Cat Who Loves Baths and Breaks the Internet

Quick Smiles:

• Meg’s cat, Murphy, defies common cat behavior by enjoying baths and even joining her in the bathtub.
• The Instagram video of Murphy’s bath time antics has garnered over 39.2 million views and 2.9 million likes, sparking humorous comments from followers.
• Despite most cats’ aversion to water, experts suggest that with patience and positive reinforcement, feline friends can be taught to swim.

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A post shared by Meg (@megs__adventurecats)

For many cat owners, the idea of bathing their feline friend is a daunting task, often resulting in scratches and a very unhappy cat. But for one cat owner, Meg, this is far from her reality. Her black cat, Murphy, not only tolerates baths but actively enjoys them.

Meg has shared video proof of Murphy’s unusual love for water on her Instagram account, @megs__adventurecats. “I can’t keep this cat away from H2O! He’s like a Labrador,” she writes in the caption. “I’ve never met a cat as comfortable around water as Murphy is! It’s the strangest thing but I love it.”

The video, which has been viewed a staggering 39.2 million times, shows Murphy sliding into the bath, drinking the water, and even taking a little stroll in it. This popular post has received 2.9 million likes and over 6,000 comments, many of which are filled with humor and disbelief.

One user humorously commented, “My cat sits next to me (OUTSIDE OF THE TUB) and screams until I get out. She’s terrified I’ll drown because she doesn’t know CPR. Did your cat come with water accessibility as a factory setting or is it an after market mod?”

“Mother is drowning…. I shall have to drink the sea to save her… and yet she is ungrateful,” another user quipped.

A third follower chimed in with, “So this is the infamous catfish..?”

Murphy’s love for water is indeed a rarity among cats. Anna Ewers Clark, veterinary research and standards lead at a U.K. pet charity, explains, “Historically, cats lived in dry, desert environments which means they weren’t adapted to swim or spend time in water, and this trait has passed down to many of our domestic cats.”

Pam Johnson-Bennett, an expert from Cat Behavior Associates, adds that some cats may develop a fear of water due to past negative experiences. She suggests using treats and positive reinforcement as an effective training method.

Despite the common belief that cats and water don’t mix, the Alexander Animal Hospital in Severna Park, Maryland, suggests that with patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement, cats can indeed be taught to swim.

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