "2003-09-18T03:11:10Z")
My plain old no breed moggy enjoyed swimming. She used to sit on the side of the bath, and paddle around when I’d gotten out. Of course, since the time my ex-hubby was in the bath, and she saw his willy just floating there and thought “FISH, gonna get it” we had to keep the bathroom door shut. Hehehe, ex-hubby screamed like a girl, but that’s neither here nor there. When we needed to wash the dog, we’d put a couple inches in the bath and then try to grab the dog (he always knew it was bath time). We’d finally get the dog into the bathroom, and there was the cat, paddling around, having the time of her life. The cat liked water, loved paddling around and having a swim. ---
**Author:** ![SwimmingwithChickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@SwimmingwithChickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingwithChickens)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cats-swim/202293/4 "2003-09-18T03:16:21Z")
Dino, while I appreciate the specific breed you pointed out, generalizing from the particular to the general isn’t what I’m looking for. I’d like to see a site or some evidence that “all cats can swim” and not my cat or a particular breed enjoys swimming. I don’t mean to sound harsh (written media isn’t my best suit) I’m just frusterated by the lack of websites which support my initial assumptions… My wife still doesn’t believe me… ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cats-swim/202293/5 "2003-09-18T03:20:57Z")
> [@](#): > > All cats are able to swim, though they will aviod water if they possibly can - apart from the turkish Van cat. The Turkish Van cat, loves taking a dip in a water. It may be a distant cousin of the tiger, which loves to play in the water. From [here.](http://stqj1.chs.edu.sg/t2002263/Fantastic%20facts%20abt.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Kilt-wearin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kilt-wearin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilt-wearin_man)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cats-swim/202293/6 "2003-09-18T03:28:42Z")
Some cats enjoy water and can swim. Other cats hate water and can _levitate_. ---
**Author:** ![SwimmingwithChickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@SwimmingwithChickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingwithChickens)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cats-swim/202293/7 "2003-09-18T03:31:15Z")
Thanks QED, but I’m looking for something more concrete. The ultimate link would lead me to actual studiest that were conducted or something similar. Hell, a video of a domestic tabby swimming around would probably do it… My wife is close to claiming victory by default. It’s not fair I tell you… ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cats-swim/202293/8 "2003-09-18T03:46:41Z")
> [@](#): > > All cats can swim, and many are excellent fishermen. The ancient Egyptians used cats not only as hunters of mice but as catchers of fish as well. Some cats can and do swim for pleasure, and some–especially the tiger–can swim for long distances. Many cats, however, avoid water and will take to it only as a last resort when there is no other means of escape from a threatening enemy. From [here.](http://www.lookd.com/cats/family.html) Aside from the banner ads, this source certainly seems credible. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cats-swim/202293/9 "2003-09-18T04:16:09Z")
[Swimming Cat](http://www.der-kater.de/index-e.html) [More Swimming Cats](http://web2.iadfw.net/vantastx/) [Swimming Tiger](http://www.indiantravelportal.com/andhra-pradesh/wildlife/nagarjunasagar-srisailam-sanctuary.html) ---
**Author:** ![dinoboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@dinoboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dinoboy)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cats-swim/202293/10 "2003-09-18T04:22:11Z")
You want to win an argument? Why didn’t you say so! (What did you bet? I’d make the wager \*\*Bigger{/B] right now, go ahead, I’ll wait…) Hmmm, more concrete evidence from the internet? (I dare say that in school we were not even allowed to use web sites as a source because of their inability to be easily verifiable - anyone can host a web site). However, though my word (and zoology degree) is not good enough to convince you outright, I am not going to be bitter (well maybe a little bitter :mad: - there, I feel better now). Ok, here is your photo of a swimming tiger (scroll down about halfway): [Wet Tiger](http://www.forevertigers.com/biology.htm) You’re welcome. Tell your wife that the cat-swimming thing is a silly wives-tale (and that I’m now your new zoological information source). Next time we talk up-front about my percentage of the winnings… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![dinoboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@dinoboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dinoboy)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cats-swim/202293/11 "2003-09-18T04:23:41Z")
… Drat, it seems I was beaten to the punch. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cats-swim/202293/12 "2003-09-18T04:31:18Z")
Haaah ! 😉 Of course, _your_ tiger cite is more interesting than _my_ tiger cite. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMensch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@MonkeyMensch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMensch)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cats-swim/202293/13 "2003-09-18T04:57:19Z")
We used to take our kitties up to the Santa Ynez river near Santa Barbara and chuck 'em in. They swimmed OK. Of course, we were just trying to wash off the marker ink with which we had decorated them but it’s the thought that counts. **No Kitties were harmed in this experiment** ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cats-swim/202293/14 "2003-09-18T05:01:56Z")
**When I was very young, I lived on my grandfathers farm in Ohio. There was a creek that ran by his barn. Near the barn the creek had dug out under the roots of a very large tree causing a sort of cave. One day I saw a cat swimming at the mouth of that cave. A farm hand was with me and I asked him what the cat was doing. He said “Your grandfather told me to get rid of the cat, so I tied a string around its neck and the other end around one of the roots of that tree.” I asked if the cat was going to just keep swimming. He said “No, not much longer”. That was almost 60 years ago and it made an impression I’ll never forget. It also answers your question.** ---
**Author:** ![T.Slothrop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@T.Slothrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T.Slothrop)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cats-swim/202293/15 "2003-09-18T20:56:18Z")
Once, many years ago I was told to “get rid of” some cats which had decided to live in my mother’s yard. I didn’t want to hurt them, so I threw them off the pier. They all swam back to shore. The next time I saw them, I threw them off the pier again and they all swam back in. After a few more times of the same thing happening, they moved. ---
**Author:** ![j.c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@j.c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j.c)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cats-swim/202293/16 "2003-09-19T19:25:08Z")
I believe that it’s unusual for a mammal to be unable to swim. Even animals that often just walk across the bottom of a body of water, such as the noble armored diller, are able to swim. Additionally, I, too, have owned swimming cats who would get into the tub and be cute and not yellow and fuzzy. If - and your user name prompts this question - you worry that there is a secret military project involving feline aquatic creatures, fear not. ---
**Author:** ![sugaree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@sugaree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugaree)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2003, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cats-swim/202293/17 "2003-09-20T12:32:21Z")
[Film of a swimming Himalayan.](http://www.insidein.com/news/) Scroll down to the bottom. ---
**Author:** ![Road\_Rash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a8b319/32.png) [@Road\_Rash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Road_Rash)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2003, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-cats-swim/202293/18 "2003-09-20T13:09:27Z")
SwimmingwithChickens, I too saw a cat swim. I was in college. My roomate tossed a cat into the swimming pool. The cat very quickly swam to the edge and pulled itself out. Cats are better able to escape swimming pools than dogs, who aren’t able to climb well. I suggest an empirical test. Find yourself a cat. Pick it up and toss it into a swimming pool. If karma is equitable to the cat, he will claw you up a bit. If the cat sinks, jump in and rescue him (more clawing). More likely, the cat will swim to the side and pull himself out. Back in the 80’s, when water babies (teaching infants to hold their breath underwater and sort-of swim) were popular, I saw a book with pictures of cats swimming underwater. If you get a kitten used to water, it may grow up liking an occasional swim, supposedly.