Vet recommends giving rescued cat a bath, owner expects the cat to hate it, but the cat surprises everyone by loving baths (and looking very adorable in a towel)

Author image for Mariel Ruvinsky
Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor
Jun 17, 2026 5:30 PM EDT

All cats hate water, right? That's a known fact. Except that this fact is actually wrong. 

From the time that we were children, there has been one thing that we have always known. Cats love milk, and cats hate water. Of course, now, as adults, we know that neither of these is true. Cats are not allowed to drink milk at all, actually, and water? Well, that's more complicated. Most cats don't like water, that remains true, but like most things in life, there are also exceptions to the rule. And the exceptions to this rule are exceptionally adorable. 

Cats who love water are something special. They're rare, and they are also some of our favorites. We love baths. Baths are awesome. So really, it makes sense to us that everyone should love baths too, and that includes cats. Cats who hate water really hate water. They will jump, they will thrash, they will destroy everything in their paths to get away from that wet stuff. Cats who love water are the complete opposites. They are so chill about it. They will stay in that water forever if you don't take them out. They understand baths like we do. We, unfortunately, are not lucky enough to have a cat to share bathtime with, but on r/cats, there is someone lucky enough to have two of these cats. 

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    "She got ringworm and other skin problems. Vet advised to bath her. Since then she loves having a bath."

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    KeeKyieTheMorris Princess Leia? What happened?!
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    DSS_Gaming_1 This is getting out of hand, now there are 2 of them!
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    Very weak and hungry and smelly!
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    This was actually her when she was a kitten. That was why bath was needed . Because her skin was very bad. About her sister, she just naturally loves water.
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  • Generally, we don't think that cats need to be bathed. They hate it, we hate it because they hate it, and it's an overall unnecessary and bad experience for everyone involved. But in this case… yeah, it was necessary. The poor thing looks like he was in such a bad place when you found him. We never would have guessed that this is where he started looking at him now. He just seems so, so happy in his little head towel in the water. 

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    K_D_1809 OP And after her bath.
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    Ok-Relationship-2746 Wait you have two water kitties?!
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    K_D_1809 OP Yep haha
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  • Now, that is just unfair. One cat who fell in love with baths after having to take one as a kitten… that is something that we can understand. A second cat who loves water just because water is cool or something? Nope. Unfair. We would think that maybe he learned from this cat, but no, he “just likes water” ever since he was a child. You've been blessed twice, and it's not fair to the rest of us. 

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    No-Following6053 How on earth do people get their cats to like the bath? I just got shredded last night bathing mine (also ringworm issues) and it was their first time since they were like 6 weeks old. They're always so curious when I'm taking a bath but giving them one was a totally different story. Treats and praise didn't even work
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    K_D_1809 OP I bathed her since she was rescued because of her terrible infection. Now she can go on a kayak trip with us.
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    Freakedbyageek Anything specific you've done while bathing her, that you maybe think contributed to her liking baths? (le, water temperature, environment, etc). I wish my cats loved baths. I have a white cat and sometimes her fur gets very dirty, so I need to bathe her.
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    K_D_1809 OP Not too warm and not too cold. I give her paws, ears and head massage. Gently wiping her cheeks, slapping her bot (she loves it) and I also put a rubber duck in her bath as well. And treats. Like a queen. I have 2 cats that love water, they also walk through river on leash with me, also they love kayaking for some reasons.
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    Riko Rain She looks absolutely awfully HAPPY. Really, you can see it in her eyes.
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    K_D_1809 OP She does. Jump in when I have a bath, go on kayak with us, walk on leash and go through a waterfall on our hiking trip too.
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    grilled_cheese_gang Help us, Obi Wan.
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    K_D_1809 OP Lol almost choked on water reading this
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    Rozenheg How do those ear muffs work? Are they to keep the water out of their ears?
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    K_D_1809 OP You can search on youtube for Korean towel head. It's very easy to make. But I do it just for fun honestly, but it does protect their ears. The water in the tub level is only half my cat's body, I use a small cup to slowly wash them with it. For ears | will use cotton bud and clean their ears gentle. Wet towel for face.
    via K_D_1809

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